Expression: 'That's the way the ball bounces...'

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Dear all

I just read two sentences in the said digest and I need to understand them in simplified English. Please help me as always.

1- When people say, " That’s the way the ball bounces,"
they are usually the ones who dropped it.

2- A Grandmother is a mother who has a second chance.

Thanks in advance

Tom

2

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These are humorous extensions of common phrases.

1-- That’s the way the ball bounces is a proverb-like standardized utterance used after a misfortune and suggesting that we should accept the vagaries of fate. Balls bounce as they must: sometimes they bounce into windows.

Sentence #1 suggests that people who use this phrase and thus take fate rather lightly are often the same people who caused the unfortunate incident (to drop the ball = to fail to complete an assignment or effort).

2-- Grandmothers have a second chance to ‘be a mother’-- to experience the pleasures of motherhood-- when they take care of their grandchildren. (A rather one-sided opinion, to my mind!)
.

3

Thank you a lot, Mr. Micawber.

If anyone wants to see more humorous quotes they may refer to Reader’s Digest, May 1988.(pg 112, 144)

Regards

Tom