What Is The Meaning Of A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted?
The common English phrase, a fool and his money are soon parted, is usually used to describe an individual who quickly loses money due to poor decisions, such as using it wastefully or being tricked into spending.
Examples Of A Fool And His Money Are Soon Parted
- One of my friends was known for always being broke. For instance, last week, after he got a big bonus at his job, he immediately went to the casino to gamble. After a few hours, he lost everything he got from the bonus. I guess you could say that a fool and his money are soon parted
- After Sarah’s grandmother gave her $200 as a gift, she immediately misplaced it when she arrived back home. It could be correct to say that a fool and her money are soon parted.
Origin Of The Phrase
According to most sources, the phrase can be tracked down to be at least 460 years old. The phrase was first used by a man named Thomas Tusser in a poem he wrote in 1557. Although it was most likely worded differently at the time, it was still similar enough to be tracked down to the common phrase we know today.
According to the poem, the original saying went something like this:
“A foole and his money be soone at debate: after with sorow repents him too late.”
With this, it should be fairly simple to understand how the phrase was created, as its meaning is fairly literal. In essence, this saying refers to someone who carelessly acts with their money and is bound to quickly lose it. For example, it could describe someone who gambles or makes frequent purchases, as they usually will be soon parted with their money.
Related: Check out our “common expressions” section for more articles like this one!
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