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This loaf of bread...-sense

English translation: inventor of sliced bread

13:48 Oct 12, 2005
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: This loaf of bread...-sense
...he came by carrying a tin can full of nails, which Momma made such a big deal over - like he was the one who said "This loaf of bread is great but what if we made lines across it and cut it up".

I'm not sure - does it mean that the man is like the head of a family who brings home bread, or says prayers before eating? Does the sentence about bread ring any bell to you? Is it some quotation or paraphrase?
allp
Poland
Local time: 18:25
Selected answer:inventor of sliced bread
Explanation:
It refers to the expression "It's the greatest thing since sliced bread". Meaning that whoever came up with the idea of selling pre-sliced loaves of bread was a genius.

Your text implies HE was that inventor, ergo, he's a genius.

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Note added at 6 mins (2005-10-12 13:54:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The part "which Momma made such a big deal over" says it all. The man was only bringing a can of nails, but his (?) mother treated him like he was the greatest man ever.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2005-10-12 13:55:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_thing_since_sliced_bre...

The phrase "the greatest thing since sliced bread" ("best" may be substituted for "greatest", and "innovation" or "invention" may be substituted for "thing") is a commonly used hyperbolic (and sometimes sarcastic) means of praising an invention or other society-advancing development. Sliced bread - meaning pre-sliced, packaged bread - has existed only since 1928, but it nevertheless appears to be something of an arbitrary selection as the benchmark against which later inventions should be judged. It has been said that "the phrase is the ultimate depiction of innovative achievement and American know-how" [1] - although it is commonly used in the United Kingdom as well.

The popular use of the phrase appears to derive from the fact that Wonder Bread - the first mass-marketer of sliced bread as a product - launched a 1930s ad campaign touting the innovation. As one source reports, "[s]oon every new innovation of convenience was being touted as the 'greatest thing since sliced bread.'"[2]
Selected response from:

María Teresa Taylor Oliver
Panama
Local time: 11:25
Grading comment
Thanks a lot! :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +8inventor of sliced bread
María Teresa Taylor Oliver
5 +1All he is saying is "Why don't we slice it?"
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
5 +1Best thing since sliced bread
NancyLynn
5scartastic comment
Charlesp


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
this loaf of bread...-sense
All he is saying is "Why don't we slice it?"


Explanation:
...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2005-10-12 13:52:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Making lines on a loaf of bread and cutting it up means to slice it. A loaf of bread is not always pre-sliced.

Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Local time: 18:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 52

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty
2 mins
  -> Thank you
neutral  Tony M: I think you've missed a very specific cultural reference here, Anna.
36 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
this loaf of bread...-sense
Best thing since sliced bread


Explanation:
This is a reference to the old saw, 'She acted like it was the best ting since sliced bread'. It means she finds this new thing to be as pleasant, as practical an idea as presliced bread was when it was first offered to consumers. People reacted then by saying, What a great idea! Why hadn't we thought of that before?

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 12:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 75

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  María Teresa Taylor Oliver: I have to agree of course =)
2 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +8
this loaf of bread...-sense
inventor of sliced bread


Explanation:
It refers to the expression "It's the greatest thing since sliced bread". Meaning that whoever came up with the idea of selling pre-sliced loaves of bread was a genius.

Your text implies HE was that inventor, ergo, he's a genius.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2005-10-12 13:54:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The part "which Momma made such a big deal over" says it all. The man was only bringing a can of nails, but his (?) mother treated him like he was the greatest man ever.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2005-10-12 13:55:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greatest_thing_since_sliced_bre...

The phrase "the greatest thing since sliced bread" ("best" may be substituted for "greatest", and "innovation" or "invention" may be substituted for "thing") is a commonly used hyperbolic (and sometimes sarcastic) means of praising an invention or other society-advancing development. Sliced bread - meaning pre-sliced, packaged bread - has existed only since 1928, but it nevertheless appears to be something of an arbitrary selection as the benchmark against which later inventions should be judged. It has been said that "the phrase is the ultimate depiction of innovative achievement and American know-how" [1] - although it is commonly used in the United Kingdom as well.

The popular use of the phrase appears to derive from the fact that Wonder Bread - the first mass-marketer of sliced bread as a product - launched a 1930s ad campaign touting the innovation. As one source reports, "[s]oon every new innovation of convenience was being touted as the 'greatest thing since sliced bread.'"[2]

María Teresa Taylor Oliver
Panama
Local time: 11:25
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 32
Grading comment
Thanks a lot! :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  NancyLynn: we crossed in cyberspace!
2 mins
  -> Greetings, fellow cybernaut :D
agree  Enza Longo: it's saying that his mother acted AS IF he was the inventor of sliced bread - ok forget the capitalised "as if" as I see you explained it in your later comment
4 mins
  -> Exactly. It appears as if the speaker was resented because of this preferential treatment (a sibling, perhaps?). I'm letting my imagination get the best of me :P Thanks!
agree  Joanna Borowska
5 mins
  -> Thanks!
agree  Cristina Hritcu (X)
12 mins
  -> Thanks, Cristina!
agree  Tony M
35 mins
agree  Saleh Chowdhury, Ph.D.
2 hrs
agree  Saiwai Translation Services
9 hrs
agree  Alfa Trans (X)
22 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
this loaf of bread...-sense
scartastic comment


Explanation:
like, we can really eat this!

Charlesp
Sweden
Local time: 18:25
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: I think you've missed a very specific cultural reference here, Charles.
29 mins
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