die roaring for a priest

English

Alternative forms

• die roaring for the priest

Etymology

Variation of die roaring; in Catholicism, without a priest a dying person cannot receive the sacraments of confession or extreme unction.

Verb

die roaring for a priest (third-person singular simple present dies roaring for a priest, present participle dying roaring for a priest, simple past and past participle died roaring for a priest)

1. (Ireland, Catholicism, colloquial, dated) repent too late of one's sins; (hence) be damned
   • 1973, Eilís Dillon, Across the Bitter Sea, page 436:

     “God’s curse down on you, Burke; may you never lie quiet in bed; may your children wither and die; may your rooftree fall; may your seed and breed in every generation from this day forward bring forth a thief or a murderer of his own kind; may brother rise against brother in every generation; may you never see the face of God; may you live to see the ruin of your family; may you die roaring for the priest and him far away—”

   • 1996, Marian Keyes, Lucy Sullivan is Getting Married, Poolbeg, →ISBN, page 654:

     Suffice it to say that the barman physically hustled him towards the door, as Gus struggled and shouted, "I hope you die roaring for a priest."