Half Baked Sayings

NeverL0ved

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Have you ever been told a saying that sounds wise? Although when you think about it logically it doesn't actually make any sense.

Like this one: l love you to death.

So my love for that person is only for the here and now?

Go ahead and be bold, post your thoughts about sayings that are meaningless.
 

Quid est Veritas?

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You need to know the context:

'Love you to death' says I'll give my life for yours.

'Fight fire with fire' refers to controlled burning of firebreaks to control wildfires.

They both make perfect sense.
 
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Quid est Veritas?

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A real half-baked saying is 'the proof is in the pudding'. In this form, it is silly. However, this is just a shortening of 'the proof of the pudding is in the eating thereof' which is perfectly reasonable.
 
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Sabertooth

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Quid est Veritas?

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"Exception that proves the rule"

Sure, if you have to look for an exception then the rule is true most of the time, or at least often... but "proves the rule" makes it sound universal, and it clearly isn't.
This is just abused. If I say I'll make an exception to let you in, it means usually you aren't allowed. People equate rules with laws, and then by the mistaken association of laws with its metaphorical application to natural events that are assumed to occur of necessity, assume permanence and universality. The saying isn't flawed, it is metaphorical transposition to blame here.
 
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DamianWarS

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Have you ever been told a saying that sounds wise? Although when you think about it logically it doesn't actually make any sense.

Like this one: l love you to death.

So my love for that person is only for the here and now?

Go ahead and be bold, post your thoughts about sayings that are meaningless.
aka platitudes... stuff that may seem wise but doesn't actually answer anything and are often cliche. "such is life...", "live in the now...", "when life gives you lemons...", "tomorrow is another day..." etc...
platitude-1.jpg
 
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GaveMeJoy

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Have you ever been told a saying that sounds wise? Although when you think about it logically it doesn't actually make any sense.

Like this one: l love you to death.

So my love for that person is only for the here and now?

Go ahead and be bold, post your thoughts about sayings that are meaningless.
I believe this phrase means loving someone unto your own death, i.e. I will die for you.


Stupidest one ever: “I could care less” because it’s used to indicate that you couldn’t care less but it plainly means the exact opposite.
 
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Rescued One

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I believe this phrase means loving someone unto your own death, i.e. I will die for you.


Stupidest one ever: “I could care less” because it’s used to indicate that you couldn’t care less but it plainly means the exact opposite.
Yes, I always thought ""I could care less" was weird!

"I can't hardly stand it" is supposed to mean "I can hardly stand it?"

What about "You're the apple of my eye?" Whose eye has an apple?
 
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DamianWarS

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Stupidest one ever: “I could care less” because it’s used to indicate that you couldn’t care less but it plainly means the exact opposite.
I think the phrase isn't from dropping the "n't" but from a shortening of a longer version saying "it is impossible for the person could care less". meaning the person is already on the bottom of caring and he is unable to go further.

English idioms only make sense if they can be traced back to their origins otherwise their face value is silly. My wife is from somewhere where there is a lot of local vernacular and one of my favourites is "some day on clothes" meaning today is a nice sunny day and it can be used ironically too.
 
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Darkhorse

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"Exception that proves the rule"

Sure, if you have to look for an exception then the rule is true most of the time, or at least often... but "proves the rule" makes it sound universal, and it clearly isn't.

The meaning is clear when we understand "prove" to mean "test", as in the "proving ground" used to test automotive performance.

So it really means "The exception tests the rule".
 
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Darkhorse

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What about "You're the apple of my eye?" Whose eye has an apple?

In the language of Biblical times, "apple of your eye" meant what we call the cornea, the circular membrane allowing light to enter.

The term "apple" could be used to describe anything circular or spherical.
 
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Darkhorse

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H. I. Hiakawa, a famous linguist of the mid-twentieth-century, despised identity phrases, such as:

"right is right, and wrong is wrong"

and the currently popular "it is what it is"

He considered them to be not only useless, but dangerous to clear, meaningful communication.
 
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Rajni

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Another one is "you can't have your cake and eat it, too".
So, what if I don't have my cake? Can I eat it then?
Wouldn't it be easier to eat a cake one has than to eat
a cake one doesn't have?
proxy
 
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Another one is "you can't have your cake and eat it, too".
So, what if I don't have my cake? Can I eat it then?
Wouldn't it be easier to eat a cake one has than to eat
a cake one doesn't have?
proxy
They mean that "you can't leave your cake intact and..." but that throws the rhythm of the saying way off.
full
 
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