Explaining "Denial is not a river in Egypt"

Reviewed and edited by

Lloyd Cooper 07/10/2024, 11:54

English.me team member

What does it mean?

The phrase "Denial is not a river in Egypt" is a play on words, using the homophone "Denial" for "the Nile," which is a well-known river in Egypt. The phrase humorously highlights the psychological defense mechanism where someone refuses to accept reality or facts.

Tone

Humorous, playful, and sometimes slightly sarcastic.

Origin

The phrase is a modern English pun and does not have a specific origin but is a clever twist on words intended to point out someone's denial using a humorous comparison.

Examples of usage

When Jeff insisted he wasn't upset after losing the game, his friend said, "Remember, denial is not a river in Egypt."
Even though all the evidence pointed to the contrary, she was in complete denial. As her colleague joked, "Denial is not a river in Egypt, you know."