Down and Quote by George Carlin
“Why do 'slow down' and 'slow up' mean the same thing? Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?”
About This Quote
Source Interview: Stand-up routine, 1996
The phrases “slow down” and “slow up” both describe reducing speed, so they convey the same idea; the watch’s “second hand” counts seconds, not minutes, because it’s the second unit of time measured.
In simple terms: Both expressions mean reducing speed; the watch hand is called second because it measures seconds.
Key Takeaway
Recognize language quirks and time‑keeping conventions.
Themes
language
time
perception
Mood
curious
playful
Type
educational
humorous
When to use this quote
- everyday conversation
- watch reading
- teaching language
- writing humor
Key Concepts
semantics
chronology
Questions to Reflect On
- Why do we accept contradictory phrases?
- How does naming affect our perception of time?
A Different Perspective
The explanation may oversimplify historical naming conventions.
![“Since I worked with Danny Boyle before on Slumdog Millionaire, we have great success and everything. So, when I first got the script and the screenplay of Simon (Beaufoy) and I was reading it, even before the shoot, some kind of sounds came into my mind and I put some stuff [down] and sent it to…” quote by A. R. Rahman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/573/a-r-rahman-4481_cutting_since-i-worked-with-danny-boyle-before-o_539.jpg)
