Sod's law

English

Etymology

Perhaps from unlucky sod.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /sɒdz lɔ/

• Audio (AU)

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Proper noun

Sod's law

1. (chiefly UK) The principle that what can go wrong, will go wrong, usually with some observed degree of irony

   Synonyms: Murphy's law, Finagle's law

   It's Sod's law that it will rain when going for a picnic.

   • 2013, Allen Carr, The Easy Way to Enjoy Flying, Penguin UK, →ISBN:

     It was amazing and typical of Sod's Law, the moment I turned for home, the wind direction would not only change, but be the complete reverse.

Translations

rule — see also Murphy's law

• Czech: zákon schválnosti m
• French: loi de l’emmerdement maximum (fr) f
• Russian: зако́н подлости (ru) (zakón podlosti)
• Spanish: ley de la indefectible mala voluntad de los objectos inanimados f

Further reading

• Sod's law on Wikipedia.Wikipedia

Anagrams

• old saws