let George do it

The story

1. French · derived fromlaissez faire à Georges
2. English todaylet George do it

Sometimes explained as derived from French laissez faire à Georges, a satirical reference to the multiform activities of Cardinal Georges d'Amboise (1460–1510), but this is unlikely. Alternatively explained as a reference to Pullman porters, who were generically known as George.

First known use, by meaning

• from early 20th c. Let someone else incur the cost of achieving the shared benefit.