Meaning:
The translation from the French is "look for/seek the woman". It is used when
a man behaves unusually or gets into a quarrel or other difficulty and the
reason for it is sought.
Background:
`Cherchez la femme' is sometimes mistakenly thought to refer to men's
attempts to pursue romantic liaisons with women. In fact, the phrase, which
is occasionally used in its loose English translation `look for the woman',
expresses the idea that the source of any given problem involving a man is
liable to be a woman. That isn't to say that the woman herself was
necessarily the direct cause of the problem, as in Shakespeare's Macbeth for
instance, but that a man has behaved stupidly or out of character in order to
impress a woman or gain her favour.
The expression was coined by Alexandre Dumas in the novel The Mohicans of
Paris, 1864, in the form of `cherchons la femme'. In John Latey's 1878
English translation, Dumas' detective, Monsieur Jackal, concludes that a
woman must have been involved in the crime being investigated:
"Where's the woman? Seek her."
His opinion was later confirmed by a colleague:
"Ah! Monsieur Jackal, you were right when you said, `Seek the woman.'"
The phrase was adopted into everyday English use and crossed the Atlantic by
1909. It was well enough known there by that date for O. Henry (William
Sydney Porter) to use it as the title of a story - Cherchez La Femme, which
includes this line:
"Ah! yes, I know most time when those men lose money you say `Cherchez la
femme' - there is somewhere the woman."
Dumas was, of course, the author of many popular novels, including The Count
of Monte-Cristo, 1844, from which he earned a sizeable fortune. He had a bash
at following in the footsteps of his eponymous hero when he had the lavish
Chateau de Monte-Cristo built in 1846. Life copied art also in his ruinous
attempts to attract women to the high life at the chateau. When biographers
looked to see where all his money went, the only explanation needed was
`cherchez les femmes'.
- www.phrases.org.uk [edited]
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Well. Dumas practiced what he preached. Good for him.
I heard the phrase so many times re-watching the movie Chinatown but never was
able to identify it. Online scripts've been useless and the caption at the
bottom of the screen says "(Speaks French)" when Evelyn Mulwray delivers the
line. Finally, I got it!
Evelyn: Why is it bad luck?
Gittes: I was trying to keep someone from being hurt. I ended up making
sure she WAS hurt.
Evelyn: [Cherchez la femme.] Was there a woman involved?
Gittes: Of course.
Not just the expression but its background stories. And as the situation is
universal, I'm itching to use it, as Bruce Lee said "Knowing is not enough.
We must apply."
