appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober

English

Etymology

Valerius Maximus, 6, 2, ext. 1: Provocarem ad Philippum, inquit, sed sobrium.—"I will appeal to Philip, she said, but to Philip sober."

Verb

appeal from Philip drunk to Philip sober (third-person singular simple present appeals from Philip drunk to Philip sober, present participle appealing from Philip drunk to Philip sober, simple past and past participle appealed from Philip drunk to Philip sober)

1. (idiomatic) To ask someone to reconsider a decision or view they took while their judgment was swayed by momentary passion, excitement, or whatnot.

References

• W. Francis H. King, ed. Classical and Foreign Quotations, 3rd ed. (1904), no. 2170