sin

*ugly as sin

Cliché extremely ugly. (*Also: as ~.) Why would anyone want to buy that dress? It's as ugly as sin! Harold is ugly as sin, but his personality is very charming.

See also: ugly

hate someone or something like sin

Fig. to hate someone or something a great deal. She won't eat brussels sprouts. She hates 'em like sin. I don't want that man anywhere near me. I hate him like sin.

See also: hate, like

live in sin

to live with and have sex with someone to whom one is not married. (Sometimes serious and sometimes jocular.) Would you like to get married, or would you prefer that we live in sin for a few more years? Let's live in sin. There's no risk of divorce.

See also: live

multitude of sins

Fig. many kinds of sins or errors. The term offensive covers a multitude of sins.

See also: multitude

Poverty is not a crime. and Poverty is no sin.

Prov. You should not condemn someone for being poor. Ellen: I wish there were a law to make all those poor people move out of our neighborhood. Jim: Poverty is not a crime, Ellen.

See also: crime, poverty

sin against someone or something

to offend or desecrate someone or something sacred or revered. The critic said that Walter sinned against the poet when he read the poem in a sarcastic manner. I would say that Walter sinned against poetry, not just one poet.

See also: against

The wages of sin is death.

Prov. Doing bad things can get you in a lot of trouble. Serves him right. I always said, "The wages of sin is death."

See also: death, wage

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a sin tax  (American informal)

a tax on things that are bad for you, like cigarettes and alcohol (not used with the ) Politicians like a sin tax as it brings in lots of revenue and not too many complaints.

See live in sin

See also: tax

be as ugly as sin

to be very ugly That dog of his is as ugly as sin.

See also: ugly

cover/hide a multitude of sins  (humorous)

if something hides a multitude of sins, it prevents people from seeing or discovering something bad Big sweaters are warm and practical and they hide a multitude of sins.

See also: cover, multitude

for my sins  (British & Australian humorous)

something that you say in order to make a joke that something you have to do or something that you are is a punishment for being bad I'm organizing the office Christmas party this year for my sins. I'm an Arsenal supporter for my sins.

live in sin  (humorous)

to live with someone that you are having a sexual relationship with but are not married to (usually in continuous tenses) Last I heard they'd moved in together and were living in sin.

See also: live

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hide a multitude of sins also cover a multitude of sins

to prevent people from noticing something bad I'm a messy eater, so I always wear black – it hides a multitude of sins.

Etymology: based on the saying love covers a multitude of sins from the Bible

See also: hide, multitude

live in sin

to live with and have a sexual relationship with someone without being married They know that others their age view their relationship as living in sin.

Usage notes: often considered to be an old-fashioned phrase

See also: live