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Zheng Chen
20/20 vision, what does it mean?
I've seen phrases like 'with the benefit of hindsight' and 'with 20/20 hindsight' and checked their respective meanings. I am confused by '20/20 vision'. If a person has 20/20 vision, does it mean he has an outstanding visual acuity?
Can I use '20/20 vision' metaphorically? For example: He is a politician of 20/20 vision, who has drawn up a blueprint for the country. Or: The manager has a 20/20 vision of the problems to come.
Thank you very much.
Mar 21, 2017 4:43 PM
Answers · 3
1
Well, in most parts of the world it's called "6/6" vision. I don't know if "6/6" is used metaphorically in those countries.
It is a reference to the familiar Snellen eye chart. 20/40 vision means that, at 20 feet from the chart, the smallest letters you can read are so big that a person with good vision could read them from 40 feet away.
Yes, you could use the word "vision" metaphorically and then use "20/20" as a way of saying "perfect."
There is actually a stock phrase in English: "20/20 hindsight." This is a reference to the fact that once we know how things turned out, in hindsight we always think we could have predicted them. "I knew politician X would win the election. It was obvious." "That's just 20/20 hindsight. It wasn't obvious at the time."
March 21, 2017
"20/20 vision" is perfect (or at least very good vision). If you have 20/20 vision, you don't need glasses.
The phrase "hindsight is 20/20 vision" is a metaphor. It means that before you make a decision, it isn't always easy to know which choice is best, but after you have made the decision, it is obvious which is the better choice.
For example, "This morning, I went over the bridge to get to work and got stuck in traffic for hours. I should have gone through the tunnel instead. Oh well. Hindsight is 20/20 vision."
You can use it metaphorically, but as a description of the person's ability - so neither of your examples really work.
March 21, 2017
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Zheng Chen
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), Chinese (Other), English, German
Learning Language
English
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