"no worse for the ware?"

Posted by Victoria S Dennis on August 05, 2005

In Reply to: "No worse for the ware?" posted by ESC on August 04, 2005

: : what is the origin of the phrase, "no worse for the ware?"

: No worse for the wear. "I walked two miles in my new shoes and they were no worse for the wear."

I have always heard this as "the worse for wear", i.e. no second "the". In Britain it can also mean "drunk", as in "They left the bar somewhat the worse for wear". (VSD)

• With a drop taken Bob 05/August/05