after you, my dear Alphonse

after you, my dear Alphonse

A phrase typically said when two people try to do the same thing at the same time. It derives from the 1920s comic strip Happy Hooligan, which featured two very well-mannered Frenchmen, Alphonse and Gaston. No, no, you go first—after you, my dear Alphonse!
See also: after, dear
References in classic literature ?
Now, in similar circumstances, he would probably step aside politely, as who should say, 'After you, my dear Alphonse.'
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Today, the catchphrase "After you, my dear Alphonse" is heard whenever a dare is made to a person to do something difficult or even dangerous.
Alphonse and Gaston
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