MovieChat Forums > General Discussion > Incorrectly used phrases

Incorrectly used phrases

posted 2 years ago by mikethemartian (6710)
13 replies | jump to latest

I was just watching a video where someone was calling Apple’s shift from Intel to their own chips a “quantum leap” in performance intending to say it was a major improvement. This is how people use the term colloquially. However in reality a “quantum leap” is actually the smallest possible change in the state for a physical system. So it is actually commonly used to mean the opposite of what it really means. I think that is one of the definitions of irony. I was wondering if anyone else had any good examples.

[–] capuchin (3182) 2 years ago

In its physical sense, 'quantum jump' is about abruptness (as opposed to the gradualism of classical systems), not smallness.

But you're right that people use it -- usually as 'leap' instead of 'jump' -- to mean 'major change'. If the major change is also abrupt -- going from one discrete state to another with no visible intermediary phase -- then the flavour of the original phrase is intact.

[–] ClementinaSpur (1201) 2 years ago

Steep learning curve

People use this to indicate something is difficult to learn and master, but it means that a learner makes gains in a short period of time.

[–] mikethemartian (6710) 2 years ago

That makes sense since the independent variable would be time and that would customarily be assigned to the horizontal axis.

[–] jriley555 (8118) 2 years ago

It can also mean, as normally understood, that the gradient of difficulty in achieving a functional level of competence is high. Say, for example, becoming a doctor, or a concert pianist, or a professional hockey player, etc, as opposed to getting good a checkers.

[–] mikethemartian (6710) 2 years ago

I remember one time Sam Donaldson on ABC was talking how politicians will use the term “deliberate speed” to imply they were doing something quickly but it actually means to do something slowly.

[–] jriley555 (8118) 2 years ago

I take it to mean moving briskly but carefully. I don't take it to mean, at all, moving slowly.

[–] nyctc7 (43591) 2 years ago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrKb2TTy2ik&t=5s

https://external-preview.redd.it/sP4sJp-0uXFEG4hpRuomAiuK0-Y11shdFsODcl2F3Bc.jpg?auto=webp&s=9e83f4526199a7116d8cc22af37e5c0fd2a58edf

[–] Quasimodo (16388) 2 years ago

These are incorrectly repeated phrases where the phrase has been altered from the original:

I could care less < I couldn't care less

statue of limitations > statute of limitations

ipso de facto < ipso facto

it all goes well < it augurs well

nom de plum > nom de plume

for all intents and purposes < for all in tents and porpoises

[–] robocat893 (15918) 2 years ago

I always thought the saying was "For all intensive purposes." Learn something new every day.

[–] chilone (17864) 2 years ago

Don't forget moo point. Cows can be very compelling.

[–] OnanTheBarbarian (11961) 2 years ago

Moo point? Haha. It's a moot point, not a mute point.

[–] MaximRecoil (4599) 2 years ago

"Exception that proves the rule."

If Person A says that all Xs have Y attribute, and Person B shows him an X that doesn't have Y attribute, that's not an "exception that proves the rule," obviously, it's an exception that proves that Person A didn't know what he was talking about, i.e., his alleged rule is wrong.

Here's an example of what the term actually means:

A sign that says "No Parking on Sundays" is an exception that proves the rule that you're allowed to park there on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.

Another one is "begs the question." It doesn't mean "raises the question," it means something similar to circular reasoning. "Question" in that phrase doesn't refer to a query, it refers to the point of contention in an argument. So if your argument about why your position regarding the point of contention is correct includes an assumption that your position regarding the point of contention is correct, you're begging the question, which is a logical fallacy.

[–] chilidoggg (14270) 2 years ago

This is a fun thread:

https://moviechat.org/general/General-Discussion/62232c2f0b18160a80595971/Everybody-should-stop-saying-these-things?reply=624f127b92d6800f1f9572b8