Literal translation
to have, like Saint Thomas
Meaning
to be a doubting Thomas
Explanation
The expression describes someone extremely distrustful, believing only what they can verify for themselves and refusing any claim lacking tangible proof. Literally it reads to have, like Saint Thomas, a direct reference to the apostle Thomas who, according to the Gospel, refused to believe in Christ's resurrection until he could touch the wounds himself. This story gave rise, in several European languages, to the figure of doubting Thomas, which became the very symbol of stubborn skepticism demanding material proof before any belief. The register is common, neither especially learned nor coarse, used to describe someone reasonably cautious toward others' claims, but also, depending on context, to mock an excessive and systematic distrust. The Provençal expression here matches almost literally its French counterpart, evidence of a shared religious culture that spread this biblical image across the whole Western Christian world.