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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.