A Conversation for 'Let George Do It': A Phrase, and the Stories Behind It
By George!
Recumbentman Started conversation Sep 5, 2020
That's very interesting, Dmitri!
I am not convinced by the argument that "Laissez faire à Georges" would have remained on the continent and could not have influenced England or America. I am convinced (but failed to convince the OED) that the word "carry-on" as in "what a carry-on!" comes directly from the French carillon.
There is a song, anonymous but probably 18th or 19th century, which goes
Sur les bords ténébreux du terrible Achéron
Paraît un monstre épouvantable:
Aux mânes il est redoutable.
Il sert de bouledogue aux États de Pluton
Écoutez en tremblant son affreux carrillon,
oua oua oua oua oua oua ...
I can send you the score if you're interested.
By George!
Dmitri Gheorgheni - Freshly Vaccinated Posted Sep 5, 2020
No, thanks, Recumbentman, I think I'll manage to survive without that one. 
But the lyric reminded me of a French headline about a riot I saw once, which referred to the events as 'le brouhaha generale'. Of course, the local Cologne paper would have called it a 'Tohuwabohu', which elevates it to biblical proportions...
By George!
Recumbentman Posted Sep 28, 2020
OK! The oua oua is supposed to be the barking or whining of a dog I think. Tohuwabohu is a new one on me: much more suggestive than "without form and void".
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By George!
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