Introduction 📖
Who wouldn’t want their own slice of a delicious pie? Turns out, just like in a bakery, everyone wants their fair share when it comes to success and wealth. The metaphor “slice of the pie” isn’t just about satisfying one’s sweet tooth; it reflects human nature’s craving for fairness and profit.
Breakdown of the Phrase 🍰
Definitions & Origins 🎩
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Slice of the Pie: To share the profits or benefits. This metaphor has predominantly replaced the earlier phrase “slice of the melon.” It originated in nineteenth-century America.
- Historical Usage:
- T. N. Page used a version in Red Rock (1898): “Does he want to keep all the pie for himself?”
- Boston Sunday Herald (1967): “An appellate court victory . . . cut Weymouth’s total property valuation . . . to give the town a bigger slice of the sales tax pie.”
- Historical Usage:
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No matter how you slice it: An Americanism common in the twentieth century, meaning “no matter how you look at it.”
- Historical Usage:
- Carl Sandburg in The People, Yes (1936): “No matter how thick or how thin you slice it, it’s still baloney.”
- Historical Usage:
Similar Terms 🎂
- Piece of the Action: A term that shares a similar meaning to “slice of the pie,” denoting a share in the potential gains from an endeavor.
- Stake in the Game: An interest or share in the outcome, usually financial.
- Cut of the Profits: A monetary share of the profits from a venture.
Related Idioms 🥧
- Get a Piece of the Pie: To obtain a share of something valuable.
- Dividing the Spoils: Distributing rewards among participants.
Humorous Quotes to Ponder 😂
“If life gives you a pie, make sure you’re not just good at cutting it fair but also eating your winnings responsibly.”
“A balanced pie is having an equal mix of slices for both prosperity and humility.”
“Money speaks fluent pie – it understands slices very well.”
Literary Connections 📚
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Books:
- Red Rock by T. N. Page: A literary instance where balancing one’s share is questioned.
- The People, Yes by Carl Sandburg: Examines human condition through idiomatic wisdom.
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Movies:
- Wall Street (1987): Highlights the hunger for financial share and power.
- The Social Network (2010): The modern battle for ownership and the slice of a billion-dollar pie.
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Songs:
- “Money” by Pink Floyd: Talks about wealth and the social divisions created by slices of prosperity.
Inspiring Slides of Wisdom 🍋
“Baking a pie is as much an art as dividing it with fairness and love.”
“Success, much like a pie, is sweeter when shared amongst friends and family.”
“It’s not about how big your slice is but how savored every bite is with gratitude.”
Fun Quiz 🍰
Till the next slice of wisdom, 🍰 W. T. Wittywords
