A Confusion of Tongues

Some years ago an English South coast town with a ferry service to France decided to encourage French visitors by holding a sale at all its shops to coincide with the beginning of the holiday season. As a further marketing gesture it was also decided to have a humorous “Franglais” sign throughout the town advertising the attraction, this was:

Les Sales Francaises

The good burghers of the town were disappointed when the tourists arrived and were outraged when they saw the welcoming signs – until someone explained that it said:

Dirty French Women

You just can’t please all the people all the time.