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Previous Thread Next Thread Print Thread Page 2 of 3 1 2 3 Re: "Excuse my French"? #116141 11/21/03 11:51 AM 11/21/03 11:51 AM Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,204 R RhubarbCommando Pooh-Bah RhubarbCommando   Pooh-Bah R Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 2,204 excuse my Latin - which resonates with byb's response - I, also, had always taken the same take (if you see what I mean!) And nice to see you back again, rav! Re: "Excuse my French"? #116142 11/24/03 11:45 PM 11/24/03 11:45 PM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Z Zed Pooh-Bah Zed   Pooh-Bah Z Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Interesting that most people say "excuse my French" after using "Anglo-Saxon" words. A hold over from when vulger language and swear words came from the Anglo-saxon lower class not the Normon/FRench upper class. Re: "Excuse my French"? #116143 11/25/03 10:05 PM 11/25/03 10:05 PM Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,624 Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok Capfka Pooh-Bah Capfka   Pooh-Bah Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 1,624 Utter Placebo, Planet Reebok Oh, I doubt the expression is that old. You probably only need to go back to the Napoleonic Wars (or any other time - or any time - when the English have decided to hold the French up as an example of all that is execrable ...) Re: "Excuse my French"? #116144 11/26/03 12:07 AM 11/26/03 12:07 AM Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada Z Zed Pooh-Bah Zed   Pooh-Bah Z Joined: Aug 2002 Posts: 2,154 British Columbia, Canada But most of the curse-words are that old. Re: "Excuse my French"? #116145 11/30/03 03:30 PM 11/30/03 03:30 PM Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 180 Austin, TX gift horse OP member gift horse   OP member Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 180 Austin, TX But most of the curse-words are that old. But are most curse-words really of Anglo-Saxon origin? I'm only asking because I'm too lazy to look all of them up in my book of Etymology. Re: "Excuse my French"? #116146 11/30/03 06:57 PM 11/30/03 06:57 PM Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 122 Poland, Cracow R rav member rav   member R Joined: Dec 2002 Posts: 122 Poland, Cracow You probably only need to go back to the Napoleonic Wars (or any other time - or any time - when the English have decided to hold the French up as an example of all that is execrable ...) Then how you'll explain that expression with 'Latin'? I may also add that we call it "kitchen Latin" or "backyard Latin" - these are strict translations from Polish, but I also saw such English expression: "dog Latin". Well, it can't be SO old Re: "Excuse my French"? #116147 12/01/03 03:52 PM 12/01/03 03:52 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,004 London, UK shanks old hand shanks   old hand Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,004 London, UK Hi Giftie, and all, I'm currently skimming through The English: A Protrait of a People, by Jeremy Paxman, and discovered some of the many negative terms associated with 'French' (leave, kisses, drive [in cricket], and so on), but, beautifully, some French retaliation as well. Most delicious is les Anglais ont débarqué for menstruation. Which, with all that I've been smoking, gives rise to a [fantasia] Of French origin, but affecting a neatly Puritan outlook, young Paul Revere is in an agony of anxiety, fearful that his dreadful secret will come out and he will be ostracised, or worse, by his community. Then, his mistress tells him the good news, and already driven half-crazy by fear, he snaps, and announces his delight to the world, running through the streets of Lexington and Concord, ringing out the wild bells and screaming his ecstasy - except he does it in his adopted language, English, translating it literally and unwittingly kick-starting the United States of America. [/fantasia] cheer the sunshine warrior Bravo #116148 12/01/03 04:29 PM 12/01/03 04:29 PM Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 180 Austin, TX gift horse OP member gift horse   OP member Joined: Nov 2003 Posts: 180 Austin, TX Either you have the most creative mind on earth, or I need to start smoking what you're smoking. Perhaps bother are true. Well done at any rate. Re: "Excuse my French"? #116149 12/01/03 04:51 PM 12/01/03 04:51 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Jackie Carpal Tunnel Jackie   Carpal Tunnel Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 11,613 Louisville, Kentucky Ok--now I get it. Funny! les Anglais ont débarqué = The British have landed. My Ron Obvious moment #116150 12/01/03 05:42 PM 12/01/03 05:42 PM Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,004 London, UK shanks old hand shanks   old hand Joined: Mar 2000 Posts: 1,004 London, UK Just to top and tail it - I presume the phrase arose because of the British Redcoats.... Page 2 of 3 1 2 3 Moderated by  Jackie  Hop To General Topics ------   Information and announcements   Q&A about words   Wordplay and fun   Words and languages in schools   Miscellany   Weekly Themes   Looking for (writers, speakers, ...) (Old) Weekly themes. 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