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God loves a trier

A British proverbial expression used to encourage or gently tease someone who has attempted something difficult, particularly when they've failed or achieved only a modest result.

ˈɡɑd ˈlʌvz ə ˈtɹaɪɚ36 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
🇬🇧 British & Irish slang
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#1·Apr 28, 2026UK

A British proverbial expression used to encourage or gently tease someone who has attempted something difficult, particularly when they've failed or achieved only a modest result. It suggests that effort and persistence are morally praiseworthy even when outcomes are poor — that the act of trying has its own value. Often deployed with warm irony, the phrase can be sincere encouragement or a softened way of acknowledging that someone gave it their best shot despite limited ability.

She finished last in the race but she never gave up — well, God loves a trier.
Origin: Editorial expansion authored on Slangora.
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UK
#2·Apr 27, 2026UK

(UK) Those who keep trying are likely to succeed.

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🇬🇧About British & Irish slang slang

UK and Irish slang — Cockney, Scouse, Geordie, Yorkshire, Glaswegian, Brummie, Welsh, West Country, plus Irish English. Centuries of regional dialects feeding into modern British and Irish street talk.

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