There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip In english explanation

The meaning, explanation, definition and origin of the idiom/phrase "there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip", English Idiom Dictionary ( also found in Vietnamese )

Zesty Y

2021-07-12 06:07

Meaning of There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip

Synonyms:

there's many a slip between the cup and the lip

There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip proverb saying

Used to stress that many unexpected problems may occur before something is completed.

A: The university entrance exam will have taken place by the end of next month. B: Yeah, I knew that, but there’s many a slip ’twixt cup and lip. Another unexpected Covid case recorded, for instance, will definitely put off the exam.

Having the highest mark, she thought she was the winner in the competition. However, things took an unexpected turn when they found out that she had cheated. That is why it says there’s many a slip ’twixt cup and lip.

Origin of There's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip

Many people believe that this proverb comes from the ancient Greek mythology of Antaeus, the helmsman of the ship Argo. He will never get to taste the wine from his own vineyard, according to a slave. He went for the slave to show that the slave was wrong as some wine from his grapes was put before him, but the slave supposedly remarked, "There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip." A messenger arrived shortly after, informing him that the Calydonian boar was destroying his vineyard. Antaeus sprang to his feet, laid down his drink, and ran out to fight the boar, only to be slain by the savage beast. Another source claims that the term derives from Homer's Odyssey, in which Odysseus shoots Antinous as he prepares to drink wine. The arrow pierced his throat, and the cup slipped from his grip before he could swallow.