E. Cobham Brewer 1810–1897. Dictionary of Phrase and Fable. 1898.
Frogs.
Frenchmen, properly Parisians. So called from their ancient heraldic device, which was three frogs or three toads. “Qu’en disent les grenouilles?”—What will the frogs (people of Paris) say?—was in 1791 a common court phrase at Versailles. There was a point in the pleasantry when Paris was a quagmire, called Lute’tia (mud-land) because, like frogs or toads, they lived in mud, but now it is quite an anomaly. (See CRAPAUD.)
1
Frogs. The Lycian shepherds were changed into frogs for mocking Lato’na. (Ovid: Metamorphoses, vi. 4.)
2
“As when those hinds that were transformed to frogs
Railed at Latona’s twin-born progeny.”
Milton: Sonnet, vii.
It may be all fun to you, but it is death to the frogs. The allusion is to the fable of a boy stoning frogs for his amusement.
