Speakur

Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

cockroach theory

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.15 in modern English

Syllables
cock-roach the-o-ry
IPA
34
Scrabble Score
15
Letters
4
Syllables
9
Unique Chars

Meaning

name

A theory which states that unexpected negative news from a business is possibly an indicator that more negative news is incoming.

Etymology

From the idea that spotting one cockroach indicates that more are probably nearby.

Inflected Forms

the cockroach theory (canonical)

Phrases

where there's smoke, there's fire

Frequently Paired Words

where there's smoke, there's fire

Questions

What does cockroach theory mean?
A theory which states that unexpected negative news from a business is possibly an indicator that more negative news is incoming.
Where does cockroach theory come from?
From the idea that spotting one cockroach indicates that more are probably nearby.

How to pronounce cockroach theory

  1. Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “cockroach theory”.
  2. Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling () so you know which sounds to aim for.
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  4. Repeat and practice — Say “cockroach theory” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.