The French expression “filer à l’anglaise” translates to “to run away English style”. It’s interesting here that both the English and the French use the other nationality in the same expression!
English meanings:
- to do a runner
- to sneak out
- to take French leave
French meanings:
- partir sans prevenir – to leave without warning
- partir sans dire au revoir – to leave without saying good-bye
Example sentence:
- Martin et Julie ont filé à l’anglaise: Ils ont dine au restaurant sans payer l’addition! Martin and Julie did a runner. They ate at a restaurant without paying the bill!
Another expression with “file”:
- filer un mauvais coton – to be in a bad way
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David Issokson is a lifelong language enthusiast. His head is swimming with words and sounds as he speaks over six languages. Of all the languages he speaks, he's the most passionate about French! David has helped hundreds of students to improve their French in his private online lessons. When procrastinating working on his site, FrenchLearner.com, David enjoys his time skiing and hiking in Teton Valley, Idaho.
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Bonjour! My name is David Issokson. I'm based in Victor, Idaho (near Jackson, Wyoming) and have helped hundreds of students to learn French online since 2013.
