Meaning
Cf. late 14th-cent. Fr. pour savoir vrai de chose toute, yvre, enffant, sot et femme escoute, to know the truth about everything, listen to drunkards, children, idiots, and women; [c 1425 in Anglia (1885) VIII. 154] Atte laste treuthe was tryed oute of a childe and dronken man.
It is ‘an old saying that a child, a fool and a drunken man will ever show‥the truth’.
Children and fools have no inhibition, and alcohol consumed removes the inhibition against telling the truth that occasionally one would like to keep secret.
Croatian
Djeca, budale i pijani pravdu govore.
Hungarian
Gyermëk, részëg, bolond mondják az igazat.
Icelandic
Kornbarn, drukkin maðr og dárinn segja sannleikann.
Polish
Dziecko, pijany i głupi zawsze prawde powie.
Romanian
Copiii, nebunii și bețivii spun adevărul.
Slovenian
Otro, norci in pijanci govore resnico.
Swedish
Av barn, fyllon och dårar får man höra sanningen.
Translation: From children, drunkards and madmen you get to hear the truth.