English · Proverb Candidate

eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: eat, drink and be merry, (for tomorrow we die) · eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow we die · eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die

Sense 1

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Life is short, so you should enjoy it while you can.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

hãy tận hưởng cuộc sống

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

These warnings sound strange to our lives, molded so often on the assumption that this life is the only one we can be sure of, and hence, while we have it, we should eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

In speaking pejoratively of epicurean beliefs.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

tiêu khiển một cách ích kỷ

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Alternative form of eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Dạng thay thế của eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

We are told that mankind is the product of a mindless process of evolution. If this is so, our greatest needs are physical and material. Such things as prosperity and pleasure are all that matter. If there is no God, then we should ‘eat, drink and be merry, for tomorrow we die’.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Both English Tiếng Việt

Meaning · English

Alternative form of eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die.

Nghĩa · Tiếng Việt

Dạng thay thế của ăn, uống và vui vẻ, vì ngày mai chúng ta sẽ chết

Machine-translated — suggest a fix

Where it’s used: Used American English

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 5

Meaning · English

Traditional English proverbial phrase; full definition pending editorial review.

Where it’s used: Used Widespread English

Sources & notes

Listed on Wikipedia “List of proverbial phrases” (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-29); definition pending editorial review.

Topics: Time Life & death

Common questions

What does “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” mean?

Life is short, so you should enjoy it while you can.

Is “eat, drink, and be merry, for tomorrow we die” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.