Nobel disease
- noun
- /ˈnoʊbəl dɪˈziːz/
- Informal
:
síndrome Nobel
- His outlandish theories were jokingly attributed to a case of Nobel disease.
Examples
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After winning the prestigious award, he worried he might start showing symptoms of Nobel disease.
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Some scientists argue that Nobel disease affects even the brightest minds in academia.
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Many scientists believe that Nobel disease affects their judgment.
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After winning the award, he showed signs of Nobel disease.
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After receiving the Nobel Prize, many observed that his new ideas reflected classic symptoms of Nobel disease.
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Her controversial opinions on climate change were dismissed by peers as a result of Nobel disease.
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He became known for his eccentric behavior, a clear case of Nobel disease after his unexpected success.
How Overconfident
- Informal
- Literature
39
8.9
11
4.4
49
3.5
419
1.9
Surface Forms
Morphology
Nobel + disease
The compound clearly signals a metaphorical ‘disease’ associated with ‘Nobel’ (Nobel Prize winners), so a learner who knows both words can infer it denotes a problematic tendency affecting laureates. However, the precise sense — overconfidence and adoption of unorthodox or controversial ideas — relies on cultural/pragmatic knowledge and metaphorical extension, so the meaning is only partly predictable from the parts.
Etymology
Nobel disease mixes Nobel (the famous prize) and disease (an illness) to create a simple picture: after a big win the praise can feel like a 'sickness' that makes someone more sure of themselves and sometimes believe 'strange ideas'. That's why Nobel disease is used for the tendency of very successful people, especially Nobel winners, to become 'overconfident' or adopt odd views.