Explore English traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-02
Meaning: Verified- Meaning and lesson
The proverb allows pleasure in eating while urging restraint in drinking. It sets an open attitude toward food against a definite limit on drink.
Its advice is deliberately uneven: enjoyment need not be refused altogether, but a person should recognize where moderation matters and act accordingly.
- When it is used
Use it to advise moderation during a meal, particularly when someone is enjoying both food and drink. Its contrast lets the speaker encourage pleasure without treating every kind of consumption alike.
Cite or copy proverb
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Eat at pleasure, Drink by measure.