PhrasesHub

Butter side down

    Definitions

      • bad luck or misfortune
        To express a situation where things go wrong or turn out unfavorably, often as a result of one's actions or choices

      • negative outcome
        To suggest a prediction or expectation of a negative result or consequence

      • Murphy's Law
        To reference the idea that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong, similar to Murphy's Law

    Examples of Butter side down


      Conclusion

      The idiom "butter side down" is often used to convey a sense of bad luck or misfortune. It can be used to describe a situation where things go wrong or turn out unfavorably, often as a result of one's actions or choices. It can also be used to suggest a prediction or expectation of a negative outcome or consequence. Additionally, the idiom can be used to reference the concept of Murphy's Law, which states that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.

      Origin of "Butter side down"

      The origin of the idiom "butter side down" is uncertain, but it is believed to have originated in the late 19th or early 20th century. It may have been inspired by the saying "the bread always falls buttered side down," which dates back to the 17th century and refers to the tendency for things to go wrong or turn out unfavorably.

      Some sources suggest that the idiom may have been popularized by a story about a man named Edward Murphy, who was an engineer working on a project in the mid-20th century. According to the story, Murphy noticed that when something went wrong, it was usually due to human error. He then coined the phrase "anything that can go wrong, will go wrong," which eventually became known as Murphy's Law.

      However, the idiom "butter side down" is also linked to the popular superstition that if a piece of bread falls on the floor, it will always land with the buttered side facing downwards. This belief likely stems from the fact that bread is usually buttered on one side, making it more likely to land that way. Therefore, the idiom may have evolved from this superstition to refer to any situation where things go wrong or turn out unfavorably.