Provençal expression

es paraulo d'Evangèli

Wisdom

Literal translation

it is gospel word

Meaning

it's the gospel truth

Explanation

The expression states of a declaration that it deserves absolute trust, comparable to the trust placed in the sacred text of the gospels, a source of unquestionable authority in Christian culture. Using this phrase amounts to guaranteeing, with the utmost firmness, the truthfulness of what has just been said or reported, leaving no room for doubt or discussion, the religious authority of the text lending its weight to a simple everyday statement. Literal and figurative meaning almost entirely coincide, the Provençal phrase following exactly the structure of the French expression c'est parole d'évangile, both drawing on the same religious stock shared across western Christian culture. The word paraulo means word or speech, and Evangèli means gospel, a term taken directly from religious vocabulary without notable alteration. The expression is used in everyday conversation, in a register that remains neutral despite its religious reference, to back up a statement held as certain or to faithfully relay someone else's words.

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Other expressions on the same theme

acò's un conte de Mèste Arnaudit's a tall tale, hard to believe tóuti li cop que dis uno verita ié toumbo un ueievery time he tells the truth it costs him dearly (said of a liar) meno uno vido que lou bon Diéu sauphe leads a life only God could account for fedo aprivadado de trop d'agnèu es tetadoa too-tame ewe gets suckled by too many lambs: people exploit the easygoing es Sansoun derrabo-ferigoulohe plays the strongman against the weak vau mai teni un passeroun qu'espera uno aucoa sparrow in hand is worth more than a goose you're hoping for