1. Home
2. Idioms
3. theory

theory

---

---

domino theory

1. The political theory that, if one country or area adopts communism, then the surrounding ones will as well. The domino theory was a major concern as the Soviet Union expanded its power after World War II.

2. By extension, the idea that an event in one country will result in similar events in the surrounding countries. The string of revolutions that occurred in neighboring countries during the Arab Spring was a great example of domino theory in action.

See also: domino, theory

in theory

according to a theory; theoretically. In theory, if I take my medicine regularly, I will get well. How things work in theory doesn't always match with how things work in reality.

See also: theory

ounce of common sense is worth a pound of theory

Prov. Common sense will help you solve problems more than theory will. The psychologist had many elaborate theories about how to raise her child, but often forgot that an ounce of common sense is worth a pound of theory.

See also: common, of, ounce, pound, sense, theory, worth

in theory

possibly They could, in theory, have been paid twice if someone hadn't caught the error.

Opposite of: in practice Related vocabulary: in principle

See also: theory