This expression was used in the 1972 Carly Simon song, "You're So Vain." To understand the meaning, it is helpful to read the full lyrics of the song. Prior to the refrain, the lyric "And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner
They'd be your partner, and..."
What was it that Simon was dreaming about? The prospect of a relationship with subject of the verse. The lyrics were written about someone after the end of a relationship, several years afterward, in fact. Simon laments that a relationship was, is, and will continue to be made impossible by the deep character flaws of the subject, most prominently, their vanity.
Understanding this, 'clouds in my coffee' refers to a metaphorical distortion or illusion. Coffee is black, clouds are white and have patterns. When one sees such things reflected in the surface of a liquid, they are readily identifiable as illusion. In matters of love, illusions are more difficult to discern.
Simon expresses her lament that her belief in a future with this shallow individual was illusory and that it was an illusion shared over the years by several other women, followed by the statement that the subject WOULD think the song was about them, a statement made ironic by the fact the song really is about them as, for once, they would be arriving at a correct conclusion even if for the wrong reasons.
They'd be your partner, and..."
What was it that Simon was dreaming about? The prospect of a relationship with subject of the verse. The lyrics were written about someone after the end of a relationship, several years afterward, in fact. Simon laments that a relationship was, is, and will continue to be made impossible by the deep character flaws of the subject, most prominently, their vanity.
Understanding this, 'clouds in my coffee' refers to a metaphorical distortion or illusion. Coffee is black, clouds are white and have patterns. When one sees such things reflected in the surface of a liquid, they are readily identifiable as illusion. In matters of love, illusions are more difficult to discern.
Simon expresses her lament that her belief in a future with this shallow individual was illusory and that it was an illusion shared over the years by several other women, followed by the statement that the subject WOULD think the song was about them, a statement made ironic by the fact the song really is about them as, for once, they would be arriving at a correct conclusion even if for the wrong reasons.
As a simile: "I thought I saw an oasis, but it was a mirage, like clouds in coffee."
As a metaphor: "My dream was to be a movie star, but after many years of failure came to realize that I was seeing clouds in my coffee."
As a metaphor: "My dream was to be a movie star, but after many years of failure came to realize that I was seeing clouds in my coffee."
by DavidAndreaWilliamCarly<3 December 22, 2021
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The helpless feeling one has when they wake up in the morning and realize they had no control over their drunken actions the night before, which may last for days. Is a mixture of anxiety, concerning the unspeakable things one may have done; and self-loathing, due to one's lack of ability to exercise discipline. The old adage, "time heals all" applies - except in the case of legal trouble or sexually transmitted disease.
Me: Dude I can't believe I blacked out and called that perfectly nice girl a whore for no reason...my shame cloud has been going strong all week
Nick: shame cloud is still following me after I pissed in the corner of your living room last week
Nick: shame cloud is still following me after I pissed in the corner of your living room last week
by SorryBoutIt November 13, 2012
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I use cloud computing so I don't have to worry about viruses, I only have to worry about birds flying through my cloud.
by xelanil March 21, 2011
Get the Cloud Computing mug.Phrase first used by Samuel L. Jackson in the greatest movie of all time, "Pulp Fiction".
Translates to "uber-badass from hell".
Translates to "uber-badass from hell".
by Davezor January 22, 2004
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"its time to win"
"its time to win"
Rhonda is pumped on having her pillow cleaned after her sexual intercourse with her cousin Demetri. The day after her cousin Demetri decides he will get her back for her lacking actions in bed by giving Rhonda a brown cloud. She spends the next full night with her face down in the brown cloud.
by thegurtmeister2 April 26, 2010
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