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Pedants' corner

20/20 hindsight

(18 Posts)
Alea Tue 31-May-16 12:06:26

Does anybody else get annoyed by the (often smug) use of this cliché?
DH has taken to spouting it and it is driving me bonkers!!
I have to tune out until he finishes it!! And then change the subject.

Anya Tue 31-May-16 12:22:23

TBH I get fed up of the über-use (oh ....I typed over-use...but that will do/suffice) of clichés in general. It's just about acceptable if one is introduced into the conversation that has been dormant for a number of years, but 20/20 hindsight is currently à la mode.

Ana Tue 31-May-16 12:26:50

Must admit I'd never heard it before!

dustyangel Tue 31-May-16 12:35:31

I've never heard of it either. I expect i will soon.

Then can I say? "With 20/20 hindsight, I told you this would happen." grin

Alea Tue 31-May-16 12:59:56

shockshock Aaaargh!!

ninathenana Tue 31-May-16 13:01:23

New to me.

Anya Tue 31-May-16 13:22:57

Can't believe this. Do you all live very sheltered lives?

ninathenana Tue 31-May-16 13:27:29

Maybe it's a regional thing

Anya Tue 31-May-16 13:52:29

It's taken over from the truism that 'Hindsight is a wonderful thing'.

Have you heard that one perhaps?

That's the trouble with clichés - they always state the b****y obvious. I just want to reply 'so your point is????'

rosesarered Tue 31-May-16 15:57:00

Never heard this said ( as yet.) Yes, I live a very sheltered life in my convent.

rosesarered Tue 31-May-16 15:58:04

I thought it was 20/20 vision?

Ana Tue 31-May-16 16:00:34

Yes, I know the meaning of 20/20 vision and also 'with the benefit of hindsight'. Just don't get 20/20 hindsight at all.

rosesarered Tue 31-May-16 16:09:59

Me neither, ( will we be kept back after school?)

Alea Tue 31-May-16 16:54:00

Right, for the lucky people who seem to have escaped so far would appear to be a conflation of "the benefit of hindsight" and "20/20 vision"
And it goes something like, "of course we all enjoy 20/20 hindsight" I.e."we can all see something quite clearly after the event
I cannot believe this comes as news to anybody, I have heard it all over the place on the media confused

Ana Tue 31-May-16 16:59:54

Wel, I promise you I'm not lying! grin Perhaps my subconscious blocked it out as being one of those 'it's the proof of the pudding' nonsenses!

thatbags Tue 31-May-16 17:03:44

I've never heard it before either.

I did just see thought spelled like this: "thort" on Twitter. Fewer letters so it'll probably catch on.

ffinnochio Tue 31-May-16 17:11:40

Original!

Katek Tue 31-May-16 17:57:17

I've heard it used the other way around - 'hindsight's always 20:20'