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In case you didn't believe me:

Vive la différence: dispelling French myths

The French say “Ooh-la-la” a lot

Indeed they do, but not as we imagine they do. First, they say it quite quickly, as one word (with a long first syllable, a long third syllable and a rapid “la” in the middle), not slowly and as three separate words, as we tend to parody them. Second, it is not necessarily, or even usually, an expostulation of delighted surprise at some frothily extravagant naughtiness. It is used much more often to indicate that one is impressed — by anything at all: a fine coq-au-vin, a particularly crunchy rugby tackle or the extent of the damage to someone else’s car. Quite how the phrase acquired its salacious overtones in our minds, I’m not sure. Certainly not from the French. Unlike us, they aren’t surprised by sex. Nudity (indeed, porn) on television, whores on country roads, adultery in high places: they’re all just part of the landscape.

From The Telegraph, hat tip to SuperFrenchie.

Also, I ate foie gras and a salade de gésiers confits for dinner, but that's another story.

Comments

[coldbear]

Coucou !
I recognize myself and my friends in this description.
I should write something about Americans seen by the French.

[LittleMike]

Maybe I'm really only a Foodie Wannabe, because, oooo and ick. Sorry, not my cup of tea.

[Betty C.]

And I ate a great "salade des délices" for lunch at a restaurant -- foie gras, magret de canard, tomates, etc. And it didn't have that horrible beige pre-made salad dressing on it either! Just oil and vinegar...yum...or Ohlala!

[Margaret]

I'm with Little Mike. Non, merci.

[The CEO]

Could we have a little more discussion about the chopped liver, please.

[kikikentucky]

Hihi, tout juste auguste, il faut plus qu'une bentley dans une rue sordide pleine de travelos tunisiens pour choquer un frenchie ;)

J'ai ajoute une reponse a ton comment, j'ai parfois mauvaise conscience a stigmatiser les travers de la societe US, ca n'empeche que j'adore ce pays plein de gens formidables au "holala" tres erotique...

[Gina]

Who knew!

(Foie gras is something I just cannot be okay about - ever).

[Jean]

Turkey pharmaceutical-artificial growth and their mass murder days before Thanksgiving is something I cannot be okay about - ever.

And the deportation of those poor little cranberries from their homeland by millions at this occasion is a shame to human gender.

Oh la la! Quel scandale!

[rebecca]

i am waiting for the other story, now ;)

[kathie]

The French don't say Ooh, la, la every five minutes??? Mais non! That cannot be possible. (You'll have to imagine the last sentence in French because I can't remember it!) You're cracking me up--thanks!

[Michael C]

I have to admit with the sex stuff and whores on the roads that I thought you were talking about Congress for a minute.

And I literally just read a Newsweek article about Foie Gras and other rare foods. All I can say now is wow!
;-)