sans gêne

• sans-gene
• sans gene
• sans-gêne

Borrowed from French: sans (“without”) + gêne (“embarrassment”). Used in French as an appellation denoting unabashed behavior, disregard for societal constraints: see Madame Sans-Gêne at Wikipedia for an example.

sans gêne (uncountable)

1. Lack of constraint; brazenness; unreservedness.
   • 1919, W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, chapter 46

     The rogue, like the artist and perhaps the gentleman, belongs to no class. He is not embarrassed by the sans gene of the hobo, nor put out of countenance by the etiquette of the prince.

sans gêne (not comparable)

1. Without constraint, unembarrassed.
   • 1853, Theodore Winthrop, The Canoe and the Saddle, chapter X

     Loolowcan was evidently at home among these compatriots, frowzier even than he. He squatted among them, sans gêne, and lighted his pipe. One of the ladies did the honors, and motioned me to a seat upon a rusty bear-skin.