succès fou

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French succès fou (literally “mad success”).

Noun

succès fou (plural succès fous)

1. A tremendous success.
   • 2001, Davis Dyer, Daniel Gross, The Generations of Corning: The Life and Times of a Global Corporation, →ISBN:

     This coyness produced the desired effect: the exhibit at the Fine Arts Society Gallery on Bond Street proved "a howling success” and “a mob scene.” “It was a succès fou, recalled Arthur Houghton much later. A succès fou is right,” added Gates.

   • 2013, Andrew Burrows, David Johnston, Reinhard Zimmermann, Judge and Jurist: Essays in Memory of Lord Rodger of Earlsferry, →ISBN:

     I'm glad to report that the masses are still attending my orations at 12 on Mondays and I'm even given to understand, through some of my more faithful former pupils, that I am having what ladies in Henry James call a succès fou.

   • 2014, May Sarton, Mrs. Stevens Hears the Mermaids Singing: A Novel, →ISBN:

     “I am caged! I don't fit in, and I never will. You are so right. It's not being American—it's being myself. I'm a writer, Adrian!” “Well, what if you are? You're a succès fou.”

   • 2014, Sally Beauman, Sextet: Lovers and Liars Trilogy, →ISBN:

     For the past year,Natasha Lawrence had been playing the title role in Estella, a musical by a celebrated English composer which had been a succès fou in London,and was now a succès fou in New York.