denial is not a river in Egypt

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English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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A pun on the Nile.

Pronunciation

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Phrase

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denial is not a river in Egypt

  1. (humorous) Used to point out that somebody is in a state of psychological denial.
    • 2004, Bill Manville, Cool, Hip & Sober: 88 Ways to Beat Booze and Drugs, Tom Doherty Associates, →ISBN:
      Denial is not a river in Egypt,” began the first orientation lecture I ever attended in rehab, “but a lot of people build themselves palatial, twelve-room houseboats and live there for years, maybe the rest of their entire, unhappy lives.”