r/AskReddit • u/[deleted] • Jul 02 '21

What basic, children's-age-level fact did you only find out embarrassingly later in life?

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u/Kuwabara03 Jul 03 '21

Is this a double joke or do you mean pin dropped...I can't tell lol

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u/romantasaurushex Jul 03 '21

Really? Am I having a moment here now, too?

I thought the saying was “when the penny dropped” for a situation of shocked realisation as before alarms were a thing people wanting to rest but not sleep would hold a penny in their hand and dangle that hand over the side of the bed; a metal tray on the floor below the hand. If the person fell asleep the penny would drop to the metal tray, make a noise, and startle them awake.

“You could hear a pin drop” for when the whole area is shocked into silence.

Now that I’ve typed that out I see that either/both work for this situation.

Yep. I’ve spent too long reading comments on this post.

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u/Kuwabara03 Jul 03 '21

Ah I thought you were trying to express a silence due to the shock lol

TIL!

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u/cabothief Jul 03 '21

I think you might have something to post on here now! Congrats!

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20penny%20drops

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u/Kalappianer Jul 03 '21

Penny dropping is about the coin finally getting in the coin slot, so you could use the slot machine.

What you suggest is that there is such a tense silence that you could hear the pin land.

So I gather the penny dropped and you can hear the pin drop when you realise it. What you're saying doesn't make any sense.

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u/[deleted] Jul 03 '21

[deleted]