This French expression isn’t only for people named Arthur.
Why do I need to know se faire appeler Arthur?
If you hear this French expression, it doesn’t only involve people named Arthur and it’s usually not a good sign…
What does it mean?
The expression se faire appeler Arthur, roughly pronounced suh fair ah-pay-lay ar-tewr (listen here) literally translates to “to be called Arthur”.
In reality, it means “to get told off” or “to be sharply reprimanded”. It’s often used when someone gets scolded after making a mistake or doing something they shouldn’t have.
Although the name Arthur evokes nobility and heroism through the legends of King Arthur and the Round Table, the origin of the expression doesn’t come from there.
One theory traces the phrase back to the Second World War and is thought by some to be linked to the German occupation of France and the curfews which were imposed a various points between 1940 and 1944. According to this explanation, people caught outside after curfew risked being stopped and reprimanded by the authorities.
To remind residents who had not yet made it home by the appointed hour, German patrols would reportedly shout “Acht Uhr” (eight o’clock) in the streets. Over time, French ears may have transformed Acht Uhr into Arthur, giving rise to the expression se faire appeler Arthur.
Although a classic French prénom, Arthur dipped in popularity in the second half of the twentieth century before experiencing a comeback from 2019 as parents rediscovered the name. In 2023 it was in the top 20 most popular names for baby boys. In French it as pronounced as art-ewr, with a hard ‘t’ rather than with the soft ‘th’ sound as in English.
The French language has quite a few expressions built around first names, often chosen because they rhyme.
Examples include:
À l’aise, Blaise – take it easy
Cool, Raoul – stay cool
Tranquille, Bill – all good.
Fonce, Alphonse – go for it
These expressions are used in a playful and light-hearted way, relying on simple rhymes rather than any connection to the names themselves.
READ MORE: The 9 boys’ names that mean something very different in French
Use it like this
Quand son père a découvert ce qu’il avait fait, il s’est fait appeler Arthur. – When his father found out what he had done, he got told off badly.
Si le patron apprend ça, on va se faire appeler Arthur. – If the boss finds out, we’re going to get an earful.
Je vais me faire appeler Arthur s’il découvre que j’ai accidenté sa voiture. – I’m going to get in trouble if he finds out I wrecked his car.
