
IdiomDaily Life
French
À l'usage du Dauphin
Meaning: Expurgated; censored for delicate sensibilities.
Literally: For the use of the Dauphin
Example: “L'édition scolaire du roman est à l'usage du Dauphin : toutes les scènes osées ont disparu.” — The school edition of the novel is heavily censored: all the racy scenes are gone.
Origin: From the ad usum Delphini editions of the classics prepared for Louis XIV's son, with the indecent passages removed. The label became a byword for bowdlerization, generally sneering.
More French idioms
- Dur à la détente Slow to understand — or, in the other sense, reluctant to part with money.
- Qui paye ses dettes s'enrichit Settling what you owe leaves you better off than owing it.
- Faire son deuil de quelque chose To accept that something is lost and give up on it.
- Jeter son dévolu sur quelque chose To settle firmly on something one intends to have.
- À Dieu ne plaise God forbid.
- Dieu reconnaîtra les siens Act without discriminating and let a higher authority sort out the innocent.
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