Today’s topic comes from the review of a ransomware survey, brought to me by Phil Ruffin. The review uses the phrase “curate’s egg,” which is most common in British English. The article defines the phrase as such:
“It’s a bit of a Curate’s Egg”, refer[s] to something about which you’re determined to keep a positive public attitude, even if your immediate private reaction was to be disappointed.”
Wikipedia provides additional information and includes the comic strips the phrase is from, both in 1895 publications (one called Punch, the other Judy). Here is their explanation:
A "curate’s egg" is something described as partly bad and partly good. In its original usage, it referred to something that is obviously and entirely bad, but is described out of politeness as nonetheless having good features that redeem it. This meaning has been largely supplanted by its less ironic modern usage, which refers to something that is in fact an indeterminate mix of good and bad, possibly with a preponderance of bad qualities.
Both ransomware and the curate’s egg stink, but you’ll have to read the article to find out which parts of the survey were not good, and which parts were very good. Thanks, Phil!
Kara Church
Pronouns: she/her
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