the laws of thermodynamics

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Meaning · English

The dieting maxim that one needs a calorie deficit to lose body-fat and surplus calories to gain muscle.

Register: slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

Although no clear experimental error has been demonstrated, critics continue to maintain that something must be wrong because the laws of thermodynamics would be violated [5], that “a calorie is a calorie” [6].

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “the laws of thermodynamics” mean?

The dieting maxim that one needs a calorie deficit to lose body-fat and surplus calories to gain muscle.

Is “the laws of thermodynamics” formal or informal?

the laws of thermodynamics is generally slang.