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in vino veritas

American  
[in wee-noh we-ri-tahs, in vahy-noh ver-i-tas, -tahs, vee-noh] / ɪn ˈwi noʊ ˈwɛ rɪˌtɑs, ɪn ˈvaɪ noʊ ˈvɛr ɪˌtæs, -tɑs, ˈvi noʊ /
Latin.
  1. in wine there is truth.


in vino veritas British  
/ ɪn ˈviːnəʊ ˈvɛrɪˌtæs /
  1. in wine there is truth; people speak the truth when they are drunk

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

in vino veritas Cultural  
  1. A Latin phrase suggesting that people are more likely to say what they really feel under the influence of alcohol. It means, “There is truth in wine.”


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

It means private school kids can know that in vino veritas because their schools were acting in loco parentis.

From The Guardian Apr. 8, 2016

He was once again the arrogant, intolerant autocrat—truly, in vino veritas.

From Men, Women and Guns by McNeile, H. C. (Herman Cyril)

To please the brotherhood, whose excellent wine pleased him, he sung, and as "in vino veritas," his song will well become this veritable history.

From The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction Volume 10, No. 270, August 25, 1827 by Various

There could be no doubt that he was offended and insulted: therefore, according to the principle in vino veritas, he might pluck up courage to surprise us when least expected.

From Ismailia by Baker, Samuel White, Sir

I repeat I'm not going to attempt to justify myself, even if I couldn't, which I can, but in vino veritas, which I think you'll admit is Latin.

From Poor Relations by MacKenzie, Compton

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