Philip drunk to Philip sober

English

Etymology

Valerius Maximus, 6, 2, ext. 1: Provocarem ad Philippum, inquit, sed sobrium.—"I will appeal to Philip, she said, but to Philip sober."

Proverb

Philip drunk to Philip sober

1. (idiomatic) When your opponent, or judge, is so led away by passion, excitement, or what not, as to be unable to take a reasonable view of the case.

Source

• W. Francis H. King, ed. Classical and Foreign Quotations, 3rd ed. (1904), no. 2170