Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83; site gummo.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!harpo!floyd!whuxlb!gummo!wje From: wje@gummo.UUCP (W. J. Eagan) Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: quantum leap Message-ID: <824@gummo.UUCP> Date: Mon, 25-Jul-83 09:42:41 EDT Article-I.D.: gummo.824 Posted: Mon Jul 25 09:42:41 1983 Date-Received: Mon, 25-Jul-83 13:17:19 EDT Organization: Bell Labs, Whippany Lines: 5 I have heard celebrities and politicians use the phrase "quantum leap" or "quantum jump" to refer to a big change, in policy for instance. Where and when did quantum become associated with bigness? A quantum might have a quality of discreteness, but not size. Is this a misnomer used by those with no knowledge of quantum physics?