on the side of the angels

Idioms

Supporting the good side, as in Whatever you may think of him, on important issues he's usually on the side of the angels. This expression was coined by Benjamin Disraeli in 1864 in a speech about Darwin's theory that man is descended from apes: “The question is this: Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.” Before long it was extended to broader use, specifically to the moral view.

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.

Whereas Charles might have started to convince himself that he was on the side of the angels, but he really, really wasn't.

From Salon • Apr. 25, 2022

In this particular, however, he’s on the side of the angels.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 19, 2021

For a time, all but the 147 seemed on the side of the angels, and corporations jostled to get on board with their pro-democracy pledges.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 4, 2021

Whoever those people are, they are most definitely not on the side of the angels.

From Washington Post • Jan. 11, 2018

If that woman is on the side of the angels, then I have no choice; I must be on the side of the devil.

From Main Street by Lewis, Sinclair

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023