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What is the origin to the phrase 'in vino veritas'?

Question #25123. Asked by Dunc.
Last updated May 14 2021.

Related Trivia Topics: Linguistics   Idioms and Proverbs  
palaceben
Answer has 7 votes
palaceben
22 year member
172 replies

Answer has 7 votes.
It is Latin for 'there is truth in wine '

link https://uvamatris.com/en/2020/01/il-proverbio-in-vino-veritas/

Response last updated by CmdrK on May 14 2021.
Dec 12 2002, 4:55 PM
Barrow boy
Answer has 3 votes
Barrow boy
22 year member
532 replies

Answer has 3 votes.
The ancient Greeks first said 'Truth in wine.' (I haven't the faintest idea what the Greek is!). The Romans adopted a lot of ideas from Greek civilisation (including communal drunkenness) and adopted the Greek saying translating it to the more-widely known, 'In vino veritas.'

The following website is a source but is not terribly informative other than that.
link https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/in%20vino%20veritas

Response last updated by CmdrK on May 14 2021.
Dec 12 2002, 5:00 PM
sequoianoir
Answer has 2 votes
sequoianoir
21 year member
2091 replies

Answer has 2 votes.
This is attributed to Pliny the Elder (AD 23 -79)
Roman scientist, historian and soldier.
The 'correct' translation: 'Wine brings out the truth' !

link https://books.google.com.au/books?id=xJuc416PCFgC&pg=PT178#v=onepage&q&f=false


Response last updated by gtho4 on Oct 12 2019.
Dec 12 2002, 5:56 PM
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TabbyTom star
Answer has 1 vote
TabbyTom star
Moderator
23 year member
1233 replies avatar

Answer has 1 vote.
There seems to have been a similar saying in classical Greece (oinos kai aletheia) which was proverbial by the time that Plato puts it into the mouth of Alcibiades in the “Symposium.” In the early fourth century BC.

Feb 08 2008, 6:25 AM
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zbeckabee star
Answer has 9 votes
Currently Best Answer
zbeckabee star
Moderator
19 year member
11752 replies avatar

Answer has 9 votes.

Currently voted the best answer.
Seems to be credited to Pliny The Elder:

Back in AD 77, Pliny The Elder wrote, "In vino, veritas", or "In wine, there is truth."

Pliny the Elder -- Truth comes out in wine.

link http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/wine.html

link http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/moments/s1147613.htm

Feb 08 2008, 8:29 AM
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