pray
pray at the porcelain altar
slang To vomit into a toilet, especially as the result of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol. Doing so often requires one to kneel in front of or bend over the toilet (the "porcelain altar"), a position that is likened to kneeling during prayer. If Tommy doesn't stop drinking, he's going to be praying at the porcelain altar all night. The chemotherapy has had me praying at the porcelain altar throughout the day.
See also: altar, porcelain, pray
pray for
1. To utter a prayer to God or some other deity as an entreaty for the physical or spiritual wellbeing of someone. We've all been praying for you after the accident. Let us all bow our heads and pray for those unfortunate souls lost in the accident.
2. To utter a prayer to God or some other deity as an entreaty for something to happen or be granted. We've been praying for rain, but this drought is showing no sign of abating. I'll pray for a peaceful resolution to this conflict.
See also: pray
pray over (something)
To utter prayers to God or some other deity in order to receive guidance or solace about some issue. I've spent many nights praying over this, but I just can't find it in my heart to forgive you. If ever I'm in doubt about what to do, I find a quiet, peaceful place and pray over it.
See also: over, pray
pray tell
expression Please tell me (about something). Pray tell, will your lovely wife be accompanying you to the gala this evening? A: "Sir, we have received news of the king's response." B: "Pray tell!"
See also: pray, tell
pray to (someone or something)
To utter prayers to some deity, spiritual being, or object of worship. The tribe were all too busy praying to the statue in the middle of the village to notice us. The only thing to do at a time like this is pray to God or whomever, or whatever, you believe in.
See also: pray
pray to the enamel god
slang To vomit into a toilet, especially profusely or extensively. Doing so often requires one to kneel in front of or bend over the toilet (the "enamel god"), a position that is likened to kneeling before or bowing to a sacred idol. If Tommy doesn't stop drinking, he'll be praying to the enamel god all night. I don't think I've ever thrown up so much before. I hope I never have to pray to the enamel god again in my life.
See also: enamel, god, pray
pray to the porcelain god
slang To vomit into a toilet, especially profusely or extensively. Doing so often requires one to kneel in front of or bend over the toilet (the "porcelain god"), a position that is likened to kneeling before or bowing to a sacred idol. If Tommy doesn't stop drinking, he'll be praying to the porcelain god all night. I don't think I've ever thrown up so much before. I hope I never have to pray to the porcelain god again in my life.
See also: god, porcelain, pray
pray to the porcelain goddess
slang To vomit into a toilet, especially profusely or for a long period of time. If Tommy doesn't slow down on the vodka, he's going to be up praying to the porcelain goddess all night. Something the restaurant served us must have been spoiled, because everyone was praying to the porcelain goddess later that evening.
See also: goddess, porcelain, pray
the family that prays together stays together
proverb Praying or engaging in other religious practices together as a group keeps a family unified (by helping it to avoid dysfunction, etc.). When I was growing up, my whole family always had to go to church together. My parents would say, "The family that prays together stays together."
See also: family, pray, stay, that, together
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
family that prays together stays together
Prov. Families who practice religion together will not break apart through divorce or estrangement. Mother believed that the family that prays together stays together and insisted that we all say prayers every night.
See also: family, pray, stay, that, together
pray for someone or something
1. to beseech God, or some other deity, on behalf of someone or something. I will pray for you to recover from your illness quickly. As the fire spread throughout the old church, the congregation prayed for its preservation.
2. to ask God, or some other deity, to grant something. The family prayed for David's safety. All the people prayed for peace.
See also: pray
pray over something
1. to say grace over a meal. Do you pray over your meals? We prayed over dinner just after we sat down to eat.
2. to seek divine guidance about something through prayer. I will have to think about it and pray over it awhile. I'll have an answer next week. She prayed over the problem for a while and felt she had a solution.
See also: over, pray
pray to someone or something
to utter prayers of praise or supplication to some divine or supernatural being or something. I pray to God that all this works out. The high priest prayed to the spirits of his ancestors that the rains would come.
See also: pray
pray to the porcelain god
Sl. to kneel at the toilet bowl and vomit from drunkenness. Wally spent a while praying to the porcelain god last night. I think I have to go pray to the porcelain god.
See also: god, porcelain, pray
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
pray to the porcelain god
and pray to the enamel god in. to empty one’s stomach; to vomit. (Refers to being on one’s knees [praying] in front of a porcelain toilet bowl.) Wayne was in the john, praying to the enamel god.
See also: god, porcelain, pray
pray to the enamel god
verbSee pray to the porcelain god
See also: enamel, god, pray
McGraw-Hill's Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions
- bow to the porcelain altar
- enamel
- drive the big bus
- bus
- drive the porcelain bus
- talk to Ralph on the big white (tele)phone
- talk to Huey on the big white (tele)phone
- barf bag
- buicks
- cooky