Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: Holier than Thou

Greetings!
I am new in this forum and would like to burst in with a question, if I
may.
There is the English idiom "Holier than Thou", or perhaps it is "Holier
than the Pope", I am not quite sure.
I know there is an Italian equivalent to it, I heard it some years ago,
but try as I might I cannot remember it.
Can anyone help me, please?
Xakero
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but try as I might I cannot remember it.
Più reale del re.
Heidi


Dear  Xakero,
Well burst in I say and welcome. Unfortunately I am unable to help you with
your specific question, but have faith that others here in The Realm will do
so shortly.
I am familiar with the expression 'Holier than thou', but not 'Holier than
the Pope'. I would be interested in knowing if it is in fact a common
variation.
Let us see what our gallant courtiers have to add, but allow me to say
again, welcome among us.
--
I remain, as always, ecc., ecc.,
Bambi
dtb

but try as I might I cannot remember it.
As for "holier than thou", I would think "salire in cattedra" could be
a good equivalent.
Bye,
-- 
Isa
Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching
http://web.tiscalinet.it/alfabeto_auschwitz/

 misinterpreting the expression all along?
You're right; I hadn't heard the Pope expression, but they certainly
mean two different things. 
"Holier than thou" has a strong suggestion of hypocrisy; Collins
Dictionary defines it as "offensively sanctimonious or self-righteous".
You might perhaps translate it as "farisaico".
The only colloquial expression that comes to mind is "fai quello che
dico, non quello che faccio".
Heidi's translation sounds OK for "Holier than the Pope".
Mary
-- 
Politically Correct: A new way of saying Holier than Thou

 misinterpreting the expression all along?
Dear Isabella,
Should additional confirmation be required other than that already offered
by HRH Mary, the two expressions mean two different things, though I repeat
I can't say that I have heard of the 'Holier than the Pope' one.
--
I remain, as always,
Bambi
dtb

Finding myself at a royal court - to my pleasant surprise - it behooves
me to say: Thank you, your Majesty, thank you, you Royal Highnesses,
thank you, courtiers all, for your succour.
You're right, I don't think either having heard "holier than the Pope".
I may have thought of it because the Pope, I believe, is sometimes
referred to as His Holiness.
I like both Italian expressions, "più reale del Re" and "salire in
cattedra", and it has now come back to me that is the latter I heard
some years ago and which I now found in my Grande Dizionario Garzanti .
I expect to attend court again occasionally and, who knows, in due time
earn myself a knighthood.


earn myself a knighthood.
No doubt about that, dear Sir.


 earn myself a knighthood.
 Dear Xakero,
You are correct in believing that the Pope is referred to also as Holiness.
It was a pleasure to hold court with you, and we sincerely trust you will
grace us with your presence more often.This being so, we have little doubt
that with such gentle speech and knightly manners, your standing  within The
Illuminated Realm will rise rapidly, and we are confident that it will be
but a short while before you earn the right to be conferred a knighthood.
Until such time as you return to us, we wish you safe travels.
--
I remain, as always, ecc., ecc.,
Bambi
dtb

 in English.
Infatti, sarebbe meglio dire "più *regale* del re".
*reale* significa sia *realista*, sia *regale*,
creando quindi ambiguità.
--
Er Roscio.


"Piu' realista del re" (holier than the King..) or "Piu' papista del
Papa" (holier than the Pope). Both idioms are rather old fashioned..
bye
br1 

 Papa" (holier than the Pope). Both idioms are rather old fashioned..
Dear br1,
I am not entirely in agreement that 'holier than thou' is old fashioned,
though I confess I have not looked it up in a dictionary. However, I believe
it is in fairly common usage, given of course the situation one finds
oneself in.


I am not entirely in agreement that 'holier than thou' is old fashioned,
It's actually all over the Web, and Cosmopolitan UK uses it all the
time-- how's that for a prestigious reference?
LOL,


 LOL,
Dear Isabella,
The Cosmopolitan UK references clinches it as far as I am concerned. Would
the examples of the phrase 'holier than thou'  be featured in an article
such as :
'How to tell if your best friend is sleeping with your fiancée?
Or perhaps 'Orgasms: what mother never told you'
Mayhap it was 'How to tell if your boy friend isn't satisfying you in bed'
Or perhaps of course it would be found in an article dealing with
'How to be a Party-smarty: 10 great pick up lines'
Idly curious, not being a subscriber to above-mentioned magazine.
--
I remain, as always,
Bambi
dtb

Idly curious, not being a subscriber to above-mentioned magazine.
I seem to recall a feature a while ago, called "Do your non-subscriber
girl friends feel holier than thou?"
Always glad to Cosmo-share,
