von hinten Lyzeum, von vorne Museum

German

Alternative forms
  • hinten Lyzeum, vorne Museum

Etymology

Literally, “from behind [like] grammar school, from the front [like] museum”, that is, her dressing younger fails her as soon as one sees her face. Compare the same saying in some other continental European languages. The word Lyzeum (“grammar school for girls”) is now not used anymore, for which reason the saying has also become dated.

Pronunciation
  • Audio(file)

Phrase

von hinten Lyzeum, von vorne Museum

  1. (somewhat dated, derogatory) mutton dressed as lamb
    • 2012 [1948], “Freitag, 16. Juni 1944”, in Mirjam Pressler, transl., Tagebuch [The Diary of a Young Girl]‎, S. Fischer, translation of Het Achterhuis by Anne Frank, →ISBN:
      Was soll man mit so einer greinenden und verrückten Person anfangen? Von niemandem wird sie ernst genommen. Charakter hat sie nicht, klagt bei jedem und läuft herum: von hinten Lyzeum, von vorne Museum.
      (please add an English translation of this quotation)
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