Your choice was right!
Definition:
b) If anything can go wrong, it most certainly will
German translation:
Sod’s Law = Gesetz, nach dem alles, was nur schief gehen kann, auch schief gehen wird (auch Murphy’s Law genannt)
(DH)
---
GOOGLE INDEX
Sod’s Law: approximately 73,000 hits
Sample text:
It's SOD’S LAW. Arrange a picnic, organise all your friends to come along and then the weather changes. But such are the vagaries of an English summer ...
(The London Independent)
---
People who work with communicable diseases have their own version of SOD’S LAW: that outbreaks of food poisoning only ever happen on Fridays.
(British Medical Journal)
Did you know?
Sod’s Law
humorous axiom
- a humorous axiom that states, "If anything can go wrong, it will."
(DH)
---
WORD ORIGIN
Apart from describing an unpleasant or annoying person, the British term sod is applied to people for whom one feels sympathy (The poor old sod is sick again) and often implies that the person is experiencing a bit of bad luck. Thus Sod’s Law is an appropriate name for the adage "If anything can go wrong, it will."
The U.S. equivalent is Murphy’s Law, the origin of which can be traced to American aerospace engineer Edward Murphy. Another version is Finagle’s Law, which differs slightly: "Anything that can go wrong, will—and at the worst possible moment."
Examples of other "laws" are:
Hofstadter's Law - It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.
Sturgeon’s Law - Ninety percent of everything is crud.
Dilbert Principle — The most ineffective workers are systematically moved to the place where they can do the least damage: management.
---
IMPRESS YOUR FRIENDS TODAY
say something like:
"What a rotten week I’ve had. There is no explanation other than Sod’s Law."
Thanks to Rene for suggesting today’s word!
|
And now...
Today's Learning Tip (8):
MIRROR-WRITING
Leonardo wrote his notes in mirror-writing, from right to left. Be like Da Vinci and write your new word as it would appear in reflection. The extra effort may help you learn it (another variation is to write the text upside down).
more learning tips
Building your English day by day...
Let others enjoy One-Word-A-Day too!
OWAD is a free English training programme run by enthusiastic people who
support open communication and personal growth. Please do spread the word
and recommend us to a colleague or friend:
Recommend it now!
Thanks!
Paul Smith
|
