--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Scatterbrain is one of those harmless…" description: "\"Scatterbrain is one of those harmless little words you use a million times... Then it turns up in a crime scene description.\" — Dana Gould" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/dana-gould-1290_crime_scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-li_3173379.png" --- # Scatterbrain is one of those harmless little words you use… ![“Scatterbrain is one of those harmless little words you use a million times... Then it turns up in a crime scene description.” quote by Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/dana-gould-1290_crime_scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-li_3173379.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/dana-gould-1290_crime_scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-li_3173379.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/dana-gould-1290_crime_scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-li_3173379.png) > “Scatterbrain is one of those harmless little words you use a million times... Then it turns up in a crime scene description.” [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A harmless term can become ominous when context changes, showing language’s fluidity. **In simple terms:** Words shift meaning. Key Takeaway Watch context change word impact. Themes language humor perception Mood witty observational Type comedic satirical When to use this quote - writing - public speaking - media analysis Key Concepts semantics social commentary Questions to Reflect On - When have you seen a word’s meaning shift? - How does context alter interpretation? A Different Perspective Words can be weaponized unintentionally. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [I'm actually not a very good driver, to be honest with you. I'm a scatterbrain driver. I'm not very focused. I'm always trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-lee-smith/i-m-actually-not-a-very-good-driver-to-be-honest-with-you-i-m-a/) [Lauren Lee Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-lee-smith/) > [I'm kind of scatterbrain and all over the place at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-braddy/i-m-kind-of-scatterbrain-and-all-over-the-place-at-times/) [Johanna Braddy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-braddy/) > [“The scatterbrain, is a little like, the patter of rain. Neither here, nor there, but everywhere.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lang-leav/the-scatterbrain-is-a-little-like-the-patter-of-rain-neither-here-nor/) [Lang Leav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lang-leav/) > [A scatterbrain is one who never has an unspoken thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/a-scatterbrain-is-one-who-never-has-an-unspoken-thought/) [Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/) > [“Lacy took the box she’d brought up from the basement and placed each item inside. Here was the crime scene: look at what was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodi-picoult/lacy-took-the-box-she-d-brought-up-from-the-basement-and-placed-each/) [Jodi Picoult](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodi-picoult/) > [“At 1 A.M. a parking garage feels like a crime scene in waiting.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-magary/at-1-a-m-a-parking-garage-feels-like-a-crime-scene-in-waiting/) [Drew Magary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-magary/) > [“Rule number one of crime scene work: If it's wet and sticky and it ain't yours, don't touch it. -Terry Cooper, crime scene specialist,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/beverly-connor/rule-number-one-of-crime-scene-work-if-it-s-wet-and-sticky-and-it-ain/) Beverly Connor > [Patrice: It's like a crime scene in my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/no-strings-attached-movie/patrice-it-s-like-a-crime-scene-in-my-pants/) No Strings Attached (Movie > [A uniform cordoned off the area with crime scene tape. The M.E. pulled in and parked. There were two EMT trucks idling at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-evanovich/a-uniform-cordoned-off-the-area-with-crime-scene-tape-the-m-e-pulled/) [Janet Evanovich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-evanovich/) > [Another crime scene just like the couple hundred others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boondox/another-crime-scene-just-like-the-couple-hundred-others/) [Boondox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boondox/) > [“I’d like to take you on a date – one, which doesn’t include a crime scene, dead bodies or being handcuffed to a bed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-d-angelo/i-d-like-to-take-you-on-a-date-one-which-doesn-t-include-a-crime/) [Nina D'Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-d-angelo/) > [“Taylor nearly came undone, imagining that worm in her own mouth, and mistakenly took in a deep breath through her nose. She winced and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-t-ellison/taylor-nearly-came-undone-imagining-that-worm-in-her-own-mouth-and/) [J.T. Ellison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-t-ellison/) > [“You agreed not to bug me.” “That’s not why I’m calling. This is something else.” Silence. “Work related,” he added. “I’m at a crime…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-griffin/you-agreed-not-to-bug-me-that-s-not-why-i-m-calling-this-is-something/) [Laura Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-griffin/) > [“A crime scene is a crime scene is a crime scene. Except for the unique nightmarish qualities of each one. I was standing in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurell-k-hamilton/a-crime-scene-is-a-crime-scene-is-a-crime-scene-except-for-the-unique/) [Laurell K. Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurell-k-hamilton/) > [We put the murderer in charge of the crime scene.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-safina/we-put-the-murderer-in-charge-of-the-crime-scene/) [Carl Safina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-safina/) ## More by Dana Gould > [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The older I get, the more I look like my favorite shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/the-older-i-get-the-more-i-look-like-my-favorite-shoes/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Somewhere, there's someone who's masturbation ritual ends with them setting up ventriloquist dummies facing the bed. I mean, someone else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/somewhere-there-s-someone-who-s-masturbation-ritual-ends-with-them/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I feel very uncomfortable when I eat in restaurants. I'm obnoxiously polite with the waiters: 'I just want a tuna sandwich. I'll go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-feel-very-uncomfortable-when-i-eat-in-restaurants-i-m-obnoxiously/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Cowboy boots with a suit? You're a rough, tough businessman. Chaps with a bow tie? You're in the rough, tough man business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/cowboy-boots-with-a-suit-you-re-a-rough-tough-businessman-chaps-with/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Despite a primitive brain, the octopus possesses an intricate system that helps it decide which tentacle to masturbate with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/despite-a-primitive-brain-the-octopus-possesses-an-intricate-system/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I got mugged about six months ago. The oddest thing about the entire situation, though, was that I wasn't afraid, which is strange because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-got-mugged-about-six-months-ago-the-oddest-thing-about-the-entire/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I'm the Forrest Gump of comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-m-the-forrest-gump-of-comedy/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [It's gonna be awesome! A suspected pedophile dunks my kids head in a bucket so when she dies she can live in an invisible…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/it-s-gonna-be-awesome-a-suspected-pedophile-dunks-my-kids-head-in-a/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [If I ever go into a coma, one of you has to promise to come by occasionally and tweeze my unibrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/if-i-ever-go-into-a-coma-one-of-you-has-to-promise-to-come-by/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [They say that God is in the details. Then again, they also say that the Devil is in the details. Boy, talk about awkward.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/they-say-that-god-is-in-the-details-then-again-they-also-say-that-the/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [I have one phobia, snakes. And by snakes I mean intimacy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/i-have-one-phobia-snakes-and-by-snakes-i-mean-intimacy/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [My whole approach to marriage is simple: my wife will do something that drives me insane, I won't say anything, and then, later, I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/my-whole-approach-to-marriage-is-simple-my-wife-will-do-something/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [Wrote a science fiction novel about a man who wins an argument with his wife, but it was rejected for being too farfetched.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/wrote-a-science-fiction-novel-about-a-man-who-wins-an-argument-with/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [If life begins at conception, but you can be born again later, only to live on eternally after death, what's the big deal about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/if-life-begins-at-conception-but-you-can-be-born-again-later-only-to/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) [Explore all 260 Dana Gould quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) ## More Crime quotes > [Joking about violence is not funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/perez-hilton/joking-about-violence-is-not-funny/) [Perez Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/perez-hilton/) > [“Crime and punishment can be summed up in two classifications: there are bad people and there are people who get into bad situations. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnnie-dent-jr/crime-and-punishment-can-be-summed-up-in-two-classifications-there/) [Johnnie Dent Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnnie-dent-jr/) > [With 'Pretty Girls,' I saw the opportunity to talk not just about crime but what crime leaves behind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karin-slaughter/with-pretty-girls-i-saw-the-opportunity-to-talk-not-just-about-crime/) [Karin Slaughter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karin-slaughter/) > [“The jailers, the Court, everyone in that building – it wasn’t about justice; it was about obedience and intimidation…about maintaining order. Fear accomplished that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-allan/the-jailers-the-court-everyone-in-that-building-it-wasn-t-about/) [Jay Allan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-allan/) > [Taking notes while watching Forensic Files and Snapped. I don't want to make the same mistakes the criminals do! ;)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/taking-notes-while-watching-forensic-files-and-snapped-i-don-t-want/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [A man could be a lover and defender of the wilderness without ever in his lifetime leaving the boundaries of asphalt, powerlines, and right-angled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/a-man-could-be-a-lover-and-defender-of-the-wilderness-without-ever-in/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [Nations sometimes flourish by denying the crimes that brought them into being. Only when the original invasion, occupation, extermination or usurpation has been safely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-eagleton/nations-sometimes-flourish-by-denying-the-crimes-that-brought-them/) [Terry Eagleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-eagleton/) > [The danger that may really threaten (crime fiction) is that soon there will be more writers than readers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-barzun/the-danger-that-may-really-threaten-crime-fiction-is-that-soon-there/) [Jacques Barzun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-barzun/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [History is the study of the world's crime](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/history-is-the-study-of-the-world-s-crime/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [If it comes to a question of law, the charges they brought against me - the Espionage Act - is called the quintessential political…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-snowden/if-it-comes-to-a-question-of-law-the-charges-they-brought-against-me/) [Edward Snowden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-snowden/) > [Too much virtue can be criminal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-racine/too-much-virtue-can-be-criminal/) [Jean Racine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-racine/) > [The federal prison population increased by almost 800 percent between 1980 and 2013, often at a far faster rate than the Bureau of Prisons…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sally-yates/the-federal-prison-population-increased-by-almost-800-percent-between/) [Sally Yates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sally-yates/) > [ \[P\]rogress, however, has not sufficiently infiltrated the Interior Ministry, affording protection to those who participated in the Bytyqi murders and other egregious Milosevic-era crimes. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avis-bohlen/p-rogress-however-has-not-sufficiently-infiltrated-the-interior/) Avis Bohlen [Browse all 8,359 Crime quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/crime/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Scatterbrain is one of those harmless little words you use a million times... Then it turns up in a crime scene description.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dana Gould" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-little-words-you-use-a-million/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Crime" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-little-words-you-use-a-million/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/dana-gould-1290_crime_scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-li_3173379.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/dana-gould-1290_crime_scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-li_3173379.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/026/dana-gould-1290_crime_scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-li_3173379.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Scatterbrain is one of those harmless little words you use a million times... Then it turns up in a crime…” — Dana Gould", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Dana Gould", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Scatterbrain is one of those harmless...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-little-words-you-use-a-million/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/scatterbrain-is-one-of-those-harmless-little-words-you-use-a-million/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```