Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

no rest for the wicked

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.96 in modern English

Syllables
no rest -for the wicked
IPA
34
Scrabble Score
18
Letters
2
Syllables
13
Unique Chars

Meaning

proverb

Eternal torment in hell awaits sinners.

proverb

People who are wicked must work harder than normal people.

Humorous

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. 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. According to rabbinical tradition, the word “wicked” refers only to king Nebuchadnezzar II and his descendants.

Usage

Phrases

no rest for the weary

Frequently Paired Words

no rest for the weary

Questions

What does no rest for the wicked mean?
Eternal torment in hell awaits sinners.
Where does no rest for the wicked come from?
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. 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. According to rabbinical tradition, the word “wicked” refers only to king Nebuchadnezzar II and his descendants.

How to pronounce no rest for the wicked

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  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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