Origin Of ‘Tire-au-flanc’

Dictionary definition:

Un tire-au-flanc n.m.   (masculine) Personne qui cherche à échapper à ses obligations, à son travail, à une corvée

 

Literally, a person who avoids their obligations, their work, or a chore.

It can also be used to indicate someone who is lazy or is a slacker;

 

          Celui-là a un côté tire-au-flanc

          That guy is a bit of a slacker

 

It comes from 19^th century Military slang to depict a soldier who would go to extremes to escape his obligations.

A soldier who, during a battle, would rather be found on the ‘calmer’ flank, than in the vanguard, ready to undertake heroic feats.

 

Tirer au flanc

the verb tirer in this context does not refer to the English translation ‘to shoot’.

The French reflexive verb ‘ se tirer ‘ would be more appropriate and is often used to signify “ to get away “ or “to get out” (of danger)