French leave /fɹɛnt͡ʃ ˈliːv/ noun2 •(informal, old-fashioned) A departure taken quietly and unnoticed, without asking for permission or informing anyone.As for Ditton, after all his courting, and his compliment, he stole avvay an Irishman's bride, and took a French leave of me and his master; […] — 1771 •(informal, old-fashioned) Desertion or temporary absence from duty or service without permission; absence without leave, AWOL.he may have felt a particular need to mitigate the responsibility of those who shirked their duty, for as he wrote that letter he had just returned from French leave himself. — 2010
