Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site ulysses.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!microsoft!uw-beaver!cornell!vax135!ariel!hou5f!hou5e!hou5d!hogpc!houxm!mhuxa!ulysses!smb From: smb@ulysses.UUCP Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: quantum leap Message-ID: <514@ulysses.UUCP> Date: Mon, 25-Jul-83 13:41:58 EDT Article-I.D.: ulysses.514 Posted: Mon Jul 25 13:41:58 1983 Date-Received: Tue, 26-Jul-83 13:47:52 EDT References: <824@gummo.UUCP> Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill Lines: 7 William Safire mused about that usage as well. The explanation I favor is that "quantum leap" is used to mean "discrete change", i.e., a change from one state to another without assuming any intermediate values. Thus, if the entire workforce of GM were dismissed one day, that would be a quantum leap. Of course, politicians usually use the phrase metaphorically, implying (at best) a change that appears instantaneous within the limits of the measurements we use.