Beware the Colloquial Ellipses

By Kirsten Laaspere on  2020-10-14

One bad apple…

Curiosity killed the cat…

These are commonly used phrases in the public vernacular, but they only tell part of the story. How many people say “one bad apple” meaning it was only one bad person or “curiosity killed the cat” to indicate that being curious is dangerous? I would say that is the most prevalent public use of these phrases, but it’s actually incorrect.

One bad apple… spoils the bunch/barrell.

Curiosity killed the cat… but satisfaction brought it back.

The reality of these full statements is that one bad apple can contaminate the things and people around it, so it’s important to address or remove the bad apple before the badness spreads. And while curiosity can be dangerous, it’s actually positive to have a curious mind and strive to find answers.

So you see: if you let the ellipses guide you to your own understanding - or the understanding of the masses - you might miss the truth behind the sentiment.