The more the merrier

Suggest a Correction

Meaning

An occasion or shared activity is likely to be more enjoyable when additional people join. Usually friendly and inclusive, though it can be ironic when a group is already crowded. Regional use: Late Middle English; now widespread.

Origin

A recognizably modern form occurs in the Middle English poem Pearl, usually dated to the late fourteenth century. In its vision of heaven, the poem says that the more participants there are, the more mirth or joy increases. Merrier then had a broader association with gladness and communal pleasure. Modern speakers commonly use the proverb as a welcoming response when another person may join a gathering.

Research Sources

  1. Pearl University of Michigan Library Digital Collections, Corpus of Middle English Prose and Verse
  2. Cambridge Dictionary: the more the merrier Cambridge University Press

Variants

  • The merrier the more

Usage Examples

  • Bring your neighbours too; the more the merrier.
  • We can add another chair, and the more the merrier.
  • For the community clean-up, the more the merrier.

Keep Exploring

Browse all phrases