toujours perdrix

English

Etymology

Pseudo-Gallicism, derived from toujours +‎ perdrix, literally “always partridge”, though the phrase is not used in French.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /tu.ʒʊɹ pɛɹˈdɹi/, /-ʒuɹ-/

Phrase

toujours perdrix

1. too much of a good thing
   • 1842, “The New Sporting Magazine New Series. Vol. II. Published by R. Ackermann”, in Google‎^[1], page 262:

     "Toujours perdrix," is a complaint which we particularly wish to avoid in our embellishments.

   • 1851, “The compulsory marriage; and its consequences. A novel. In three volumes. Vol. I.”, in Google‎^[2], London, page 286:

     "I am sorry we did not see him," cried Paula ; "he is a very nice young man : as to the General he is toujours perdrix."

   • 1872, “The Argosy. Edited by Mrs. Henry Wood. Volume XIV. July to December, 1872”, in Google‎^[3], London, page 60:

     "Toujours perdrix !" She turned, laughing at the surprise, and flushing with pleasure.

   • 1886, The Pall Mall Budget. No. 941.–Vol. XXXIV. Thursday, October 7, 1886, p. 3 (Google US):

     "Perdrix, perdrix, toujours perdrix." "Roose, Roose, toujours Roose, Robson Roose."

   • 1848, The New Monthly Magazine and Humorist. Edited by Harrison Ainsworth. Vol. 84. Being the Third Part For 1848, London, p. 40 (Google, Google):

     Toujours Perdrix ! That's loving to satiety–
     There is no fun in life without variety !

Usage notes

• The phrase is also used written in italics, e.g.:
  • 1861, “The Phytologist. A Botanical Journal. Edited by Alexander Irvine. Volume the fifth”, in Google‎^[4], London, page 209f:

    Toujours perdrix, said the facetious Frenchman, mais toujours perdrix. Too much of one dish palls the appetite the constant repetition of the finest poetry, music, or artistic embellishment, renders the object not only incapable of yielding pleasure, but it finally becomes disgustingly tiresome.

  • 1878, Baily's Magazine of Sports and Pastimes. Volume the thirty-first, London, Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes, p. 358 (Google US):

    It is the old story of toujours perdrix, toujours la Reine.

  • 1894, If Men were Wise. A Novel. By E. L. Shew. In Three Volumes. Vol. II., London, p. 70 (Google US):

    But one can't go on for ever bathing and for ever drinking champagne – 'perdrix toujours perdrix' – one likes to stop before it gets to that.

  • 1898, The Month A Catholic Magazine. Vol. XCI. January–June. 1898, p. 162 (Google US):

    Listening to their organs, one hears, not toujours perdrix, but toujours Post Office.

Further reading

• Notes and Queries: A Medium of Inter-Communication for literary Men, general Readers, etc. Fourth Series. – Volume fourth. July–December 1869. London, 1869, p. 336f. (Google)

References

• “toujours perdrix”, in Dictionary.com Unabridged, Dictionary.com, LLC, 1995–present.
• “toujours perdrix”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.