Hence the insult "crétin des Alpes". For many, the meaning has been lost, and it became a generic term to designate an idiot. Despite having heard and even use

Hence the insult "crétin des Alpes". For many, the meaning has been lost, and it became a generic term to designate an idiot. Despite having heard and even used the expression many times, I think the popular character "Captain Haddock" and his expletives from the "Tintin" comics made it popular. Yet, I only came to the true meaning very recently.