no rest for the wicked

no rest for the wicked

English

Etymology

From the Book of Isaiah verses 48:22 and 57:20-21, originally Hebrew. First attested in English in 1535, in Coverdale Bible of Miles Coverdale.[1] Quoted in biblical sense for centuries, humorous secular sense popularized from 1930s, particularly due to use as title of popular Little Orphan Annie strip by Harold Gray in 1933.[1]

Proverb

no rest for the wicked

1. (literally) Eternal torment in hell awaits sinners.
2. (humorous) People who are wicked must work harder than normal people.

Usage notes

• Primarily used today for mild comic effect,[1] meaning "one must work (particularly because one has been lax)", as in Annie usage.

Translations

people who are wicked must work harder

Chinese: Mandarin: (not humorous) 惡人永無寧日／恶人永无宁日 (èrén yǒngwúníngrì) Finnish: jumalattomilla ei ole rauhaa Irish: ní dual don diabhal bheith díomhaoin Russian: please add this translation if you can Turkish: kötülere rahat yok

See also

• no rest for the weary

References

1. Gary Martin (1997–), “No rest for the wicked”, in The Phrase Finder, retrieved 26 February 2017.