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English Idioms


All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy

marcaurelius
User since 2007
Posts: 1

30 April 2008

I'm quite astonished that "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" should be similar to "Take time to smell the roses". In my opinion it's closer to "You can't have your cake and eat it too" because of all work you do you have no time to eat the cake.

2 comments

  • User since 2006
    Posts: 2715

    30 April 2008

    Dear Emperor,
    I don't share your opinion.


    You can't have your cake and eat it: that idiom means that you have to choose one of two alternatives, you never can get both.


    All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy: that idiom doesn't deal with any alternative. You shouldn't consider "work and play" as an alternative, because you can have both, the one after the other. Once you have eaten the cake it is away, you cannot have it any more. But you can work now and take pleasure the moment after and work again later...
    You might suggest to Jack the hard-worker that he take time to smell the pleasure of living... now and then.


    Thank you for making us think about that.
    Gee
  • User since 2008
    Posts: 588

    16 May 2008

    Thanks for your morning-inspiration, Marcaurelius and Gee! So, lets go and smell the roses from time to time for not getting dull to our friends.
    (C.w.)

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