idée fixe
This French expression literally means "fixed idea", but can also
be used in a stronger sense in the English language. It suggests an obsession
or something that occupies someone's mind for a long time. Sometimes used to
describe a theme that an artist, writer or composer returns to
periodically within a work or during a career. Introduced in Oxford
English Dictionary in 1836.
Example: "Man, this French stuff
has really become an idée fixe for this bigmouth
guy."
Idéfix is also the name of
Obelix' dog in the French cartoon
Asterix. I have no idea if has anything to do with
idée fixe.
This is an entry in the mini series about French idioms in the English
language.
2002.04.26@12:59 thbz says re idée fixe: The name Idéfix does correspond to "idée fixe". All the character names in Astérix are puns, but there is usually no relation between the meaning of the word and the character.
2003.3.14@10:58 Siobhan says re idée fixe : re Idéfix, the little dog: i can't give you sources and it might be an urban legend, but it sounds plausible enough. they say that one of the two drawers of Asterix et Obelix always drew this little dog, in the most inappropriate places. it was his idee fix. in the end they warmed to him and kept him as obelix' dog. from doodle to dog so to speak :)