Explore English traditional proverbsReviewed 2026-10-01
Sense: Verified- Meaning and lesson
The proverb suggests that intoxication can loosen a person's restraint, leading them to voice thoughts they might otherwise keep private.
It treats an unguarded remark as potentially revealing, but it does not mean that everything a drunk person says is accurate or sincere.
- When it is used
Use it when someone says something unusually candid while drunk, especially if the remark seems to reveal a feeling or opinion they have kept to themselves. Avoid treating the saying as proof that the remark is true.
How this record reached us: Editorially sourced.
Report an issue with this meaning: Drunken folk often speak truth.