PhrasesHub

Rhyme nor reason

    Definitions

      • lack of logic or sense
        To describe something that is illogical, without any clear explanation or rationale

      • lack of order or structure
        To describe a situation or thing that is chaotic or disorganized

    Examples of Rhyme nor reason

    • The teacher assigned homework that consisted of solving math equations with no apparent rhyme nor reason, making it incredibly confusing for the students.

      In this example, "rhyme nor reason" is being used figuratively to mean that there is no discernible logic or pattern to the math problems assigned by the teacher. The phrase implies that the teacher's method of teaching is illogical and confusing, as there seems to be no reason for why specific problems were chosen.

    • The weather has been changing unexpectedly, with sunshine and rain showers interspersed without any rhyme nor reason.

      In this example, "rhyme nor reason" is being used to describe the unpredictability of the weather patterns. Just as "rhyme" refers to words that have the same sound at the end, "reason" refers to a logical explanation. By saying that the weather has no rhyme nor reason, the speaker is indicating that there is no logical explanation for why the weather is behaving so erratically.

    • The company's advertising campaign seemed to have no rhyme nor reason, with bizarre and seemingly disconnected images and slogans that made it difficult to understand what the company was actually trying to sell.

      In this example, "rhyme nor reason" is being used to describe the nonsensical nature of the advertising campaign. By making a comparison to words that have no apparent relationship to each other ("rhyme"), and a logical explanation for why they should be used together ("reason"), the speaker is emphasizing just how disconnected and illogical the campaign feels.

    • The author's writing style was so erratic that it had no rhyme nor reason, making it difficult to follow the narrative or understand the themes being explored.

      In this example, "rhyme nor reason" is being used to describe the lack of structure or coherence in the author's writing. By comparing this lack of structure to words that have no apparent relationship ("rhyme"), and a logical explanation for why they should be used together ("reason"), the speaker is emphasizing just how disconnected and illogical the writing feels.

    • The teacher's grading system seemed to have rhyme nor reason. Some students who barely showed up to class received A's, while others who consistently participated received C's.

      This idiom is used to describe a situation where there is no logical or consistent explanation for why something is happening. It suggests that the grading system was arbitrary and unpredictable, with no clear criteria for how grades were assigned.

    • Some people believe that global warming is a natural phenomenon with rhyme nor reason, while others believe it is a man-made problem that requires immediate action.

      In this example, the idiom is used to suggest that there is no clear or consensus understanding of the causes and effects of global warming, with some people arguing that it is a natural, cyclical process, while others see it as a result of human activity.

    • I couldn't make sense of the instructions, they had rhyme nor reason. It was like trying to decode a foreign language.

      This example shows how the idiom can be used to describe a situation where something is confusing or incomprehensible, with no apparent logic or structure. It compares the confusion to trying to decipher a language that is unfamiliar or nonsensical.

    • The teacher's grading system had rhyme nor reason, and I felt like I was playing a game of chance.

      In this example, the idiom is used to describe a situation where success or failure seems arbitrary and uncontrollable, as if it were the result of chance or luck, rather than hard work or effort.


    Conclusion

    The idiom "rhyme nor reason" is used to express the lack of logic or sense in a situation or thing. It can also describe the absence of order or structure. People use this idiom to convey that something is completely illogical or disorganized.

    Origin of "Rhyme nor reason"

    The origin of the idiom "rhyme nor reason" can be traced back to the 14th century. The word "rhyme" in this context refers to a pattern or structure in poetry, while "reason" signifies logic or sense. The idiom was originally used in the context of poetry and literature to denote a lack of coherence or logic in a piece of writing. Over time, it evolved to be used in everyday language to describe any situation or thing that lacks logic or order.

    One of the earliest recorded uses of the idiom can be found in Geoffrey Chaucer's "The Squire's Tale" from "The Canterbury Tales," where he wrote, "Withouten rhym or reson." This usage demonstrates the idiom's early association with poetry and literature. Over the centuries, the idiom became more widely used in everyday language to convey the absence of logic or order in various contexts. Today, it is a common phrase used to express the lack of sense or structure in a situation or thing.