A praying drunkard is an ugly thing.
A praying drunkard is an ugly thing.
Meaning in plain English
The saying calls a praying drunkard ugly. It places a disparaging judgment on a combination of prayer and drunkenness.
Example
A reader questions the disparaging label rather than using it to deny someone respect or access to support.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
A responsible explanation identifies the condemnation without defining a person’s dignity through intoxication, dependence or appearance. The precise traditional concern is not independently verified, so hypocrisy or a particular religious rule should not be invented. The phrase provides no diagnosis or advice about treatment.
When to use it
Use it critically with the condemnation and context uncertainty explicit.
Keep in mind
No clinical diagnosis, lost dignity or verified religious prohibition is established.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Country attributed by the collection
United States · source-attributed; earliest origin unverified
- Source
- Contributor-provided wisdom reference
Supplied reference B; unit 148; PDF page 19; collection label: United States
Reuse and collection notes ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · supplied collection
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Contributor-confirmed reuse permission
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
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