Meaning & Definition of word "Murphy"
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Murphy
/ˈmɜrfi/
noun:
- 1. A common surname, often used to refer to an Irish person or character.
- Example: I met a Murphy at the festival who regaled us with tales of his heritage.
- 2. A slang term for a type of bed or mattress, especially when discussing comfort.
- Example: After a long day of hiking, I just want to crash on a Murphy and relax.
- 3. Referring to 'Murphy's Law', which is the adage that anything that can go wrong will go wrong.
- Example: When the projector failed at the conference, everyone joked that it was just another case of Murphy.
verb:
- 1. To mess something up, typically due to miscommunication or oversight.
- Example: I think I murphied the instructions because I ended up assembling it incorrectly.
Etymology
Irish origin, derived from the Gaelic 'Ó Murchadha', meaning 'descendant of Murchadh'.
Common Phrases and Expressions
Murphy's Law:
The principle that anything that can go wrong, will go wrong.
Murphy bed:
A bed that can be folded up against a wall.
Murphy's statement:
A belief or assertion similar to Murphy's Law.
Related Words
mishap:
An unfortunate accident.
blunder:
A serious mistake typically caused by ignorance or confusion.
Slang Meanings of murphy
Meaning: To experience a failure or accident.
Example Sentence: We totally murphied that presentation.
Meaning: To be caught in a troublesome situation.
Example Sentence: I'm in a murphy of issues right now.