OK, the whole time we were in Paris my sister continually used a funny expression which she says is a Peter Sellers expression from the Pink Panther, however, I'm sure she wasn't pronouncing it properly. She said something like: sock-la-blue. I have searched but can't come up with the original line. My guess is the expression was sacre bleu??? Anyone know for sure?

yes, sacre bleu

it's as outdated an expression as calling a waiter "garcon" or in English using the expletive "fiddlesticks!"

well jimmy christmas, I think you're right elaine. However, in context, and in a party mood, it was pretty funny. Thanks.

Sacre bleu meaning "sacred blue."

Oft times referring to the sacred blue color of the garments Mary mother of Jesus is usually portrayed wearing.

It's kind of like a shortened version of swearing on your mother's grave or some such.

BTW Mary Magdalene "the fallen woman" is usually portrayed wearing red.

<<Sacre bleu meaning "sacred blue."

Oft times referring to the sacred blue color of the garments Mary mother of Jesus is usually portrayed wearing.>>

Interesting - - I always thought it was related in some way to that other curious (at least to Americans) use of the word &quot;bleu&quot; - - to refer to a steak that is rare, to the point of being blood <i>red&lt;//I&gt; (Since the color is as much purple as red or blue, I don't think either seems right or wrong).

In this context, I viewed as similar to the British expression &quot;Bloody hell&quot; (or &quot;bloody anything&quot with a vague reference to the blood&quot; (of Christ) as a sacred (or profane) &quot;generic&quot; adjective/oath.

Bloody best wishes,

Rex
</i>

zut alors, Indy, that isn't the reasoning in the dictionary I read! To be honest, that sounds a little fishy to me (having been raised Catholic), it just wasn't the kind of thing people would think about that much, or refer to (the color), nor swear about.

Wikipedia says it was to avoid saying &quot;sacre dieu&quot; as a swear/oath, and that makes a lot more sense to me as I know plenty of phrases that people change a letter to make the word sound just slightly different. They do that in dubbing to make some words sound more inoffensive, also.

I think while it is dated, you do actually hear it or see it written quite a bit.

I learned that <i>sacr&eacute; bleu</i> was a way of avoiding saying <i>sacr&eacute; Dieu</i>.

...jiminy christmas or jeepers creepers other examples of the same idea

and another thing!

One of the phrases I fondly remember from a Pink Panther movie, in that ridiculous French accent:
&quot; 'ave you got a lee-sonz fer your minkey?&quot;

I like your take Christina. Long, long lapsed Baptist here as I sip my LaBatt's Blue, eh?

Many of my learnings were warped by the idol worshipping accusations against the Catholic church by ultra conservative Protestants.

I also like Rex's idea of the bleu and blood like rare steak.

It'll be interesting to see if there are any other versions on this.

I learned, back about when the Earth first cooled, that &quot;sacre bleu&quot; was a euphemism for &quot;Sacre Dieu&quot;, similar to &quot;egad&quot; for &quot;Ye God&quot;.

Holy Macrel!!!

&quot;Does your dog bite?&quot;

<i>&quot;No.&quot;</i>

The dog bites Inspector Clouseau.

&quot;I thought you said your dog does not bite!&quot;

<i>That's not my dog.&quot;</i>

Of course, that was not French language specific - but a movie excerpt nonetheless.

Is everyone here aware that Steve Martin is in the current remake of a Pink Panther film??

Oops! I mean - Holy Mackerel!!!

Note that the word &quot;sacre&quot; is actually spelled sacr&eacute;, with an accent aigu over the &quot;e.&quot; That turns the pronunciation into sacRAY--unlike the much maligned forte, which nearly everyone pronounced forTAY instead of &quot;fort.&quot;

Waiting for corrections...

My favorite is in the hotel - where he asks

Do you have a room? (pronounced rheum?) - which of course he does at the time.

And I submit, Inspector Ballon, that you arrived home, found Miguel with Maria Gambrelli, and killed him in a rit of fealous jage!

Commissioner Dreyfus: I hate you, Clouseau. Every little bit of you. Now get out!

Inspector Clouseau: You want me to leave?

After Peter Sellers died there was a great editorial cartoon showing him appearing at the pearly gates and telling St. Peter, &quot;No, no, you idiot! I want a rheum with a vue!&quot;