Alphonse and Gaston
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English
Etymology
From the name of an American comic strip and its characters, featuring a bumbling pair of Frenchmen with a penchant for politeness.
Proper noun
- (attributive) A situation where two people or entities are waiting for each other to proceed, so that neither can take action.
- 1981, Bob Evatt, FLOWMAP, page 52:
- I have noticed myself that even for a single cyclist Palo Alto motorists are too well-wishing, creating the Alphonse and Gaston syndrome that neither will proceed at minor intersections.
- 2009 September 23, New York Times, editorial:
- For years, China and the United States have engaged in a dangerous Alphonse-and-Gaston routine, using each other's inaction to shirk their responsibility.
- 2014, Richard Adler, Mack, McGraw and the 1913 Baseball Season, page 108:
- Collins hit a fly ball, and this time Cobb and Veach did the "Alphonse and Gaston" act, with Collins making it to third base.