Irish Goodbye
idiomatic phrase

- Leaving a party or social gathering without saying goodbye to anyone, often to avoid lengthy farewells or drawing attention to one's departure.

- A departure from a location or event without informing others or saying farewell; the act of slipping away unnoticed from a social situation.

Urban Dictionary, Dictionary Com

—
PHRASE ORIGIN

The phrase “Irish goodbye” refers to leaving a party or social event without saying farewells, and its etymology is layered with cultural stereotypes and historical quirks.

The earliest roots come from the English expression “French leave," recorded as far back as the mid-18th century to mean departing without notice or permission—an action that was considered rude and thus attributed as a dig at the French. In response, the French called the same behavior “filer à l’anglaise” (“leave English-style”), with many European languages replicating these country-blaming expressions. In German, “einen polnischen Abgang machen” became common after the Berlin Wall fell.

The American turn toward “Irish goodbye” is newer, likely surfacing among Irish-American communities in places like Boston, accompanied by stereotypes of the Irish as raucous or drunk, too inebriated for proper farewells. Another theory is rooted in Irish social tradition—where saying goodbye at parties could take hours due to the culture's love of conversation. Sneaking out quietly became a practical strategy. There are folklore tales of the Irish emigrant experience, where departures were bittersweet and unannounced to avoid emotional farewells.

In practice, none of these phrases originate from the group they reference—each is a linguistic label assigned by outsiders, reflecting ethnic jokes and mild ribbing common to rival cultures. Today, “Irish goodbye” is largely affectionate and practical rather than disparaging, and its global adoption reflects a wider appreciation for the understated exit.

—
RUDE OR NOT?

"The Irish goodbye isn't rude—it's a gift. You're sparing everyone the awkward 'We should do this again sometime' that neither of you means." – Modern etiquette debate

—
SYNONYMS

Dutch leave, French exit, French leave, ghosting, IRISH GOODBYE, slipping away, slipping out, sneaking out, taking French leave, the fade, the slip, vanishing

—
SMUGGLE
 OWAD into a conversation today, say something like:

“It’s hilarious that what the English call an IRISH GOODBYE is ‘partir à l'anglaise’ (English Exit) in French.”

—
P L E A S E   S U P P O R T   O W A D