"Back in 'the eye of the storm' "

Could this be a Schrodinger's eye of the storm when you're both in and out of the storm at the same time

Apt!

It wasn't actually me who said it first but, yes, it is aot.

I agree with Calistemon - I thought he used it very deliberately, as a tribute to NHS staff (who are usually very calm)

That may be your experience. I try very hard not to be “superior” knowing my good fortune at having an education. However, if I hear a child, I try to explain the proper use of whatever so they are not embarrassed and laughed at in later years!

As long as your pedantry isn’t used to humiliate and correct others, you can be as pedantic as you like. Such an unpleasant trait but seemingly pedants lack self control when it comes to airing their ingrained sense of superiority.

And why shouldn't we be pedantic?

I've lived through a HUGE cyclone - the eye was deathly quiet and you could light a candle outside without a flicker of wind! It lasted over an hour, which is unusual. So, yes, the metaphoe is totally wrong...
A lot of people misuse metaphores and analogies - my most un-favourite is "The proof is in the pudding"!

nanaK54

If only he had said "we're in deep shit now" there would have been no misunderstanding

Excellent!

If only he had said "we're in deep shit now" there would have been no misunderstanding

Yes of course though do not pedants have to proof read to avoid such pit falls?

Callistemon

^Sir Simon's description is perfectly accurate; the NHS is exactly that; the calm centre of a raging storm.^

That is a good interpretation of what he said.

That's how I would read it too.

In any case, the fact that someone went to Balliol means that they had good A level results or went to one of the most prestigious schools - not that they necessarily know everything about everything. I understand that Sir Simon Stevens studied PPE, not etymology or idiomatic language, so his degree and place of study is hardly relevant, is it?

Could this be a thinly disguised dig at the Labour Party by any chance?

I have been in the eye of a storm, in Antigua in hurricane season.
After two days locked in my D’s house with no electricity or fresh water everything went quiet and calm.
We knew a lot of damage had been done so SiL suggested a drive to inspect the area.
The sky was yellow, roads flooded and everywhere so silent and eerie, the sense of something going to happen.
When a raging torrent rushing down a road took the car several yards to the left he extricated us and we went home.
Sure enough very shortly it passed over again and roads ,bridges and some property was destroyed.
That to me is the eye of the storm.

Sir Simon's description is perfectly accurate; the NHS is exactly that; the calm centre of a raging storm.

That is a good interpretation of what he said.

Don't these people have dictionaries?
I am sure he does have dictionaries, but I doubt very much if he has time at present to check every pronouncement before he makes it.
Sir Simon's description is perfectly accurate; the NHS is exactly that; the calm centre of a raging storm.
So easy to criticize from a safe distance.

Perhaps he meant he is the only sane and sensible person when all around him are causing chaos, BradfordLass!


It does indeed mean a quiet area of low pressure but with the worst swirling around you and approaching with menace.
So using it to mean immediate chaos is not strictly correct.

He's never encountered a cyclone, obviously.

BradfordLass's typo was probably autocorrect, it always knows best.

As a graduate of a south east sec mod circa early 60s I think this was a typo on Bradford lass’ part.

Correct me if I am wrong please BradfordLass73 but shouldn’t your penultimate paragraph have read ‘used’ instead of ‘use?’
(I attended Sid Sec Girls so obviously haven’t a clue).

Absent - is not the correct term 'most stupid', and not 'stupidest'?

Well no Lemsip, I assumed he meant we were in the calm in the eye of the storm.

I think we all knew what he meant by the term though!

Grandma70s

fevertree Sorry if it sounded pompous. Not intentional at all. I was just stating what seemed to me to be a fact.

You didn't sound pompous at all and I entirely agreed with what you said.

Perhaps people could appreciate that there is a difference between pedants and nitpickers ?

fevertree Sorry if it sounded pompous. Not intentional at all. I was just stating what seemed to me to be a fact.

fevertree

I've always thought that "in the eye of the storm" means smack bang in the midst of chaos, and I'm fairly well educated and definitely well read

Grandma 70 perhaps unintentionally, your comment about the linguistically aware being irritated sounds really pompous. ( I hope I've used the word "pompous" correctly )

That's how I've always understood the idiomatic usage too. I know the eye of a storm is actually calm, but it's the epicentre of chaos and danger.

Boris Johnson went to Balliol, BradfordLass73. ‘Nuff said?