ENGLISH
REFERENCE

reality distortion field

idiom
Meaning

The persuasive ability of a leader or entrepreneur, especially in misleading or convincing others in order to promote a product or service.


Origin

first recorded 20th c.

In the idiomatic sense, coined by software developer Bud Tribble at Apple Computer in 1981, to describe company co-founder Steve Jobs' charisma and its effects on the developers working on the Mac project: "Steve has a reality distortion field. […] In his presence, reality is malleable. He can convince anyone of practically anything." The term was borrowed from the 1966 Star Trek episode "The Menagerie", in which the humanoid Talosians are able to create lifelike illusions using such fields.

Examples
SIMPLE

The CEO uses his reality distortion field to sell every new product.

CONTEXTUAL

Even though the technology was unfinished, the founder used his reality distortion field to convince investors that it was ready for the market.

COMPLEX

His legendary reality distortion field was so powerful that he could persuade even the most skeptical engineers to believe the impossible deadlines were achievable.

Anchors to
Related idioms8entries
  1. 01

    bite of the reality sandwich

    A wake-up call, a reality check.

  2. 02

    break reality

    To reach or experience a nonordinary state of consciousness, especially when using psychedelics.

  3. 03

    cede the field

    To withdraw from any confrontational or potentially confrontational situation; to avoid participating in a competition or contest.

  4. 04

    center field

    A central role in some activity that requires speed.

  5. 05

    debris field

    Any area, non-dependent of locale, space, or contour, that contains the debris of wreckage, impact, sinking, or other material that once constituted a complete object. Debris fields can be found at the site of air crashes, water vessel sinking, explosions of buildings, collapses, and other events that render a whole entity into components, pieces, or other non-whole items.

  6. 06

    field day

    A great time or a great deal to do; a period of bustling activity.

  7. 07

    leave it all on the field

    Used to remind players not to dwell on minor mistakes, issues or conflicts that happened during the course of play.

  8. 08

    mugged by reality

    Of a person, having experienced a sudden, harsh, confrontation with the truth or reality of a situation.

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