17 October 2018
cherchez la femme
[sher-shey la-fam]
French.
1. look for the woman: advice offered facetiously in any situation, especially one of doubt or mystery.
Dictionary.com
Examples from the Web for cherchez la femme
Historical Examples
I dare say that wasn’t all of it—might have been cherchez la femme, don’t you think?
The Gentleman From Indiana
Booth Tarkington
It is sometimes just as poignant to say, ‘Cherchez l’homme’ as, ‘ cherchez la femme.’
The Rhodesian
Gertrude Page
They drink in order to say or do something or cherchez la femme.
Ulysses
James Joyce
In reply I can only quote the old saying, cherchez la femme.
Glories of Spain
Charles W. Wood
Oh, yes, Prescott sniffed; distrust the obvious is as hackneyed a phrase as cherchez la femme !
The Luminous Face
Carolyn Wells
This is not a cherchez la femme story, so we will leave the lady’s name out of it altogether.
A Little Book of Christmas
John Kendrick Bangs
Win was instantly sure that here was the man in the case; now, cherchez la femme !
Winnie Childs
C. N. Williamson
Someone has said that ” cherchez la femme ” is written over every phase of Parisian life, and the thing is true.
In Vanity Fair
Eleanor Hoyt Brainerd
But when a man acts with apparently inexplicable foolishness, it is generally safe to say, ” cherchez la femme !”
Anti-Suffrage Essays
Various
“ cherchez la femme,” one comic paper had the audacity to remark, propos l’affaire Svensen and Burnley.
Mystery at Geneva
Rose Macaulay
Word Origin and History for cherchez la femme
French, literally “seek the woman,” on the notion that a woman is the cause for whatever crime has been committed, first used by Alexandre Dumas père in “Les Mohicans de Paris” (1864) in the form cherchons la femme. French chercher is from Latin circare, in Late Latin “to wander hither and thither,” from circus “circle” (see circus ).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Anagram
feel Czech hammer
Today’s quote
Fun is one of the most important – and underrated – ingredients in any successful venture. If you’re not having fun, then it’s probably time to call it quits and try something else.
– Richard Branson
On this day
17 October 1814 – London Beer Flood causes the deaths of 8 people. The flood occurred when a vat containing 610,000 litres (135,000 gallons) of beer ruptured, causing other vats in the building to also rupture, resulting in a total of 1,470,000 litres (323,000 gallons) to flood nearby streets, destroying two homes and the wall of a pub. Those killed were living in the basement of houses which filled with the beer. The brewery was sued, however, the court ruled the event an ‘Act of God’.
17 October 1901 – U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt issues an Executive Order changing name of the ‘Executive Mansion’ to the ‘White House’.
17 October 1938 – birth of U.S. daredevil, Evel Knievel (Robert Craig Knievel). Knievel was best known for his failed attempt to jump over the Grand Canyon on a rocket-propelled motor-bike. He also successfully, and often unsuccessfully, attempted long distance motor-bike jumps, such as jumping 14 buses. Through his career, Knievel broke 35 bones. Died 30 November 2007.
17 October 1989 – Mother Teresa awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
17 October 2010 – Mary McKillop is canonised by Pope Benedict XVI, becoming Australia’s first saint.
17 October 2011 – Richard Branson, of Virgin Group, opens the world’s first commercial space-port, which he has based in Mexico. Although there have been a number of sub-space test flights, to date there have been no commercial space flights.