Idiom
The more the merrier
The more the merrier means that more people will make an event or activity more fun, so others are welcome to join.
How people use it
People usually say it to welcome extra guests or helpers: "Can I bring my cousin?" "Sure, the more the merrier." It is warm and friendly, and it works as a complete reply on its own. Sometimes people use it about things rather than people ("Toppings on the pizza? The more the merrier"), and occasionally it is said with a wink about chores or problems. In normal use, though, it is a sincere welcome.
Examples
- Bring your roommates to the barbecue; the more the merrier.
- When Omar asked if his sister could join our hiking trip, I told him the more the merrier.
- We need volunteers to clean up the park on Saturday, and the more the merrier.
Where it comes from
It is a very old English saying. Versions of it appear in writing from the late Middle Ages, and John Heywood's 1546 collection of proverbs paired it with a second half: the fewer, the better fare. That meant fewer people would get a bigger share of the food. Only the friendly first half stayed popular.
Check yourself
1. A friend asks if she can bring her brother to your party, and you say "The more the merrier." What do you mean?
Answer: Yes, he's welcome. The more the merrier is a friendly way to welcome extra people.
2. Which situation fits the more the merrier?
Answer: Inviting extra players to a pickup soccer game. The phrase welcomes more people because more company means more fun.
Word game fan? See every word hiding in MERRIER.