# Popular sayings that break or reverse the original meaning **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 12, 2022, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322 "2022-05-12T10:54:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/41 "2022-05-16T15:59:09Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > The original quote was _A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of one_ and was a complement. We’ve shortened the phrase to turn it into an insult. Much like the “Water of the womb” quote, there’s no evidence that the “master of one” quote is the original. ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/42 "2022-05-16T16:04:44Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > [Inflammable means flammable?!! What a country!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8mD2hsxrhQ) Good thing, though, because to add to the fun, the French word for “flammable” is “inflammable”. So trucks based in Quebec that haul gasoline or propane or whatever have large signage that says “INFLAMMABLE”. If “inflammable” meant the opposite of “flammable” in English it could create some interesting confusion! It would also add interest to bilingual truck signage that says: “INFLAMMABLE / FLAMMABLE”. Which in fact I’ve actually seen. Must be a real head-scratcher to anyone who thinks the words are opposites. ---
**Author:** ![SmartAleq](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smartaleq/32/163_2.png) [@SmartAleq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmartAleq)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/43 "2022-05-16T17:11:18Z")
“Ignorance is bliss” as though being stupid and unaware is a GOOD thing. No, the original quote is “When ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise” meaning just that sometimes learning more about a specific situation might cause a loss of happiness or satisfaction. It’s a cautionary, warning against picking too hard at a delicate state of being–what it is NOT is a blanket endorsement of intentional stupidity. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/44 "2022-05-16T17:23:56Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > No, the original quote is “When ignorance is bliss, 'tis folly to be wise” meaning just that sometimes learning more about a specific situation might cause a loss of happiness or satisfaction… it is NOT is a blanket endorsement of intentional stupidity. In my experience, the shortened phrase still means exactly what you describe as the “original” meaning. It’s used with respect to someone’s (lack of) knowledge of something specific. If I’m mistaken, perhaps I’ll be happier just remaining unaware of how the kids are using it these days. ---
**Author:** ![AlsoNamedBort](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alsonamedbort/32/3213_2.png) [@AlsoNamedBort](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AlsoNamedBort)\ **Post date:** [May 16, 2022, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/45 "2022-05-16T17:27:06Z")
> [@SmartAleq](#): > > “Ignorance is bliss” as though being stupid and unaware is a GOOD thing. I never really hear it that way, unless it’s sarcastically. It’s usually used more like “plausible deniability,” basically the less I know about some bad thing the better. ---
**Author:** ![Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/q.q.switcheroo/32/5713_2.png) [@Q.Q.Switcheroo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.Q.Switcheroo)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/46 "2022-05-18T17:21:58Z")
ninja’d! ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2022, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/47 "2022-05-18T21:58:04Z")
I occasionally hear people say that important services, concepts, and even people " **fall between the cracks,** or **got lost between the cracks.** What they mean is exactly the opposite. Between the cracks is still on the floor, not lost. Those things, or people, fell through the cracks between the boards or stones. ---
**Author:** ![Mijin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mijin/32/9369_2.png) [@Mijin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mijin)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2022, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/48 "2022-05-25T10:54:21Z")
A “quantum leap” in technology. The origin of this expression is likely the “quantum jump”, which is pretty much as _small_ a transition as is physically possible. Granted, it’s an immediate, discontinuous transition, so some uses of quantum leap are consistent in that sense. But often the implication is _very big_, so quite different to the original meaning. ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2022, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322/49 "2022-05-25T12:03:26Z")
> [@Mijin](#): > > A “quantum leap” in technology. “Quantum” is now a synonym for “magic”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/popular-sayings-that-break-or-reverse-the-original-meaning/964322.md?page=2)