more or less 🔄
More or less - Approximately. This term has been around since the thirteenth century and still serves as an inexact answer, especially when you want to mislead someone kindly or get away without holding too much accountability.
Picture this: You ask someone, “Is this enough pasta for dinner?” and they reply, “More or less.” You might end up with leftovers or ransacking the pantry at 2 am – all part of the fun!
🗣 Related Terms & Synonyms
- About
- Roughly
- Around
- Approximately
- So-so
- Not by much
- In the ballpark
🥳 Humor-Filled Quotes
- “Some say the glass is half full, some say it’s half empty. I say, ‘Are you gonna drink that?’ That’s more or less what my life’s philosophy is about.” - Anonymous
- “I’ve lived more or less like a hermit, which was something I had always wanted to do. Do what’s right for you, more or less.” - Samuel Beckett (paraphrased)
📚 Literature & References
- W. S. Gilbert, The Yeomen of the Guard: “More or less, but rather less than more” (Phoebe’s comment on her betrothal to Wilfred).
- William Shakespeare, Hamlet: “A little more than kin and less than kind.” -Hamlet (Act 1, Scene 2).
- Robert Browning, Andrea del Sarto: “Less is more” (the simpler, the better).
🎬 Movies & Songs
- Movie: Close Enough (fictional film about the hilarious misadventures of characters living their lives ‘more or less’ correctly.)
- Song: Almost There by Anika Noni Rose, from the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog – It’s all about being “more or less” near your goals.
- Poem: “More or Less” by Arthur Guiterman - an ode to the uncertainties of life and hit-or-miss endeavors.
🌐 Proverbs & Common Phrases
- “Close enough for government work.”
- “Good enough.”
- “Near enough is good enough.”
- “Nearly doesn’t even count.”
### Which of the following means the same as “more or less”?
- [ ] Absolutely sure
- [x] Approximately
- [ ] Never ever
- [ ] Undoubtedly
> **Explanation:** "Approximately" is used to express a rough estimate or approximation without being exact.
### Complete the phrase: "A little more than kin and _____ than kind.”
- [x] Less
- [ ] More
- [ ] Equally
- [ ] Greater
> **Explanation:** From Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the complete line is "A little more than kin and less than kind."
### Which famous poet coined the phrase "Less is more"?
- [ ] Emily Dickinson
- [x] Robert Browning
- [ ] W. H. Auden
- [ ] William Wordsworth
> **Explanation:** It was Robert Browning in his poem “Andrea del Sarto.”
### True or False: “More or less” dates back to the thirteenth century.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True! This idiom has been in use since then to denote approximations.
### Finish the sentence: “Close enough for ______ work.”
- [x] government
- [ ] bank
- [ ] emergency
- [ ] family
> **Explanation:** The phrase is "Close enough for government work," highlighting acceptable but not perfect standards.
Farwell Thought: Life operates in realms of “more or less;” we maneuver through uncertainties with approximations, close estimations, and best guesses. Embrace the delightful ambiguity!
— Ellie Quixote
— Published on 2023-10-02
