Alphonse and Gaston

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English

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English Wikipedia has an article on:
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Etymology

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From the name of an American comic strip and its characters, featuring a bumbling pair of Frenchmen with a penchant for politeness.

Proper noun

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Alphonse and Gaston

  1. (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.
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See also

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