🤐 Goes Without Saying: Facts So Obvious They Don’t Need Mentioning 🗣️
Goes without saying, it/that - It/that is a matter of course, so generally accepted that it need not be stated at all. This expression, which often is followed by exactly what supposedly need not be said, is a translation of the French proverb Cela va sans dire, which at first was directly adopted into English and later was translated (in the last half of the nineteenth century). “It goes without saying that the books are not ordinary ones,” appeared in an issue of a literary journal in 1897.
Similar Phrases
- Needless to Say: A simplified form of implying something is self-evident.
- It Stands to Reason: If something is logical without much explanation.
- Obviously: Sometimes used sarcastically to stress the point.
- Clearly: When the truth is as solid as a glass of perfectly brewed iced tea.
Humor-Filled Quotes
- “It goes without saying that anyone named ‘Tiny’ is probably not very tiny.” - Unknown Wisecracker 🥸
Proverbs & Wisdom
- “What is understood need not be discussed.” - Old Chinese Proverb.
- “Loud gongs do not always ring true.” - Ancient Sage
Intriguing Reads:
-
Books:
- “Eats, Shoots & Leaves” by Lynne Truss. (Because language correctness sometimes means the obvious must be stated!)
- “The Elements of Eloquence: How to Turn the Perfect English Phrase” by Mark Forsyth.
-
Movies/Shows:
- “Dumb and Dumber” (For plenty of fun revisiting the phrase in all its ironic glory).
- “Forrest Gump” (A character who often stated what went without saying).
thought-provoking Farewell 💡
Remember, dear reader, some truths are so clear we don’t need to speak them—yet it is often the unspoken that holds the most wisdom. Speak less, observe more, and you’ll find volumes in the silence. - L. O. Quacious
### Which of these phrases means something that is obvious and doesn't need to be said?
- [x] Goes without saying
- [ ] Speaks volumes while saying nothing
- [ ] Dances in the wind
- [ ] Sings like a canary in a mine shaft
> **Explanation:** "Goes without saying" refers to something so clear it need not be spoken.
### Which is another way of saying 'goes without saying'?
- [x] Needless to say
- [ ] Whispered nothings
- [ ] Painted for the blind
- [ ] Shouted from rooftops
> **Explanation:** "Needless to say" is an equivalent phrase where the obviousness of the fact makes it redundant to be discussed.
### True or False: The expression "goes without saying" originated from a French proverb.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True. It is a translation of the French proverb *Cela va sans dire*.
