bonne femme
Americanadjective
Etymology
Origin of bonne femme
First recorded in 1815–25, bonne femme is from French à la bonne femme literally, “in the manner of a good housewife”
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I bought the bar a round and a double order of garlicky poulet bonne femme for whomever wished to eat.
From The Guardian ● Nov. 9, 2015
Bocuse preaches in favor of provincial simplicity in the tradition of the bonne femme who relies more on basic ingredients than complicated technique.
From Time Magazine Archive
We may compare Fr. bonhomme, which now means generally an old fool, and bonne femme, good-wife, goody.
From The Romance of Words (4th ed.) by Weekley, Ernest
Masking her greed, her jealousy and her cruelty under a cloak of loud affability and ponderous persiflage, she was a perfect specimen of the fausse bonne femme.
From Humours of Irish Life by Various
With what pride he will show them to his companions, how he will gloat over his Magloire and his Joseph, his petite Marie and his bonne femme.
From With Those Who Wait by Huard, Frances Wilson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
