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When did “optics†begin to mean “appearance†or “perception?â€
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Before this century I had never heard the word optics used to refer to the way a situation is perceived. E.g., "The official hiring his son created terrible optics."
And when I first heard it used that way I found it quite grating – perhaps because I have an engineering background and often discuss the science of optics and optical devices.
Can anyone find indications of the emergence or earliest acceptance of the use of the word to mean "appearance?"
word-usage etymology
asked 1 hour ago
feetwet
681824
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up vote
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Before this century I had never heard the word optics used to refer to the way a situation is perceived. E.g., "The official hiring his son created terrible optics."
And when I first heard it used that way I found it quite grating – perhaps because I have an engineering background and often discuss the science of optics and optical devices.
Can anyone find indications of the emergence or earliest acceptance of the use of the word to mean "appearance?"
word-usage etymology
asked 1 hour ago
feetwet
681824
American heritage says "(used with a pl. verb) Informal The way a situation or action appears to the general public: Voters were put off by the optics of the candidate's financial dealings.", and this example might be a better example of the usage. In your example, I first thought it was a euphemism for presentation slides or glasses (spectacles). I’ve never heard it used this way and wonder if it might be AmE (I use BrE).
– Pam
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
up vote
5
down vote
favorite
Before this century I had never heard the word optics used to refer to the way a situation is perceived. E.g., "The official hiring his son created terrible optics."
And when I first heard it used that way I found it quite grating – perhaps because I have an engineering background and often discuss the science of optics and optical devices.
Can anyone find indications of the emergence or earliest acceptance of the use of the word to mean "appearance?"
word-usage etymology
asked 1 hour ago
feetwet
681824
Before this century I had never heard the word optics used to refer to the way a situation is perceived. E.g., "The official hiring his son created terrible optics."
And when I first heard it used that way I found it quite grating – perhaps because I have an engineering background and often discuss the science of optics and optical devices.
Can anyone find indications of the emergence or earliest acceptance of the use of the word to mean "appearance?"
word-usage etymology
word-usage etymology
asked 1 hour ago
feetwet
681824
asked 1 hour ago
feetwet
681824
asked 1 hour ago
feetwet
681824
asked 1 hour ago
feetwet
681824
asked 1 hour ago
feetwet
681824
681824
American heritage says "(used with a pl. verb) Informal The way a situation or action appears to the general public: Voters were put off by the optics of the candidate's financial dealings.", and this example might be a better example of the usage. In your example, I first thought it was a euphemism for presentation slides or glasses (spectacles). I’ve never heard it used this way and wonder if it might be AmE (I use BrE).
– Pam
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
American heritage says "(used with a pl. verb) Informal The way a situation or action appears to the general public: Voters were put off by the optics of the candidate's financial dealings.", and this example might be a better example of the usage. In your example, I first thought it was a euphemism for presentation slides or glasses (spectacles). I’ve never heard it used this way and wonder if it might be AmE (I use BrE).
– Pam
1 hour ago
American heritage says "(used with a pl. verb) Informal The way a situation or action appears to the general public: Voters were put off by the optics of the candidate's financial dealings.", and this example might be a better example of the usage. In your example, I first thought it was a euphemism for presentation slides or glasses (spectacles). I’ve never heard it used this way and wonder if it might be AmE (I use BrE).
– Pam
1 hour ago
American heritage says "(used with a pl. verb) Informal The way a situation or action appears to the general public: Voters were put off by the optics of the candidate's financial dealings.", and this example might be a better example of the usage. In your example, I first thought it was a euphemism for presentation slides or glasses (spectacles). I’ve never heard it used this way and wonder if it might be AmE (I use BrE).
– Pam
1 hour ago
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
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According to the following extract from Macmillan Dictionary, the metaphoric usage of optics dates back to the late '70s:
Metaphorical expansion of optics into political and other arenas in fact dates back to the late 1970s, when it was used in the context of US President Jimmy Carter's anti-inflation policy. Interestingly, at the time, the metaphor also extended to the related adjective optical, with for example a particular course of action being described as a 'nice optical step'.
Though metaphorical use of the adjective never really took off, the noun gained a foothold in political commentary throughout the 1980s, especially in Canadian English.
Today it is still far more prevalent in Canadian and US English, though the current Libya conflict has led to more exposure in Britain. Optics has also gained currency in Irish English, often in the context of the country's recent economic difficulties.
answered 1 hour ago
user240918
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1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
According to the following extract from Macmillan Dictionary, the metaphoric usage of optics dates back to the late '70s:
Metaphorical expansion of optics into political and other arenas in fact dates back to the late 1970s, when it was used in the context of US President Jimmy Carter's anti-inflation policy. Interestingly, at the time, the metaphor also extended to the related adjective optical, with for example a particular course of action being described as a 'nice optical step'.
Though metaphorical use of the adjective never really took off, the noun gained a foothold in political commentary throughout the 1980s, especially in Canadian English.
Today it is still far more prevalent in Canadian and US English, though the current Libya conflict has led to more exposure in Britain. Optics has also gained currency in Irish English, often in the context of the country's recent economic difficulties.
answered 1 hour ago
user240918
19.8k853129
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
According to the following extract from Macmillan Dictionary, the metaphoric usage of optics dates back to the late '70s:
Metaphorical expansion of optics into political and other arenas in fact dates back to the late 1970s, when it was used in the context of US President Jimmy Carter's anti-inflation policy. Interestingly, at the time, the metaphor also extended to the related adjective optical, with for example a particular course of action being described as a 'nice optical step'.
Though metaphorical use of the adjective never really took off, the noun gained a foothold in political commentary throughout the 1980s, especially in Canadian English.
Today it is still far more prevalent in Canadian and US English, though the current Libya conflict has led to more exposure in Britain. Optics has also gained currency in Irish English, often in the context of the country's recent economic difficulties.
answered 1 hour ago
user240918
19.8k853129
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
According to the following extract from Macmillan Dictionary, the metaphoric usage of optics dates back to the late '70s:
Metaphorical expansion of optics into political and other arenas in fact dates back to the late 1970s, when it was used in the context of US President Jimmy Carter's anti-inflation policy. Interestingly, at the time, the metaphor also extended to the related adjective optical, with for example a particular course of action being described as a 'nice optical step'.
Though metaphorical use of the adjective never really took off, the noun gained a foothold in political commentary throughout the 1980s, especially in Canadian English.
Today it is still far more prevalent in Canadian and US English, though the current Libya conflict has led to more exposure in Britain. Optics has also gained currency in Irish English, often in the context of the country's recent economic difficulties.
answered 1 hour ago
user240918
19.8k853129
According to the following extract from Macmillan Dictionary, the metaphoric usage of optics dates back to the late '70s:
Metaphorical expansion of optics into political and other arenas in fact dates back to the late 1970s, when it was used in the context of US President Jimmy Carter's anti-inflation policy. Interestingly, at the time, the metaphor also extended to the related adjective optical, with for example a particular course of action being described as a 'nice optical step'.
Though metaphorical use of the adjective never really took off, the noun gained a foothold in political commentary throughout the 1980s, especially in Canadian English.
Today it is still far more prevalent in Canadian and US English, though the current Libya conflict has led to more exposure in Britain. Optics has also gained currency in Irish English, often in the context of the country's recent economic difficulties.
answered 1 hour ago
user240918
19.8k853129
answered 1 hour ago
user240918
19.8k853129
answered 1 hour ago
user240918
19.8k853129
answered 1 hour ago
user240918
19.8k853129
19.8k853129
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
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American heritage says "(used with a pl. verb) Informal The way a situation or action appears to the general public: Voters were put off by the optics of the candidate's financial dealings.", and this example might be a better example of the usage. In your example, I first thought it was a euphemism for presentation slides or glasses (spectacles). I’ve never heard it used this way and wonder if it might be AmE (I use BrE).
– Pam
1 hour ago