‘Usine à gaz’: this French phrase describes a big, complicated system

Yes, it means a gas plant, but we look at why it can also express something incomprehensible

The use of 'une usine à gaz' to describe any incomprehensible system is clear when looking at a gas plant's pipework

Christian Lagerek

Published Monday 24 October 2022 - 07:00 Modified Monday 24 October 2022 - 07:00

Une usine à gaz can be translated as a complicated way of working or a labyrinthine system.

Translated literally, une usine à gaz means a gas plant or factory.

This expression dates to the French industrial revolution in the 19th century.

During this period in France, gas factories started being built in industrial zones.

Typically they were composed of complicated systems of pipelines and crank handles that were incredibly difficult to understand.

You can imagine a maze of pipes twisting and turning.

Hence the use of une usine à gaz to describe any incomprehensible system.

More specifically, it can be used to criticise a system that is big, expensive and complicated, but ultimately does not serve much purpose.

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