toujours perdrix
AmericanEtymology
Origin of toujours perdrix
First recorded in 1810–20; literally, “always partridge” (the meaning “too much of a good thing” refers to how a person might tire of eating something they love if that is all they eat)
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.
Toujours perdrix is bad providing all the world over; but a continual weak imitation of toujours perdrix is worse.
From Modern Women and What is Said of Them A Reprint of A Series of Articles in the Saturday Review (1868) by Lucia Gilbert Calhoun
The ordinary cook flies at once to Worcestershire or Harvey sauce, which are excellent at times, but "toujours perdrix" is not always welcome.
From Culture and Cooking Art in the Kitchen by Catherine Owen
"Ah, but we mustn't have it toujours perdrix," said John.
From My Friend Prospero by Henry Harland
Did not Voltaire complain at Potsdam of "toujours perdrix" and make it one of his grievances?
From The Book of the Thousand Nights and a Night — Volume 06 by Sir Richard Francis Burton
Truly, toujours perdrix is endurable by comparison with Always Home Rule.
From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 105, August 19th 1893 by Various
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.
