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sin
more sinned against than sinner
Less guilty or worthy of blame than others, especially those who have injured or laid such blame or guilt upon one. I may be exploiting a loophole in how much I receive in social welfare payments, but given that my retirement fund was stolen from me by fraudulent investors, I'd say I'm more sinned against than sinner. The nurse undoubtedly made questionable judgment calls in this unfortunate case; however, his hands were largely tied by ambiguous legal wordings relating to end-of-life care, and, in my opinion, he was more sinned against than sinner.
old sins cast long shadows
Old indiscretions can continue to have consequences well into the future. A: "I know I made a mistake, but that happened years ago! Why are we still talking about it?" B: "Because old sins cast long shadows."
old sins have long shadows
Old indiscretions can continue to have consequences well into the future. A: "I know I made a mistake, but that happened years ago! Why are we still talking about it?" B: "Because old sins have long shadows."
be (as) ugly as sin
To be extremely visually displeasing or unattractive. I wouldn't buy that painting, it's ugly as sin. I heard the date didn't go well and that the guy was as ugly as sin.
hate someone or something like sin
Fig. to hate someone or something a great deal. She won't eat brussels sprouts. She hates 'em like sin. I don't want that man anywhere near me. I hate him like sin.
live in sin
to live with and have sex with someone to whom one is not married. (Sometimes serious and sometimes jocular.) Would you like to get married, or would you prefer that we live in sin for a few more years? Let's live in sin. There's no risk of divorce.
multitude of sins
Fig. many kinds of sins or errors. The term offensive covers a multitude of sins.
Poverty is not a crime.
and Poverty is no sin.Prov. You should not condemn someone for being poor. Ellen: I wish there were a law to make all those poor people move out of our neighborhood. Jim: Poverty is not a crime, Ellen.
sin against someone or something
to offend or desecrate someone or something sacred or revered. The critic said that Walter sinned against the poet when he read the poem in a sarcastic manner. I would say that Walter sinned against poetry, not just one poet.
The wages of sin is death.
Prov. Doing bad things can get you in a lot of trouble. Serves him right. I always said, "The wages of sin is death."
*ugly as sin
Cliché extremely ugly. (*Also: as ~.) Why would anyone want to buy that dress? It's as ugly as sin! Harold is ugly as sin, but his personality is very charming.
hide a multitude of sins
also cover a multitude of sins to prevent people from noticing something bad I'm a messy eater, so I always wear black – it hides a multitude of sins.
Etymology: based on the saying love covers a multitude of sins from the Bible
live in sin
to live with and have a sexual relationship with someone without being married
They know that others their age view their relationship as living in sin. Usage notes: often considered to be an old-fashioned phrase
live in sin
(humorous) to live with someone that you are having a sexual relationship with but are not married to (usually in continuous tenses) Last I heard they'd moved in together and were living in sin.
cover/hide a multitude of sins
(humorous) if something hides a multitude of sins, it prevents people from seeing or discovering something bad Big sweaters are warm and practical and they hide a multitude of sins.
a sin tax
(American informal) a tax on things that are bad for you, like cigarettes and alcohol (not used with the ) Politicians like a sin tax as it brings in lots of revenue and not too many complaints.
See live in sinfor my sins
(British & Australian humorous) something that you say in order to make a joke that something you have to do or something that you are is a punishment for being bad I'm organizing the office Christmas party this year for my sins. I'm an Arsenal supporter for my sins.
be as ugly as sin
to be very ugly That dog of his is as ugly as sin.
fall into
1. Enter or engage in, be drawn into, as in I told Dad not to fall into conversation with them. [Late 1400s]
3. Be naturally divisible into, as in These students fall into three categories. [First half of 1600s]
4. fall into error or sin . Be drawn into bad behavior, as in
I fell into error when I started spending time with the wrong crowd. This usage, like
fall from grace, originally alluded to religious concerns. It is now used less often and more loosely. [Late 1100s]
5. fall into a trap. Be deceived, unknowingly become involved in something. For example,
By admitting I had free time, I fell into the trap of having to help him with his work . Also see under
fall in;
fall in line;
fall in place.
live in sin
Cohabit outside marriage, as in
Bill and Anne lived in sin for years before they got married. This term, dating from the early 1800s, is mostly used in a jocular fashion today, when customs and views are more liberal in this regard. Also see
live together.
more sinned against than sinning
Less guilty than those who have injured one, as in It's true she took the money but they did owe her quite a bit-in a way she's more sinned against than sinning . This expression comes from Shakespeare's King Lear (3:2), where the King, on the heath during a storm, so describes his plight.
multitude of sins, cover a
Compensate for numerous evils, as in You may not be offering to help with the fair, but that big donation covers a multitude of sins . This expression originated in the New Testament (I Peter 4:8): "And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins."
ugly as sin
Physically or morally hideous, as in I can't think why she likes that dog; it's ugly as sin. This simile, first recorded in 1801, replaced the earlier ugly as the devil.
wages of sin, the
The results or consequences of evildoing, as in She ate all of the strawberries and ended up with a terrible stomachache-the wages of sin, no doubt . This expression comes from the New Testament, where Paul writes to the Romans (6:23): "The wages of sin is death." Today it is often used more lightly, as in the example.
fall into
v.1. To descend or drop freely or effortlessly into something: I was so tired that I went to my bedroom and fell into bed.
2. To come to assume a configuration, pattern, or order: The lines of text fell into neat rows. After a quick meeting, our plans fell into place.
3. To come upon, receive, or become involved with something, especially by chance: They fell into a lot of money unexpectedly, so they bought a new car.
4. To undergo a change of state or emotion, especially a negative change: I took one look at my class schedule and fell into a bad mood. The tenants complained when the apartment building fell into disrepair.
(as) ugly as sin
mod. very ugly. This car’s as ugly as sin, but it’s cheap and dependable.
ugly as sin
verbsin
n. synthetic marijuana. (Drugs. From synthetic.) Most of this stuff the kids put down good money for is not sin but angel dust.
sin-bin
n. a van fitted with bedding as a place for necking and lovemaking. Willy said he was saving his money to buy a sin-bin so he could have more fun on dates.
live in sin
To cohabit in a sexual relationship without being married.
as sin
Completely or extremely: He is guilty as sin.