There are two phrases in French that I have heard but cannot find the
correct words or pronunciation.

The first one ends with "provocteur" and the loose translation is "the
younger ones who provoke and stir things up".

The second phrase is something like "follie eau deaux" and the loose
translation is something like two people engaged in something stupid
or silly.

I would like to know the origin, spelling and pronunciation of each
phrase.

Thanks in advance.

Hello spencercat,
The two phrases that you're referring to are "agent provocateur" and
"folie à deux."
The pronunciations and definitions of these two phrases can be found
at Meriam Webster's website at these pages: 
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?agent%20provocateur and
http://www.m-w.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?folie%20a%20deux .  Click on the
red speaker picture found within the definitions to hear the words
being pronounced.  You can hear alternative pronunciations at these
places: http://www.bartleby.com/61/87/A0138700.html and
http://www.bartleby.com/61/59/F0225900.html

The word "agent provocateur" literally means a provoking agent. It
first entered the English language in 1877, in a letter by W. De
Horsey dated January 8th: "You may think that I am looking through
very coloured spectacles when I attribute..the Bulgarian atrocities to
Russian intriguethat Russian ‘agents provocateurs’ prepared the
Servian rebellion."

The word "folie à deux" literally means "madness of two", or "double
madness."  It entered the English language circa 1892.

I hope that answered your question. If you need clarification, please
request for it before rating this answer.
Thanks,
secret901-ga

Search strategy:
"French phrases" English
"folie à deux" etymology
"agent provocateur" etymology

---

Clarification of Answer by secret901-ga on 04 Oct 2002 17:38 PDT

By the way, all of the dictionaries I consulted listed both words,
with the exception of the Oxford English Dictionary, the authority in
the English language, which only lists "agent provocateur" and not
"folie à deux." This indicates that while "agent provocateur" has been
Anglicized, "folie à deux" is not and should be italicized when used
in printing.
secret901-ga