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Holier-than-thou for Dummies

adjective

pronunciation: 'hoʊliər_ðən_'ðaʊ

What does Holier-than-thou really mean?

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Hey there, buddy! So, you want to know what the phrase "Holier-than-thou" means? Well, let's dive right in! Imagine you're walking down the hallway at school, minding your own business, and suddenly you see some kids pointing their fingers at you and whispering to each other. They seem to think they are better than you, more righteous, and they make sure you know it. That, my friend, is exactly what being "Holier-than-thou" is all about!

When we use the phrase "Holier-than-thou," we are talking about someone who believes they are morally superior or more virtuous than others. These folks tend to act all high and mighty, as if they are the chosen ones, standing on their moral pedestal and looking down on everyone else. They may think they have superior values or better behavior, and they love to judge others based on that perception. They show off their goodness, thinking they are the only ones who have it all figured out, while everyone else falls short.

Now, let me give you an analogy to make it even clearer. Imagine you have a superpower, let's say the ability to shoot rainbows from your fingers (pretty cool, right?). So, you have these rainbow-shooting superpowers, and there's a group of kids who don't have any powers like that. They might start getting jealous and thinking that you believe you're better than them just because you have this special ability. They might say things like, "Oh, look at them, they think they're so holier-than-thou with their fancy rainbow powers!"

So, "Holier-than-thou" is basically when someone acts all self-righteous and looks down on others because they believe they are more virtuous or morally superior. They think they have all the answers and judge others based on their own perceived superiority.

But remember, my friend, nobody is perfect, and nobody has it all figured out. We all have different strengths and weaknesses, and we should always treat each other with kindness and respect, regardless of our differences. So, next time you come across someone who acts "Holier-than-thou," just remember that it's all about their own insecurities, and it's important to stay true to yourself and not let their behavior bring you down.

Revised and Fact checked by Linda Miller on 2023-10-29 10:04:16

Holier-than-thou In a sentece

Learn how to use Holier-than-thou inside a sentece

  • Sarah always acts holier-than-thou, constantly bragging about her good grades and looking down on others who struggle academically.
  • Jake's holier-than-thou attitude makes it difficult for him to make friends because he always acts superior to others.
  • The politician's holier-than-thou speeches about honesty and integrity were contradicted by his involvement in numerous scandals.
  • Lisa's holier-than-thou behavior towards her coworkers, criticizing their work and claiming she is the only one who does things correctly, creates a hostile work environment.
  • The judge's holier-than-thou stance during the trial made the defendant feel judged and unfairly treated even before the verdict was reached.

Holier-than-thou Synonyms

Words that can be interchanged for the original word in the same context.

Holier-than-thou Similar Words

Words that similar to the original word, but are not synonyms.