"Schrodinger's Cat" not in OED

[Laurence Horn]

At 3:07 PM -0400 4/9/11, victor steinbok wrote:
>Here's the entirety of non-attributive "Einstein":
>
>  b. A (usu. mathematical or scientific) genius comparable to Einstein.
>Also used iron.
>
>I am not sure the qualifier "usu. mathematical or scientific" is
>particularly useful. One common usage is "regular Einstein" or "real
>Einstein" that can be replaced with an equivalent "wiz", "wiz kid" or
>"wizard", as in, "he's a regular Einstein with cars" (OK, maybe a bit
>of a stretch with this example). This might have been generally
>restricted to scientific subjects in the past, but "Einstein" has long
>entered the popular culture and been applied to all sorts of
>expertise.
>
>UD claims its "satyrical" (which would be covered by the "iron."
>above), but it's awfully restrictive. In my experience this is true
>when a direct address, but not ironic/satyrical at least some of the
>time when used in 3rd person. Note, in particular, that it applies to
>skills and skill sets, not just "genius" of theoretical or book
>knowledge.
>
>Maybe I'm just splitting hairs.

It may also be worth noting that "Einstein" is used a lot in what is
sometimes (e.g. in Gregory Ward's publications on the construction)
called negative epitomization:  "He's (She's, You're, ...) no
Einstein".  Here, "Einstein" itself isn't being satyrically, although
the whole negative statement (while true) often functions as a
litotes or ironic understatement.

LH

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