Sayings

Nature abhors a vacuum

This page is about the saying "Nature abhors a vacuum"

Possible meaning:
Empty spaces become filled very quickly.

Note:
nature (noun) = the force that we regard as controlling the physical world, plants, animals etc | abhor (verb) = detest; hate | vacuum (noun) = a space with nothing in it (not even air or gas)

Origin: Aristotle (ancient Greek philosopher and scientist, 384-322BC) first suggested that "nature abhors a vacuum" to explain why water pumps worked (an astute if not totally accurate observation).

Quick Quiz

According to the saying "nature abhors a vacuum", if you abandoned a town house and left it empty

a. air pressure would break all its windows

b. the air would gradually leak out

c. somebody would soon move in and live in it
a) air pressure would break all its windows b) the air would gradually leak out c) somebody would soon move in and live in it

See Saying of the Day today

Contributor: Josef Essberger