BECNO Language Lab Fall 2020: “Being smart is enough”

Phrase: Being smart is enough

                                                                 Meme for “Being Smart is Enough. (Meme by: Kaleah Smith)

Usage

My phrase “Being smart is enough” is something that may be said everyday — but in different ways. Depending on which words you emphasize, the emphasis may give it different meanings. This phrase is used by someone who may feel like if they can’t do something else, it doesn’t matter, because all they need is their knowledge.

Here’s a scene where the phrase is used: A girl wants to do some type of sport, and so she tries out for cheerleading. When she goes to tryouts she knows that she can’t catch onto the moves, and she knows that she won’t make the team. When she sees the role call list, and she realizes she isn’t on it she says, “Oh well! Being smart is enough.”

Influence

When I searched up the word “smart” it was first recorded before the 12th century, and it often meant: “having or showing a high degree of mental ability: Intelligent, Bright.” The second most used definition was “to be a source of sharp, local, and usually superficial pain, as a wound.” This completely influenced the phrase because (when using it) you can only use the word “smart” when it means the first definition.

On top of that, the word “enough” dates back also before the 12th century, and it meant, “occurring in such quantity, quality, or scope as to fully meet demands, needs, or expectations.” This influences the phrase by knowing that “being smart” means it could meet someone else’s expectations.

Fun Facts

A fun fact about the word about my phrase is that many people disagree with it. They think you have to have other qualities in order to meet people’s expectations.

A fun fact about my phrase is I used to want to create a book; called, “Being smart is enough.