let George do it

English

Etymology

Sometimes explained as derived from French laissez faire à Georges, a satirical reference to the multiform activities of Cardinal Georges d'Amboise (1460–1510), but this is unlikely.[1] Alternatively explained as a reference to Pullman porters, who were generically known as George.[2]

Proverb

let George do it

  1. (dated, US) Let someone else incur the cost of achieving the shared benefit. [from early 20th c.]
  • George (“autopilot of an aircraft”)

See also

References

  1. ^ Wolfgang Mieder (2019), ““Laissez faire à Georges” and “Let George Do It”: A Case of Paremiological Polygenesis”, in “Right Makes Might”: Proverbs and the American Worldview‎[1], Indiana University Press, →ISBN
  2. ^ Eric Partridge (2013), “let George do it!”, in Tom Dalzell and Terry Victor, editors, The New Partridge Dictionary of Slang and Unconventional English, 2nd edition, volumes I–II, Abingdon, Oxon.; New York, N.Y.: Routledge, →ISBN, page 1382.

Further reading

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