Many a True Word is spoken in Jest.
What does "Many a True Word is spoken in Jest." mean? | A humorous, joking remark may hide a profound
insight or a serious criticism. An unintended comment may turn out to be true. | "You know Shirley, you might as well rub those cinnamon rolls directly on to your hips. That is where they're going to end up anyway." "Well Fred, many a true word is spoken in jest, but my hips are really none of your business."
In trying to be funny many people will relay on sarcasm. The most poignant (and often cutting, or hurtful) sarcasm is founded in truth. It is often determental to a relationship to pick on someone in front of others even if you are basically telling the truth. Conversely, if you are being picked on in jest, you can often get a true picture of how others view you and know then what to work on. The meaning behind this saying was used as early as in Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," in which the cook says, "A man may seye full soothe in game and pley." Later, at the end of the sixteenth century, a Scottish saying was, "There are many sooth words spoken in bourding," and both French and Italian have equivalent sayings. |