be on the side of the angels
(redirected from been on the side of the angels)be on the side of the angels
To behave in a kind or charitable way, or to support such actions. With war tearing apart the country, being on the side of the angels can cost you your life.
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2015 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
be on the side of the ˈangels
having correct moral principles and behaving correctly: The policemen in Scobie’s crime novels are not always on the side of the angels.Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
on the side of the angels, to be
Supporting the good side. This expression comes from a speech by Benjamin Disraeli (1864) concerning the problems raised by Darwin’s theory that mankind is descended from apes: “The question is this: Is man an ape or an angel? Now I am on the side of the angels.” The phrase was later extended to mean siding with goodness and upholding the moral or spiritual view.
The Dictionary of Clichés by Christine Ammer Copyright © 2013 by Christine Ammer