when someone yells "eureka!" what exactly does it mean and where does the phrase come from? someone at my job yelled it out the other day and i wasnt sure what he meant by it??
i'm not a native born american , so i am not familiar with american idioms. perhaps someone can educate me. thanks very much
2007-01-14 02:17:43 · 18 answers · asked by tom 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Words & Wordplay
THAT MEANS THEY GOT AN IDEA OR THEY DISCOVERED SOMETHING
2007-01-14 02:20:13 · answer #1 · answered by jcleann13 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What Does Eureka Mean
2016-11-13 09:45:55 · answer #2 · answered by jenae 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eureka actually means "I've found it!! I've discovered it!!"
There is a story connected to this--
In 247 BC Archimedes (Greek mathematician) was ordered by King Hieron to determine if his new crown was pure gold. The King suspected that the goldsmith, Aurus Anvil, pilfered some of the gold and replaced it with silver when he made the new crown. Archimedes was told not to damage the crown during this process in case it was pure gold. Archimedes figured out how to non-destructively test the crown while bathing. He ran in the street naked shouting Eureka (which means in Greek – I figured it out). Archimedes proved that the crown was not pure gold by taking a mass of pure gold equal to that of the crown, placing them separately in water and measuring the weight of water displaced. The water displaced by each should be identical if the crown was pure gold. The water displaced was not identical. Aurus Anvil was executed.
So, EUREKA...is just a mervellous feeling, a magic moment...you say it when you have got the answers after whacking your brains over the problem for hours together!
2007-01-14 02:45:10 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
1. (initial capital letter) I have found (it): the reputed exclamation of Archimedes when, after long study, he discovered a method of detecting the amount of alloy mixed with the gold in the crown of the king of Syracuse. Used to express triumph upon finding or discovering something.
2. (used as an exclamation of triumph at a discovery.)
2007-01-14 02:24:02 · answer #4 · answered by Roopa R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it means that he came up with a gret idea/ solution!
and its not american idiom! it is originated from greek language!
eureka means the same in greek
2007-01-14 02:25:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is used to express triumph upon finding or discovering something. I think it's origin is greek or Italian. It is also a country ni Europe. Hope that helps =]
2007-01-14 02:56:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means literally "I have found it", and now is generally used to mean "Aha! I have found the answer!". The story goes that Archimedes got into his bath and when it overflowed he came to understand the idea of measuring the volume of an irregularly shaped object by measuring the fluid displaced by it when it is submerged.
2007-01-14 02:26:00 · answer #7 · answered by zymsys 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
eureka means like u found or discovered something
you did something that u like and u r really happy
2007-01-14 02:20:58 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Eureka, the motto of the state of California, means
"I found it!"
2007-01-14 03:12:16 · answer #9 · answered by horsinround2do 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Used to express triumph upon finding or discovering something.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Eureka
2007-01-14 02:21:35 · answer #10 · answered by Baked n Blended 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It means " Get the Vaccuum,,ASAP", LOL, they're all right. Eureka is a vaccuum cleaner company.
2007-01-14 02:24:32 · answer #11 · answered by msmaryanne3 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋