Jdsk wrote: ↑19 Aug 2022, 11:30am
Bmblbzzz wrote: ↑19 Aug 2022, 11:27am
Jdsk wrote: ↑19 Aug 2022, 10:43am
I think that "the proof is in the pudding" is a descendant of "the proof of the pudding is in the eating". And it seems to lose some meaning in the change.
The original is a nice reminder of
proof meaning
test. That only remains in English in a few settings such as alcohol concentration, gun testing, car testing (but only in proving grounds) and this phrase. And the related
probate and
probation. And reminds us of the close relationship of English to German.
And "the exception that proves the rule".
Yes. And that can easily be misunderstood without
proves meaning
tests.
Jonathan
I've heard it "explained" as "the exception proves the rule, because if there wasn't a rule there couldn't be an exception to it" (which is probably an example of "begging the question" in its original sense of "assuming the conclusion" – how we go round in circles!).
It also reminds me of the phrase "starve a cold, feed a fever" which is interpreted either as being medical advice or meaning "if you starve someone who has a cold, you will feed, ie cause, a fever". I'd ask a medical doctor about this one! (Quite possibly the phrase is "feed a cold, starve a fever", I can't remember, partly due to the lack of clarity in meaning).