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Related to wisdom: Book of Wisdom
nugget of wisdom
A particular or singular thing that someone has written or said which is especially wise, sagacious, or informative. Can also be used sarcastically to imply that what is said is banal, useless, or uninformative. My uncle loves to give advice, and he's never short of little nuggets of wisdom whenever we go to visit him. Thanks for that nugget of wisdom, Jeff. I'm sure sunbathing tips will really come in handy in Iceland!
Knowledge gained from experience and everyday life. My dad never finished college, but he has much more worldly wisdom than I do, as a perpetual student.
cut (one's) wisdom teeth
To reach an age or state of maturity. I think that we should hire an older, more experienced candidate, one who has already cut her wisdom teeth.
experience is the mother of wisdom
Most wisdom is gained by experiencing different things (compared to acquiring knowledge through schooling or other means). A few years ago, I couldn't even get behind the wheel without having panic attacks, but, with practice, I'm much calmer and can drive with no problems. Experience is the mother of wisdom after all.
pearl of wisdom
A piece of valuable advice. The phrase is sometimes used sarcastically. The old woman shared her pearls of wisdom with the struggling teen, in the hopes of making him feel better. Thanks for the pearl of wisdom, buddy, but your suggestion is ridiculous.
experience is the father of wisdom
Most wisdom is gained by experiencing different things (compared to acquiring knowledge through schooling or other means). A few years ago, I couldn't even get behind the wheel without having panic attacks, but, with practice, I'm much calmer and can drive with no problems. Experience is the father of wisdom after all.
in (one's) (infinite) wisdom
Used ironically when describing one's action or decision that the speaker thinks was particularly stupid or ill advised. The management, in their infinite wisdom, decided to cut employees' benefits while demanding that they work even longer hours.
the received wisdom
Common knowledge that is held to be true, but may not be. The received wisdom says to feed a cold and starve a fever, but that doesn't reflect current medical practice.
the conventional wisdom
Common knowledge that is held to be true, but may not be. The conventional wisdom says to feed a cold and starve a fever, but that doesn't reflect current medical practice.
Experience is the father of wisdom,and Experience is the mother of wisdom.
Prov. The more that happens to you, the more you will learn. I never understood why supervisors got so frustrated with me until I became a supervisor and got frustrated with my subordinates. Experience was definitely the mother of wisdom, in my case.
A widely held belief on which most people act. For example, According to conventional wisdom, an incumbent nearly always wins more votes than a new candidate . This term was invented by John Kenneth Galbraith, who used it in The Affluent Society (1958) to describe economic ideas that are familiar, predictable, and therefore accepted by the general public. Today it is used in any context where public opinion has considerable influence on the course of events.
a pearl of wisdom
If you describe something that someone has said or written as a pearl of wisdom, you mean that it sounds very wise or helpful. I tried to attract the attention of a passing waitress and waited for Josh's next pearl of wisdom. We here in Arkansas are always so grateful for all the pearls of wisdom that may fall from Mr. Greenberg's lips. Note: People usually use this expression humorously, to suggest that in fact they think the person is saying something very obvious, boring or silly.
in someone's wisdomused ironically to suggest that an action is not well judged.
1992 Rugby World & Post In their wisdom Ciaran Fitzgerald and his selectors decided to dispense with the incumbent, Rob Saunders , and bring Aherne back for his thirteenth Irish cap.
pearls of ˈwisdom(usually ironic) good advice; wise remarks: They all gathered round her, hoping for some of her pearls of wisdom.
conventional/received ˈwisdomthe view or belief that most people have: Conventional wisdom has it that riots only ever happen in big cities.The term conventional wisdom was first used by the economist John Kenneth Galbraith in his book The Affluent Society.
in your, his, etc. (infinite) ˈwisdomused when you are saying that you do not understand why somebody has done something: The government in its wisdom has decided to support the ban.
conventional wisdom, the
What the majority believe and act upon. The term was coined by the American economist John Kenneth Galbraith in The Affluent Society (1958), in which he so described economic views that are familiar, predictable, and therefore generally accepted. It was soon transferred to other areas in which public opinion plays an important role in influencing events. It has just about replaced the now virtually obsolete cliché, climate of opinion.
See also: conventional
pearls of wisdom
Brilliant sayings or precepts. This phrase, which dates from the late 1800s, is often used sarcastically. The Daily Chronicle had it on December 12, 1907: “The gramophonist will redistribute the pearls of wisdom which have fallen from the lips of great Unionist statesmen to crowds of admiring villagers.”