Explore English traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-01
Sense: Verified- Meaning and lesson
The proverb warns that drinking can cloud judgment, making advice offered at the time less likely to be wise or helpful.
It also counsels listeners not to act too quickly on such advice. A recommendation worth following should still make sense when considered with a clear head.
- When it is used
Use it to urge someone to reconsider advice received during a drinking session before making a decision based on it. The emphasis is on the reliability of the advice, not on condemning the person who gave it.
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Counsels in wine seldom prosper.