Frankenstein of science
- noun
- Offensive
:
Frankenstein de la ciencia
- The media called her the Frankenstein of science after her controversial genetic experiments.
Examples
-
His theories were so unorthodox that some peers dubbed him the Frankenstein of science.
-
Dr. Smith is often called the Frankenstein of science for his controversial experiments.
-
He wore the label Frankenstein of science as a badge of honor, challenging established norms.
-
Many believe that geneticists like Dr. Brown are the new Frankensteins of science.
-
His groundbreaking theories led some to label him the Frankenstein of science due to their radical implications.
-
After her controversial research on cloning, the scientist became known as the Frankenstein of science among her critics.
-
Dr. Lee has earned the nickname Frankenstein of science for her extreme approach to synthetic biology.
Synonyms
A person who creates or alters living things in risky, shocking ways
A person or company that creates powerful technology that causes dangerous problems
How Dangerous
- Offensive
- Literature
38
4.3
108
3.0
729
3.2
- Specialized
184
3.7
12
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
Frankenstein + of + science
The phrase is a straightforward metaphorical composition: combining 'Frankenstein' (a harmful or out-of-control creation) with 'of science' signals a person in the scientific field who is like that creation. While it relies on cultural knowledge of the Frankenstein story, the mapping is direct and a B1 learner who knows the constituent meanings can infer the intended sense.
Etymology
Frankenstein of science comes from Mary Shelley's story about Frankenstein, a scientist who made a monster by experimenting with life. Calling someone this gives the image of a scientist whose experiments create risky results that get out of control, so it means 'a person in the scientific community whose work or ideas are seen as dangerously radical or ethically questionable'.