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Isn't one of the non-Rowling definitions of "squib" "a firecracker which doesn't explode"? So Rowling took something which means "has potential or is expected to do something, and fails to deliver,...
Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed
by
System
·
2019-12-13T12:00:00Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/4191 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added
by
System
·
2019-12-08T01:59:43Z (almost 5 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/4191 License name: CC BY-SA 3.0 License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision
Isn't one of the non-Rowling definitions of "squib" "a firecracker which doesn't explode"? So Rowling took something which means "has potential or is expected to do something, and fails to deliver," and used it for slang in a very appropriate way. As I've said elsewhere, copy the work ethic, not the end result. Find or invent some other term which implies "fails to live up to potential or expectations" and use that instead.
#1: Imported from external source
by
System
·
2011-10-11T20:23:10Z (about 13 years ago)
Original score: 10