c'est la fin des haricots

French

Etymology

(Hypothesis 1): In the 18th century, food management on ships prescribed consumption of provisions in the following order:

• Fresh food and live animals.
• Hardtack, salted and smoked products.
• Ham and beans.

The end of beans represented the end of provisions and thus famine.

(Hypothesis 2): In the 20th century, boarding schools served beans to students in times of scarcity, as they were considered a cheap food.

(Hypothesis 3): In the early 20th century, running out of beans in a board game meant the end of the game.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /s‿ɛ la fɛ̃ de a.ʁi.ko/

Phrase

c’est la fin des haricots !

1. (informal) game over, the goose is cooked; it's the end of the world

See also

• les carottes sont cuites