court holy water, court promises
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
Fair speeches and promises, without performance.
Era: ca. 1811 (Georgian)
Where it’s used:
Origin
British & Irish English
Sources & notes
Historical definition reproduced from Grose’s Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue (1811 edition, public domain; Project Gutenberg #5402, retrieved 2026-07-31). Reflects the attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “court holy water, court promises” mean?
Fair speeches and promises, without performance.
Is “court holy water, court promises” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.