"'Escargot' is French for 'fat crawling bag of phlegm'"

This quote by Dave Barry is a humorous method of describing the French dish escargot, which is a type of snail. By stating that escargot is French for "fat crawling bag of phlegm," Barry is poking fun at the dish, which is ruled out to be a delicacy by numerous. He is likewise making a joke about the French language, which is typically viewed as excessively formal and pompous. The quote is an amusing way of poking fun at the French meal and language, while also highlighting the reality that escargot is not a meal that is extensively enjoyed.