to lead apes in hell
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
It is an old saying (frequent in the Elizabethan dramatists) that this is the fate of old maids. Hence, ape-leader, an old maid.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “to lead apes in hell” mean?
It is an old saying (frequent in the Elizabethan dramatists) that this is the fate of old maids. Hence, ape-leader, an old maid.
Is “to lead apes in hell” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.