IdiomDaily LifeEnglish

perfidious Albion

Meaning: A mocking name for England or Britain as treacherous and untrustworthy.

Example: “When the trade deal collapsed, the Paris papers were quick to blame perfidious Albion.”

Origin: "Albion" is an ancient name for Britain. The French phrase la perfide Albion was popularized in the late 18th century, around the Revolutionary wars, and passed into English as a quotation used ironically.

Equivalents in other languages

More English idioms

Explore another collection: Proverbs

Short sayings of timeless wisdom from more than 50 cultures, each with its meaning and origin.

Browse all proverbs →

Keep exploring

Explore all idioms →