Mike Lyle > had it:

>
> the Omrud wrote:
> > Brian Wickham > had it:
> [...]
> > > I think "the greatest thing since sliced bread" is actually meant as a
> > > bit of sarcasm. In other words, not so great at that.
> >
> > Not in the UK it isn't. It carries no sarcasm here.
>
> I don't think I can agree with that. Even people who buy the typical
> stodgy wrapped sliced loaf know it's inferior -- and I'm sure that's
> what "sliced bread" usually conjures up, not good bread put through the
> baker's machine as you buy it.

I agree, but I don't believe that has any bearing on the saying.

> And in any case, for the expression to
> be meant literally, a significant number of people would have to
> believe that there really had been no better recent invention: that
> seems highly unlikely, no?

It's an idiom - I doubt that anybody takes it literally, but I do
believe they mean it sincerely.

--
David
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