Meaning of Idiom ‘Holier Than Thou’
To be holier than thou means to seem to think that one is more virtuous or morally superior to others; to be sanctimonious; to believe one is more pious or religious; condescending; smug; self-righteous and self-satisfied.
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Usage Notes
Holier than thou is often used as an adjective, as in the phrase ‘holier than thou attitude.’ You can also refer to a person as being holier-than-thou.
It is spelled with or without hyphens.
Examples Of Use
“All the holier than thou church ladies looked down their noses at Mary’s dress as she sat down in the pew.”
“I can’t stand my Aunt Henrietta. She’s so holier than thou.”
“He sounds a bit holier than thou, don’t you think?”
“I really can’t deal with your holier than thou attitude right now.”
“Where do you get off being so holier than thou? You got into just as much trouble as me when you were young!”
“I don’t mind vegans but they can come off as being holier-than-thou sometimes.”
Origin
Holier than thou first appeared in the Bible, in Isaiah, Chp. 65 Verse 5, where sinners are said to say ‘Come not near me, for I am holier than thou.”
