after you, Alphonse

Phrase

An exchange indicating excessive formality or effort at politeness, particularly where two people each refuse to go forward because each insists on allowing the other to go forward first.

Japanese Meaning

極端な礼儀正しさを示す表現で、互いに「あなたからどうぞ」と譲り合うあまり、どちらも先に進もうとしない皮肉な状況を意味する。

What is this buttons?

At the narrow doorway they both bowed and said, 'after you, Alphonse,' neither willing to step through first.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

狭い出入口で二人はお互いにお辞儀をして「お先にどうぞ、アルフォンスさん」と言い、どちらも先に進もうとしませんでした。

Details

Sense（1）

An exchange indicating excessive formality or effort at politeness, particularly where two people each refuse to go forward because each insists on allowing the other to go forward first.

And two French sisters performed a delightful after-you-Alphonse routine when they came in first and second in the women's slalom, then took the same top places, in reversed order, in the giant slalom.

Google Translation / DeepL Translation

Details

after you

（ canonical ）

Alphonse

（ canonical ）

Details

after you, Alphonse

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