filer à l'anglaise
To improve the situation
直訳: To dash off in the English style
Use this when you want to sneak out of a social event without making a scene.
15秒でわかる
- To leave a place secretly without saying goodbye to anyone.
- The French equivalent of 'taking a French leave'.
- Used for social escapes or avoiding awkward farewells.
意味
This phrase actually means to leave a place quietly or sneak out without saying goodbye. It is the French version of 'taking a French leave'—ironically, they blame the English for it!
主な例文
3 / 6Texting a friend at a boring party
C'est trop nul ici, je vais filer à l'anglaise.
It's so boring here, I'm going to sneak out.
Describing a colleague who left work early
Où est Marc ? Il a encore filé à l'anglaise !
Where is Marc? He snuck out again!
Explaining a past event
La réunion était finie, alors j'ai filé à l'anglaise.
The meeting was over, so I slipped away quietly.
文化的背景
The phrase dates back to the 18th century and highlights the historic 'frenemy' relationship between France and England. While the French use this to describe a sneaky exit, the English-speaking world uses 'French leave' to describe the exact same thing. It is a linguistic tug-of-war over who has the worst social manners.
The Reverse Idiom
If you tell an English person you 'filed à l'anglaise', they might be confused because they call it 'French leave'. It is a perfect example of how neighbors tease each other.
Conjugation Secret
The verb `filer` is regular. In the past tense, it uses 'avoir' (J'ai filé), not 'être', which is a common mistake for learners thinking of movement verbs.
15秒でわかる
- To leave a place secretly without saying goodbye to anyone.
- The French equivalent of 'taking a French leave'.
- Used for social escapes or avoiding awkward farewells.
What It Means
Imagine you are at a party. The music is too loud. You are tired. You do not want to spend thirty minutes saying goodbye to everyone. So, you just slip out the back door. That is filer à l'anglaise. It means leaving a place discreetly. You avoid the fuss of formal farewells. It is about disappearing like a ghost.
How To Use It
You use it as a verb phrase. The verb filer means to spin or to dash. You can conjugate it normally. Use it when you want to describe a quick exit. It works for yourself or others. You might say je vais filer à l'anglaise before you vanish. It is perfect for social situations that feel draining.
When To Use It
Use it when you are bored at an event. It is great for awkward dates. Use it when you need to leave work early without being noticed. It fits perfectly in a text to a friend. You can use it at a crowded bar. It is for any time a 'goodbye' feels like too much work.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this at a formal wedding. It is rude to leave a host without thanks there. Avoid it in serious business meetings with your boss. If you vanish during a performance, it looks bad. Never use it if you actually owe someone money! That is not just an idiom; that is a problem.
Cultural Background
This phrase is a classic piece of Anglo-French rivalry. In the 18th century, the French thought the English were rude. They believed the English left parties without saying goodbye. So, they coined this term. Interestingly, the English say 'to take a French leave.' We both blame each other for the same behavior! It shows our long, funny history of teasing neighbors.
Common Variations
You might hear s'esquiver. That is a bit more formal. Some people just say se casser in slang. But filer à l'anglaise remains the most charming version. It adds a bit of storytelling to your exit. It makes your disappearance feel like a clever spy movie move.
使い方のコツ
This is an informal idiom. It is widely understood across all age groups in France. While it is not vulgar, it is best suited for casual conversations rather than high-stakes formal writing.
The Reverse Idiom
If you tell an English person you 'filed à l'anglaise', they might be confused because they call it 'French leave'. It is a perfect example of how neighbors tease each other.
Conjugation Secret
The verb `filer` is regular. In the past tense, it uses 'avoir' (J'ai filé), not 'être', which is a common mistake for learners thinking of movement verbs.
Don't be too rude
While the phrase is lighthearted, actually doing it can be seen as rude in small French dinner parties where the 'au revoir' is a sacred ritual.
例文
6C'est trop nul ici, je vais filer à l'anglaise.
It's so boring here, I'm going to sneak out.
A very common way to announce a quiet exit to a friend.
Où est Marc ? Il a encore filé à l'anglaise !
Where is Marc? He snuck out again!
Used to point out someone's mysterious disappearance.
La réunion était finie, alors j'ai filé à l'anglaise.
The meeting was over, so I slipped away quietly.
Shows a desire to avoid small talk after a professional task.
Regarde le chat, il file à l'anglaise avec le jambon !
Look at the cat, he's sneaking off with the ham!
Applying the idiom to a funny animal behavior.
Il y a trop de monde, je préfère filer à l'anglaise.
There are too many people, I'd rather just slip away.
Expressing a need for peace by leaving unnoticed.
Je suis désolé d'avoir filé à l'anglaise hier soir.
I'm sorry for sneaking out last night.
Using the phrase to acknowledge a lack of formal goodbye.
自分をテスト
Choose the correct verb to complete the idiom.
Il ne voulait pas parler à son ex, alors il a ___ à l'anglaise.
The verb 'filer' is the specific verb used in this idiomatic expression.
Complete the phrase with the correct nationality.
Elle est partie sans rien dire, elle a filé à l'___.
In French, you sneak out 'the English way', even though the English say 'French leave'.
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ビジュアル学習ツール
Formality of 'Filer à l'anglaise'
Se casser / Se barrer
Je me casse.
Filer à l'anglaise
Je file à l'anglaise.
Partir discrètement
Il est parti discrètement.
S'esquiver
Il s'est esquivé de la réception.
When to Filer à l'anglaise
Boring Party
Avoid the 20-minute goodbye loop.
Awkward Date
When there is zero chemistry.
Work Event
Slipping out after the main speech.
Social Anxiety
Leaving when the crowd gets too big.
よくある質問
10 問No, that is a common misconception. It strictly means to leave a place quietly or sneak out without saying goodbye, like Il a filé à l'anglaise avant la fin.
The phrase itself isn't rude, but the action it describes can be. You can use it jokingly with friends to describe your own exit.
Yes, but keep it to casual conversations with colleagues. For example, Je vais filer à l'anglaise pour éviter les bouchons (I'm sneaking out to avoid traffic).
The closest equivalents are 'to take a French leave' or 'to pull an Irish goodbye'.
It is informal but very common. In this context, it just means to leave quickly or 'bolt'.
It comes from an old French prejudice that English people lacked the politeness to say goodbye before leaving a social gathering.
No, it is almost always used for people (or sometimes pets) who are physically leaving a location.
Yes, you could use the verb s'esquiver which means to slip away or evade.
Absolutely. It is a timeless idiom that you will hear in movies, books, and daily life.
It usually refers to leaving a specific event or room, but it could metaphorically mean quitting a job suddenly without notice.
関連フレーズ
S'esquiver (To slip away)
Prendre la poudre d'escampette (To run away/bolt)
Se faire la malle (To clear out/escape)
Partir en douce (To leave on the quiet)
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