after us the deluge

phrase

A nihilistic expression of indifference to whatever happens after one is gone.

Similar
after me the deluge
OriginFrench après nous le déluge →
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Meanings

phrase
  1. A nihilistic expression of indifference to whatever happens after one is gone.

    ‘After us the deluge,’ was retorted with a laugh: / ‘If bread's the staff of life, they must walk without a staff.’ / ‘While I've a loaf they're welcome to my blessing and the chaff.’

    1861, Christina Rossetti, A Royal Princess
    1 more example

    “How about, ‘After us the deluge,’” said Paul. “Hmm?” Doctor Pond tried to make sense of the quotation, seemingly decided that it was some archaic, pleasant sentiment for those who understood poetry, and smiled.

    [1952, Kurt Vonnegut, Player Piano, page 152

    Synonyms: after me the deluge

Synonyms & antonyms

phraseA nihilistic expression of indifference to whatever happens after one is gone.

Similar
after me the deluge
Also see
after me the deluge

Origin

  1. Frenchaprès nous le déluge
  2. Englishafter us the deluge

Calque of French après nous le déluge.

More words from French

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 我死之後，哪管洪水滔天 /我死之后, 哪管洪水滔天
  • 我死之後，哪管洪水滔天 /我死之后expression of indifference
  • 哪管洪水滔天expression of indifference
Czech po mně potopa
  • po mně potopaexpression of indifference
Dutch na mij de zondvloed
  • na mij de zondvloedexpression of indifference
Finnish meidän jälkeemme vedenpaisumus
  • meidän jälkeemme vedenpaisumusexpression of indifference
French après nous le déluge
  • après nous le délugeexpression of indifference
German nach mir die Sintflut
  • nach mir die Sintflutexpression of indifference
Hungarian utánunk az özönvíz
  • utánunk az özönvízexpression of indifference
Lithuanian po manęs nors ir tvanas
  • po manęs nors ir tvanasexpression of indifference
Norwegian etter oss syndfloden
  • etter oss syndflodenexpression of indifference
Polish po nas choćby potop, po nas choćby i potop
  • po nas choćby potopexpression of indifference
  • po nas choćby i potopexpression of indifference
Russian по́сле на́с хо́ть пото́п
  • по́сле на́с хо́ть пото́п (pósle nás xótʹ potóp)expression of indifference
Cite this entry
APA

after us the deluge. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/after%20us%20the%20deluge

MLA

“after us the deluge.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/after%20us%20the%20deluge. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “after us the deluge,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/after%20us%20the%20deluge.

Source: after us the deluge on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.