English Explanatory Dictionary

may you live in interesting times

English dictionary entry

Meanings

phrase
  1. A sardonic curse disguised as well-wishing, where interesting times refers to trouble.

Word forms

may you live in interesting times

Etymology

Popularly attributed to Chinese, but this is apocryphal; the true origin is unclear. Its closest Chinese equivalent is 寧為太平犬，不做亂世人 ("better to be a dog in times of tranquility than a human in times of chaos"). Its earliest known use is in 1936 by Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, British ambassador to China, who purported hearing the phrase. See May you live in interesting times § Origins on Wikipedia.

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