born yesterday, not (I wasn’t)
Born yesterday, not (I wasn’t) - Not naive; more experienced than one might think. Already a popular saying by the early nineteenth century, it appeared on both sides of the Atlantic. “I warn’t born yesterday,” said Thomas Haliburton’s Sam Slick in one of his Wise Saws (1843). Approximately a century later, Garson Kanin used the phrase for the title of a Broadway play that became extremely popular, as did the later (1950) film version. In both, actress Judy Holliday played the quintessential “dumb blonde” who, despite seeming unsophistication, is graced with enormous good sense.
Similar Terms and Related Expressions:
- “Wise to the world”
- “Been around the block”
- “No spring chicken”
- “Savvy”
- “Shrewd as a serpent”
Proverbs & Synonyms:
- Proverb: “Don’t judge a book by its cover.”
- Synonyms:
- Worldly-wise
- Street-smart
- Sceptical
Antonyms:
- Gullible
- Naive
- Innocent
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “Experience is merely the name men gave to their mistakes.” — Oscar Wilde
- “I trust people. Just not the devil inside them.” — Troy Kennedy Martin
In Literature & Pop Culture:
- Books: Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” (for its insights on wit and wisdom lurking behind naïveté)
- Movies: “Forrest Gump” (Forrest might just be the perfect example of how underestimating apparent naivety can lead to unexpected wisdom)
- Songs: “The Times They Are A-Changin’” by Bob Dylan
- Poetry: “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost (a reflection on individual journeys and experiences)
- References: Judy Holliday’s incredible transformation in “Born Yesterday” (1950)
🎉 Fun Quiz Time!
Thank you for delving into the remarkable intelligence that can be hidden behind perceived simplicity. Remember, wisdom often hides in plain sight. Keep your wits about you, for the world is a stage, and not everyone is as “born yesterday” as they may seem.
Yours wisdomously, Sage A. Oracle
