Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

This is probably another one of my dud threads, but I was thinking about some proverbs or cliches that simply don't make sense or that are not necessarily true.

"Money can't buy happiness."

Sure it can. It is not a prerequisite to happiness, nor does it solve all problems, but having a bunch of it sure makes people happy sometimes and it can make getting through life a whole lot easier.

"Waste not, want not."

Unless you want more than what you would have wasted, then this handy saying gets tossed out the window.

"The exception proves the rule."

I've never understood this one, and frankly it would seem the exception would disprove the rule. Every time.

"Trust your judgment."

Better hope your judgment can tell you when you need to get someone else's.

"It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game."

Anyone remember the last time a losing team advanced in the playoffs? Or do they just pass on the team that played better? What in the heck does this mean?

Others? Comments? Anyone? Bueller?

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

I know a pretty wide range of income earners. Without a doubt, the people that are, IMO, the happiest are the lower wage earners. I think its because the do lots of things with family, friends, and neighbors. For many of them, its the only entertainment they can afford.

Money can buy you stuff, and make life easier, but it doesn't make you happy.

Yea, gotta agree.

Agree again.

So true.


As you drop from Pro, to College, to High School, to Jr. High, to Grade School ... this applies much more.

I have always been a bit intrigued about those cliches that are contradictory.

Look before you leap ... or He who hesitates is lost?

There are a bunch of these.

GL

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

Doesn't "Waste not, want not" mean that it's wise not to waste in the sense that, by not wasting what you have in the now, in the future you won't want for anything? I think there's a temporal factor to the saying. Also, I think the sense of the word "want" means "lack" more than our more contemporary (and limited) sense of word "want," meaning "desire." In other words, "Waste not, lack not." Does that make sense?

But here's one that flat-out pisses me off: "A stitch in time saves nine" Huh? :confused:

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

"It's the same difference." :bang:

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

How 'bout this one:

The naked truth.

What is that all about? Is that different from the clothed version of the truth? Is it somehow truer if it has disrobed?

Isn't the truth the truth whether it's naked or not?

Here's another:

He stuck his foot in his mouth.

Where did that come from? Did somebody actually do that at some point thus beginning a new cliche?

Oh...now I'm thinking of all kinds...how 'bout:

Dead as a doorknob

What? Yeah, I guess a doorknob is dead alright. Was someone killed and the killer needed a good metaphor and he says, "Yeah, he's dead alright...he's as dead as...(can't think of anything, looks around the room, sees the door...)...he's as dead as a doorknob! Yeah! That's how dead he is. Just like that doorknob over there." Huh?

One more...

Stop your cryin' or I'll give you something to cry about.

never made any sense to me. "Yeah...I don't NEED something to cry about...I'm cryin' already."

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

I'm willing to look into the camera right now and say that I have never bet on baseball and I have never bet on Cincinnati Reds baseball.

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

Doesn't that mean that if you put a stitch in a garment when you first need it, it saves having to put in nine stitches later after the tear increases in size?

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

The fact this the occurance is viewed as an abnormality, an exception if you will, is proof that in fact that rule does exist. For if the rule did not exist, then there will be nothing notable about the occurance being referenced.

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

"Don't put the cart before the horse."

C'mon, no one actually put the cart in front of the horse, did they? If they are liable to make such a mistake, why are they in the cart hooking up business in the first place? What a silly mistake that would be. How would you even hook up a cart in front of a horse?

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

Here's another one I heard on TV last night (and it's related to the "naked truth" one):

the bare essentials

Aren't essentials essentials? I mean if something is essential, isn't it already the bottom line minimum? Nooooo! We have to make it the bare essentials (somehow even more essential than the essentials) :confused:

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

I heard an old guy tell a pretty girl once that she was prettier than a june bug on a post split 4 ways.

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

"Don't throw out the baby with the bath water".

Dang! I keep forgetting that!

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

"The whole nine yards." I hate this one because everyone says it, but no one understands what it's referring to.

There is a lot of debate in regards to its origin, but one thing's for sure -- it's not about football.

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

"More perfect."

Drives me nuts. If it were already perfect, you wouldn't have had to give it more anything.

Re: Cliches That Don't Make Sense
 

You can put any percentage over 100% in the same boat..

Err, there's another one -- how the heck did boat's become standard place in which put similar things?