Literal Translation
To do the ‘mariole’
Actual Meaning
To be a clown
Etymology
The word ‘mariole’ comes from the Italian mariolo, meaning swindler, thief, or mischievous person. It arrived in the 16th century and became mixed up with “Marie”, because ‘faire le Marie’ meant to feign devotion, to be hypocritical. A small figurine representing the Virgin Mary was called a ‘mariole’, which peddlers offered door to door to charm the inhabitants and, eventually, swindle them. As these travelling merchants used to do, and still do, funny things to lure customers, the expression ‘faire le mariole’ means to entertain those around you, to get noticed.