trifecta vs triumvirate
OKAY SO ON TWITTER I SPONTANEOUSLY LAUNCHED INTO SOME KIND OF RANT. I'll roughly paraphrase/expand on it here.
It started with seeing someone use the word "trifecta" correctly, which is a pretty rare occurrence.
Misuse of the word "trifecta" seems horribly rampant to me, especially in fandom. What most people mean is "triumvirate".
"trifecta" is used in a racing/winning context. Usually refers to a first-second-third sort of triple whammy. The word originates from racehorse betting.
A "triumvirate" is a powerful group of three. Originates from Ancient Rome, about three with roughly equal power who dominate politically.
Please get it right, people. IT SERIOUSLY ANNOYS ME. Don't use clever sounding words if you don't actually know what they mean. Or check the dictionary before you use them.
And you know what, where I saw it used correctly wasn't in fandomy writing at all. It's in a letter I got from a Democrat candidate (LOL I signed up to show support for some Democrat cause aaaages ago and never bothered to get myself off the mailing list even though I usually delete the emails without reading.)
Sen. Bob Menendez sent an email entitled "Trifecta". He says this:
Call it the "Republican Triple Crown."
Their goal is Senate control. The icing on their cake would be winning President Obama's, Vice President Biden's and the Majority Leader's seats.
As that roughly approximates a first-second-third sort of situation, and is used in the context of a victory from competition of some sort, that is Appropriate Usage.
Referring to Kirk, Spock and McCoy, for example, as a trifecta, makes no sense, because they aren't winning anything. A "triumvirate" would be the appropriate word as they are a group of three who wield a lot of influence aboard the USS Enterprise. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba? Could pass as a triumvirate within their team. But what you do is bet on an Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd trifecta for the Premier League.
THAT CONCLUDES YOUR VOCAB LESSON. Thanks for reading. And allow me to feel smug about myself. (IF I'M ACTUALLY WRONG FEEL FREE TO GLOAT.)
edit: also, LJ's buttons seem to have become marginally "cuter". hmm.
It started with seeing someone use the word "trifecta" correctly, which is a pretty rare occurrence.
Misuse of the word "trifecta" seems horribly rampant to me, especially in fandom. What most people mean is "triumvirate".
"trifecta" is used in a racing/winning context. Usually refers to a first-second-third sort of triple whammy. The word originates from racehorse betting.
A "triumvirate" is a powerful group of three. Originates from Ancient Rome, about three with roughly equal power who dominate politically.
Please get it right, people. IT SERIOUSLY ANNOYS ME. Don't use clever sounding words if you don't actually know what they mean. Or check the dictionary before you use them.
And you know what, where I saw it used correctly wasn't in fandomy writing at all. It's in a letter I got from a Democrat candidate (LOL I signed up to show support for some Democrat cause aaaages ago and never bothered to get myself off the mailing list even though I usually delete the emails without reading.)
Sen. Bob Menendez sent an email entitled "Trifecta". He says this:
Call it the "Republican Triple Crown."
Their goal is Senate control. The icing on their cake would be winning President Obama's, Vice President Biden's and the Majority Leader's seats.
As that roughly approximates a first-second-third sort of situation, and is used in the context of a victory from competition of some sort, that is Appropriate Usage.
Referring to Kirk, Spock and McCoy, for example, as a trifecta, makes no sense, because they aren't winning anything. A "triumvirate" would be the appropriate word as they are a group of three who wield a lot of influence aboard the USS Enterprise. John Terry, Frank Lampard and Didier Drogba? Could pass as a triumvirate within their team. But what you do is bet on an Arsenal, Chelsea, Man Utd trifecta for the Premier League.
THAT CONCLUDES YOUR VOCAB LESSON. Thanks for reading. And allow me to feel smug about myself. (IF I'M ACTUALLY WRONG FEEL FREE TO GLOAT.)
edit: also, LJ's buttons seem to have become marginally "cuter". hmm.