Why do we say sod's law when something goes wrong?

Answer 1

here ya go:
Sod's Law is the name for the old and famous axiom"Anything that can go wrong, will".[1] "Toast will always land butter side down" is often given as an example of Sod's Law in action. The phrase is seemingly derived, at least in part, from the colloquialism an "unlucky sod"; a term used to describe someone who has had some bad unlucky experience, and is usually used as a sympathetic reference to the person.

The term is still commonly used in Britain, though in North America the newer eponymous "Murphy's Law" has become more popular.[2] This change may be partially due to the use of the word "sod", could be taken to mean a "sodomite". However the word has passed into very common colloquial usage and tends to now be taken to only mean a person.

Some[Please name specific person] would argue that "Sod’s Law" is similar to, but broader than, Murphy's law ("Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong"). For example, concepts such as "bad fortune will be tailored to the individual" and "good fortune will occur in spite of the individual’s actions" are sometimes given as examples of "Sod's Law" in action. This would broaden "Sod's law" to a general sense of being "mocked by fate". In these aspects it is similar to some definitions of irony, particularly the irony of fate. Murphy's technological origin on John Stapp's Project MX981 is more upbeat — it was a reminder to the engineers and team members to be cautious and make sure everything was accounted for, to let no stone be unturned — not an acceptance of an uncaring uninfluencable fate.

Some examples of "bad fortune will be tailored to the individual" include:

Ludwig van Beethoven's loss of hearing - loss of hearing is bad fortune for anyone, but it is Sod’s Law that it would happen to a famous composer.
Adolph Coors III, who was allergic to beer, was the heir to the Coors beer empire – being allergic to beer is bad fortune for many, but it is Sod’s Law that someone allergic to beer would inherit a beer empire.
Some examples of "good fortune will occur in spite of the individual’s actions" include:

If you take your raincoat and umbrella with you, it will be sunny – any attempt you make to control your destiny (in this case how wet you get) will be thwarted by fate.
You move to another city, only to meet and fall in love with someone from your hometown.
In French, Sod's law is rendered by the phrase: “c’est bien le Diable que…” (literally: “it really is Devil that…”)

Answer 2

It is because it is sods law if it can go wrong it will do that is sods law happy now

Answer 3

sods law is essentially 'anything that can go wrong will go wrong' so for example you may leave the house without an umbrella, so sods law will have it that it will rain and you will get wet!

Answer 4

Hitman has a good answer - may too long winded

Short answer - "if something can go wrong it will go wrong"

also sod can mean a patch of grassland as in "sod buster" (farmer)

Answer 5

Sod who?