Preface

The English Language is bespeckled with such a delicious array of words and phrases. Speaking this global business language as a first language, I thought I knew enough English vocabulary to survive most books and conversations. But after a mere few days at my first real job, I felt like a foreigner, unable to understand many of the phrases other co-workers were using. What are these things called "idioms"? Did they just spring up within the past year? Why I wasn't taught these growing up?

This a blog to capture my frustration with the language I thought I knew so well, to aide those who also lack an understanding of idioms, and to perhaps provide a bit of entertainment on the side.

Enjoy.


Thursday, October 4, 2007

Monday Morning Quarterback

"Eh don't worry about him. He's just a Monday morning quarterback."

*GOD it's getting old how often I'm saying this*
"... uuuh I don't know what that means..."

"it's just that... he wants to be one of us, but he's not qualified. So he'll tell you stuff, and just ignore him."

Okay. But I have a feeling that's not what Monday morning quarterback means. So I look it up in my special dictionary. GASP. It's not there. WHAT DO I DO!? So I try to reason it out.

I think there's Sunday football. Or is it Monday night football. Let's just say Sunday. So...maybe the Monday morning quarterback is the shmuck who's ready to play RIGHT when your team already played --- like he's too enthusiastic. "Cooooool it, kid. Take a break."

Or maybe... if they play Monday night, then the guy is there too early... so he's still a schmuck... "Coool it kid. Rest up."


So... Schmuck? Over-enthusiastic? That's what I figure.

I ask my resource, Justin.

"Well... they play football on Sundays...right?" Okay. Got it. "... So everyone always thinks they can play the game better the day after everything happens. He shoulda done this, shoulda done that. But it's the day after...so who cares. Hindsight is 20/20. It's a lot more difficult to make the right plays as it's happening."

Oh.

Okay that makes sense. Damn the Monday morning quaterbacks. But, we're all guilty of it. Lesson: don't shoulda-woulda-coulda. Say "well, this has been a learning experience for me.. maybe next time we should do *this*...." Maybe write it in a book so the next person knows...

It's all about preventing things from happening next time ... don't focus on the shoulda-woulda-couldas.


Monday Morning Quarterback
My Score Card for this idiom:
Able to be understood initially?: Not if you don't know football
Able to be understood once explained?: Yes


You live, you learn.

Yours preposterously,
An under-read American
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1 comment:

Laddie said...

The definition of a Monday morning quarterback is someone who is always criticizing and saying how he would have done something better or differently after the event has passed.

An example of a Monday morning quarterback is a person who talks about how he would never have bought those curtains, after they have already
been installed and have been found to clash with the sofa.

Courtesy: theidioms.com

February 7, 2019 at 2:26 AM

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