French disease
noun [ S ] old use uk/ˈfrentʃ dɪˌziːz/ us/ˈfrentʃ dɪˌziːz/
“法国病” （梅毒的旧称）
an old name for syphilis (= a disease caught during sexual activity)
He alluded in his letter to syphilis, or "the French disease". 他在信中暗示了梅毒，或“法国病“。
- More examples
- Through history syphilis has had numerous names, from French Disease to The Big Pox.
- The blame for syphilis was invariably ascribed to foreigners, with the result that the English called it the French disease, the French called it the Italian disease, and the Italians, unable to make up their minds, called it both the French disease and the Spanish disease.
- We say the French disease (syphilis), but they say la maladie anglaise.