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The domino effect is a chain of related events in which one event triggers the next. It can describe dominoes literally falling in succession or serve as a metaphor for connected consequences in everyday life, politics, or economics.
What does “the domino effect” mean?
It means a cumulative sequence of related events: an initial event sets off another, which may then lead to further events. The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition, defines it as “a cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain of similar events.” American Heritage Dictionary
The phrase is neutral in itself. The consequences may be harmful, helpful, or simply sequential; the expression describes how events are connected, not whether the outcome is good or bad.
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Where does the phrase come from?
The expression draws on the familiar image of a row of upright dominoes: knock over the first piece and the others topple in succession. Dictionary.com gives the phrase’s first recorded use as 1965–70. That is a range for recorded use, not an exact date when someone coined it. Dictionary.com
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How does a row of dominoes show a chain reaction?
When one upright piece falls into the next, it transfers motion that can knock the next piece over. The sequence continues along the row. Leiden University describes the phenomenon as a chain reaction and points to further analysis of the physics. Leiden University
In figurative use, the chain is not automatic in the way a well-set physical row may appear to be. A clear example should explain how each event could lead to the next rather than implying that everything that follows is inevitable.
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What is a simple example?
Literal example
A small push topples the first domino, which knocks over the next, until the row falls. Oxford University Press describes this as a demonstration in which a slight push to the first piece brings down the stack. Oxford University Press
Figurative example
Imagine, hypothetically, that a train delay makes a commuter late, so they miss a scheduled meeting, which then pushes a decision to the following day. The example is a domino effect only if each step plausibly contributes to the next; a sequence of events occurring one after another is not automatically a causal chain.
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Can you demonstrate the effect at home or in class?
Yes. A dominoes set or uniformly smooth building blocks can make a simple demonstration; neither is necessary to understand the expression. Oxford University Press recommends investigating how the arrangement changes the cascade rather than only watching a row fall. Oxford University Press
- Stand the pieces in a straight row on a level surface, leaving consistent gaps.
- Choose one variable to change, such as spacing, piece height, or the length of the row. Keep the other conditions as consistent as possible.
- Use a reproducible initial push, then time the cascade. A stopwatch can work; photogates or video analysis can provide other timing methods.
- Repeat each setup and compare the observations. The results apply to the pieces and arrangement you tested, not to every possible row of dominoes.
Spacing, height, row length, and the consistency of the initial push can all affect what happens. There is no single arrangement that can be called universally fastest without specifying the setup and supporting it with measurements.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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