(there's) no peace for the wicked

The lack of peace in one's life, or the perpetual need to be working or be busy, stems from one's sinfulness. The phrase comes from the Bible and is now usually used humorously. He may have been acquitted of those crimes, but he will not go unpunished. There's no peace for the wicked. A: "You working late again, Stan?" B: "No peace for the wicked." You know me, I can't sit still for too long. No peace for the wicked, right?

(there's) no rest for the weary

One must continue to toil or work regardless of how exhausted one is. A logical variant of the original phrase "no peace for the wicked." Parents of young children know all too well what it's like to have only a few hours of sleep and still have to get up at the crack of dawn—no rest for the weary, as my granny always said. There won't be time for a break, because we'll need to get going on the next phase of the project as soon as this one is done. There's no rest for the weary! A: "Wow, are you putting in another 80-hour week, Stan?" B: "Yep, no rest for the weary."

(there's) no rest for the wicked

The lack of peace in one's life, or the perpetual need to be working or be busy, stems from one's sinfulness. The phrase comes from the Bible, in which it alludes to the suffering in hell that awaits sinners after death. Now, the phrase is usually used humorously. He may have been acquitted of those crimes, but he will not go unpunished. There's no rest for the wicked. A: "You working late again, Stan?" B: "Yep. No rest for the wicked!" You know me, I can't sit still for too long. No rest for the wicked, right?

See also: for, no, rest, wicked

(there's) no sleep for the wicked

The lack of peace in one's life, or the perpetual need to be working or be busy, stems from one's sinfulness. The phrase comes from the Bible, where it alludes to the suffering in hell that awaits sinners after death. Now, the phrase is usually used humorously. He may have been acquitted of those crimes, but he will not go unpunished. There's no sleep for the wicked. A: "You working late again, Stan?" B: "Yep. No sleep for the wicked." You know me, I can't sit still for too long. No sleep for the wicked, right?

be wicked

slang To be extremely good or impressive. I just got to drive her new car around the parking lot, and it's wicked. It can go from 0 to 60 in under three seconds! Get outta the way, Riley's slapshot is wicked! You built this stereo all by yourself? Whoa, the bass response is wicked!

have (one's) wicked way with (someone)

slang To have sex with someone. Did you really have your wicked way with that hot chick from the bar? Is that why you never came home last night? He's not a long-term relationship-type of guy. He clearly just wants to have his wicked way with you. You will never have your wicked way with Jenna, dude. She's too good for you, and has, like, standards.

wicked

slang Extremely good or impressive. I just got to drive her new car around the parking lot, and it's wicked. It can go from 0 to 60 in under three seconds! Get outta the way, Riley's got a wicked slapshot!

wicked bad

slang Especially unpleasant, nasty, or deleterious. They pulled a wicked bad prank on the principal, and they were all expelled as a result. The fumes from the chemicals were wicked bad, so everyone had to clear out of the room.

wicked tongue

The tendency to speak maliciously. Watch out for Ben—he has a wicked tongue and will probably say something upsetting before the night is over, Can't you say anything nice? You have such a wicked tongue!

No rest for the wicked.

Fig. It's because you are wicked that you have to work hard. (Usually jocular.) A: I can't seem to ever get all my work done. B: No rest for the wicked.

See also: for, no, rest, wicked

there's no rest for the wicked

no rest for the wicked

People use there's no rest for the wicked or no rest for the wicked to say humorously that they or someone else has a lot to do. There's no rest for the wicked. I have to get back to Manchester. Note: People also sometimes use peace instead of rest. Elizabeth called his name. `Oh dear, no peace for the wicked,' he said.

See also: for, no, rest, wicked

Collins COBUILD Idioms Dictionary, 3rd ed. © HarperCollins Publishers 2012

no peace (or rest) for the wicked

someone's heavy workload or lack of tranquillity is punishment for a sinful life. humorous

This expression comes from Isaiah 48:22: ‘There is no peace, saith the Lord, unto the wicked’.

there’s no peace/rest for the ˈwicked

(usually humorous) used when somebody is complaining that they have a lot of work to do: Well, it’s been nice talking to you, but I really must go. No rest for the wicked!

wicked

mod. excellent; impressive; cool. (Also in compounds, wicked smart, wicked cool, etc.) Now this is what I call a wicked guitar.

wicked bad

mod. really quite good. (Bad has a long history of being used as an intensifier. Wicked here is a synonym of the intensifier bad.) Man, this stuff is wicked bad.

no rest for the weary (wicked)

No peace and quiet for anyone; to be kept very busy. This term, dating from about 1900, today is used facetiously by or about a person who simply is kept very busy. It presumably echoes several biblical passages stating that God will take care of good people but will provide no peace for evildoers (Isaiah 48:22 and 57:21). Wicked is used more in Britain, weary in America. After a two-foot snowfall and predictions of at least another foot of snow, meteorologist Michael Henry said, “There’s no rest for the weary. Just when they . . . cleaned up after the last storm, here comes another” (Boston Globe, March 9, 2001).

no rest for the wicked

Perpetual torment. We are told in Isaiah 57:21 that “there is no peace, saith my God to the wicked.” The phrase is often said as “no rest for the weary” and heard as a mild complaint in labor-intensive situations.

See also: for, no, rest, wicked

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