The phrase “may you be in heaven half an hour”, also sometimes said as “may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead” is used sometimes, and it can be hard to tell what it means. This article will explain its meaning and its origin.
May You Be in Heaven Half an Hour – Meaning
“May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead” is a phrase that expresses the wish for a person to live a quiet life, so that when they die, they might be able to sneak off to heaven before the devil realizes that they died.
This is a playful sort of phrase that can be utilized to express your best wishes towards a person, saying that you wish for them to have the best in life, including going to heaven.
In popular culture, this phrase can sometimes be spotted in fiction, because it’s a very poetic example of an idiom. One such case is Peaky Blinders, a television show in which it gets used.
How to Use “May You Be in Heaven Half an Hour” in a Sentence
Here are some example sentences we’ve designed to help you memorize how to use “may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead” in your daily life:
- I truly wish you the best life, man, may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil finds out.
- You’re going to have a rocky, incredible life, may you be in heaven half an hour when you die.
- May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead, so you can enjoy it.
- One day you will sadly pass away, and when that happens, may you be in heaven half an hour.
- May you be in heaven half an hour before the devil finds out that you’ve died, my friend.
May You Be in Heaven Half an Hour – Origin
You might wonder where “may you be in heaven half an hour” comes from, or who said it. The truth is that no one specific person said it, but it actually comes from an old Irish drinking toast, in which it is the last line specifically.
May You Be in Heaven Half an Hour – Synonyms
The general sentiment expressed by the phrase “may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead” is one of camaraderie and friendship, and wishing your friends the best in life in spite of everything. Here are some alternative phrases that you can use:
- May you enjoy the pleasures of life to the fullest, in spite of everything.
- I hope that in spite of the difficulties, you end up in a good place.
- I wish that whatever happens, you’re able to briefly have fun in your life.
- I hope that you can achieve a little slice of happiness at the end of it all.
- May you end up at a happy and fulfilling place in spite of everything that happens before then.
Phrases That Mean the Opposite of “May You Be in Heaven Half an Hour”
“May you be in heaven half an hour” is a phrase that wishes for the receiver to have a good time, no matter what difficulties lay ahead. Naturally there are phrases that mean the exact opposite of this sentiment, and here we’ve collected some of them:
- I hope that you end up receiving what you deserve, no matter how well you have it.
- I wish that you don’t get to enjoy any of the nice things that you’ve attained over the years.
- I hope that the consequences of your actions end up affecting you.
- I wish that you don’t get to enjoy anything in your life, because of what you’ve done.
- I hope that in spite of the times becoming easier, you end up having a bad time.
Correct Ways to Say “May You Be in Heaven Half an Hour”
The phrase “may you be in heaven half an hour” has some slight variations, which is only natural for a phrase that originates from a drinking toast. Here we’ve collected some correct ways in which you can say this phrase:
- I hope that you get into heaven for half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
- I wish that you enter heaven for half an hour before the devil finds out you died.
- I hope you enter heaven for half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
- I wish you manage to get into heaven for half an hour before the devil finds you dead.
- I wish that you get to enter heaven for half an hour before the devil knows you’re dead.
In What Situations Can You Use “May You Be in Heaven Half an Hour”?
“May you be in heaven half an hour” is a phrase that is appropriate to use in casual contexts, typically those in which you’re drinking with your friends. It is, after all, part of a drinking toast. You use it to express that you hope good things happen to your friends.
It’s a very casual and lighthearted expression, which is an impressive feat considering that it’s centered around the idea of dying. You should avoid it in conversations about actual deaths, though.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
