Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
ironical fixed phrase about being elegant / something elegant
English answer:
Just Franceboyance (France flamboyance)
Added to glossary by
Rafael Bordabehere (X)
Apr 2, 2009 14:02
15 yrs ago
1 viewer *
English term
ironical fixed phrase about being elegant / something elegant
English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
I am looking for a fixed phrase related to being (over) elegant used when somebody appears at a place dressed better than expected, e.g. team-building event in the woods and somebody who wants to impress others appears wearing their best clothes (or at least not to the occasion - e.g. high heels and a mini skirt, or a white suit).
Ideally (1), the phrase should fit also any product or appearance that is too elegant for the occasion - e.g. exclusive wine / champagne for lunch, a hairdo.
Ideally (2), it should rhyme :-)
Ideally (3), it should have the word "France" in it (in Polish - the source language the fixed phrase is "elegancja-Francja" (which means "elegance-France"), hence the rhyme requirement...). The phrase is used as a short exclamation (for lack of a better word) understood as ironical by all, but the overdressed person (C) who hears flattery, e.g.
A: Look at him and his sunglasses / suit.
B: ...........................
C: Just got them from Harrods.
I have one phrase in my mind, but would not like to suggest anything (but will post it later).
Ideally (1), the phrase should fit also any product or appearance that is too elegant for the occasion - e.g. exclusive wine / champagne for lunch, a hairdo.
Ideally (2), it should rhyme :-)
Ideally (3), it should have the word "France" in it (in Polish - the source language the fixed phrase is "elegancja-Francja" (which means "elegance-France"), hence the rhyme requirement...). The phrase is used as a short exclamation (for lack of a better word) understood as ironical by all, but the overdressed person (C) who hears flattery, e.g.
A: Look at him and his sunglasses / suit.
B: ...........................
C: Just got them from Harrods.
I have one phrase in my mind, but would not like to suggest anything (but will post it later).
Responses
3 +1 | Just Franceboyance (France flamboyance) | Rafael Bordabehere (X) |
4 +4 | fancy-pants | Kathryn Litherland |
3 +2 | It's just France extravagance | Rafael Bordabehere (X) |
4 | a crow in a peacock plumage | Alexandra Taggart |
3 | fancy Francy | polyglot45 |
3 | Eaux T T | B D Finch |
1 +1 | Oh Verdun! | Cilian O'Tuama |
1 +1 | gosh that's posh | Dylan Edwards |
Change log
Apr 9, 2009 11:13: Rafael Bordabehere (X) Created KOG entry
Responses
+1
21 mins
Selected
Just Franceboyance (France flamboyance)
Luck.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
BdiL
: "Franceboyance!" does it! (no "just" in front). Surely it's a hard task choosing among such a lively, brilliant list of options. And you're right: it doesn't matter who "wins". Maurizio
18 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I would like to thank again all contributors to this question. The choice to award points is tough... and they go here. "
15 mins
fancy Francy
another one
+1
45 mins
Oh Verdun!
past participle of "overdo", and French.
Well, 2 out of 6-7 criteria ain't bad...
:-)
Well, 2 out of 6-7 criteria ain't bad...
:-)
+4
9 mins
fancy-pants
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fancy-pants
fancy–pants: overly elegant or refined
It sort of rhymes!
It's most commonly used to describe people, but it can also be applied to the over-elegant items themselves: fancy-pants clothes, fancy-pants car, etc.
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Note added at 11 mins (2009-04-02 14:13:59 GMT)
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To make it into a full exclamantion, you might say "Mr. Fancy-Pants!" or something along those lines.
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-04-02 15:59:09 GMT)
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Ok, so apparently I can't follow instructions past #2. If you want to keep the Frenchiness, you could try "Mr. France Fancy-Pants." Which has the added bonus of containing three near rhymes.
fancy–pants: overly elegant or refined
It sort of rhymes!
It's most commonly used to describe people, but it can also be applied to the over-elegant items themselves: fancy-pants clothes, fancy-pants car, etc.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 mins (2009-04-02 14:13:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
To make it into a full exclamantion, you might say "Mr. Fancy-Pants!" or something along those lines.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-04-02 15:59:09 GMT)
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Ok, so apparently I can't follow instructions past #2. If you want to keep the Frenchiness, you could try "Mr. France Fancy-Pants." Which has the added bonus of containing three near rhymes.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Sheila Wilson
: How about "Monsieur Fancy-Pants" (or Madame or Mademoiselle as appropriate)?
2 hrs
|
Oh, I do like Monsieur Fancy-Pants! Perfect suggestion, IMHO.
|
|
agree |
sueaberwoman
: Why not Mr - or Monsieur - Francy-pants ? English speakers are so used to sarcastic commentsafter all, that it could also come across as a compliment....
2 hrs
|
agree |
Mark Nathan
: Monsieur Fancy-Pants gets my vote
6 hrs
|
agree |
Samantha Payn
7 hrs
|
2 hrs
Eaux T T
In the spirit of and inspired by Oh Verdun!
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
BdiL
: Pardon my dumbness, but I don't get to the bottom of it, though it sounds nice (oh, tee tee!). Care to enlighten me?! Maurizio (THANKS!You see, acronyms and I are not bosom buddies.)
15 hrs
|
Short for Over The Top! Means excessive, over done ... Pronounced oh, tee tee!
|
+1
4 hrs
gosh that's posh
at least it rhymes
1 day 9 hrs
a crow in a peacock plumage
Very extravagant. Pretending someone that she/he is not.
Discussion
I am amazed by the number of different suggestions and all of them are excellent! The fixed phrase I found (possibly wrong) is 'dog's dinner'. It may well be that it is obsolete and not used. Also, it does not fit all of my own requirements. However, I would appreciate any of you if you could cofirm or not if 'dog's dinner' could be used here. I love the 'France extravagance' and 'Franceboyance'. Could not resist a smile when I read loud 'Oh Verdun' and Eaux TT. Fancy Francy is simply magic! Gosh, that's posh is brilliant too. I have no idea how I will be able to give kudoz to all of you...
French fineness in pants
Just got them from Harrods.
Your 3rd line doesn't rhyme with anything in the first 2, Maybe Harrods is the wrong word here?