No worse for the wear

Posted by Henry February 13, 2004In reply to No worse for the wear posted by Mike on February 13, 2004

Hello all

Does anyone know the origin of the phrase "no worse for the wear"? It sounds Shakespearean, but as far as I can tell, it exists nowhere in the Bard's canon. Any clues?

Thanks,
Mike

I can't find a particular source. The standard idiom seems to be 'the worse for wear'. It often mens drunk!
All the worse for wear
Much the worse for wear
Somewhat the worse for wear
Rather the worse for wear
Not too much the worse for wear
None the worse for wear