We've all heard the phrases 'stuck in a rut' or 'finding my niche', and let's not forget 'getting your groove back'. Most of us have used these phrases, but what's the real difference between a rut, a niche, and a groove? The defintions are similar, but what I see that makes them different is how they are used in a sentence. Check this out: (Dictionary.com)
RUT: noun, verb,rut·ted, rut·ting.
–noun
1. a furrow or track in the ground, esp. one made by the passage of a vehicle or vehicles.
2. any furrow, groove, etc.
3. a fixed or established mode of procedure or course of life, usually dull or unpromising: to fall into a rut.
–noun
1. a furrow or track in the ground, esp. one made by the passage of a vehicle or vehicles.
2. any furrow, groove, etc.
3. a fixed or established mode of procedure or course of life, usually dull or unpromising: to fall into a rut.
*according to #2 a rut and a groove are the same thing...(according to the rest of the definition there are also mating deer involved).
NICHE: noun, adjective, verb,niched, nich·ing.
–noun
1. an ornamental recess in a wall or the like, usually semicircular in plan and arched, as for a statue or other decorative object.
2. a place or position suitable or appropriate for a person or thing: to find one's niche in the business world.
3. a distinct segment of a market.
4. Ecology. the position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals.
–noun
1. an ornamental recess in a wall or the like, usually semicircular in plan and arched, as for a statue or other decorative object.
2. a place or position suitable or appropriate for a person or thing: to find one's niche in the business world.
3. a distinct segment of a market.
4. Ecology. the position or function of an organism in a community of plants and animals.
GROOVE: noun, verb,grooved, groov·ing.
–noun
1. a long, narrow cut or indentation in a surface, as the cut in a board to receive the tongue of another board (tongue-and-groove joint), a furrow, or a natural indentation on an organism.
2. the track or channel of a phonograph record for the needle or stylus.
3. a fixed routine: to get into a groove.
4. Printing. the furrow at the bottom of a piece of type.
5. Slang. an enjoyable time or experience.
–noun
1. a long, narrow cut or indentation in a surface, as the cut in a board to receive the tongue of another board (tongue-and-groove joint), a furrow, or a natural indentation on an organism.
2. the track or channel of a phonograph record for the needle or stylus.
3. a fixed routine: to get into a groove.
4. Printing. the furrow at the bottom of a piece of type.
5. Slang. an enjoyable time or experience.
*Yeah...sounds like a rut.
A recess in a wall, a track or furrow, it's all basically a rut, a niche, or a groove. So next time you are stuck in a rut just remember that it's really no different than finding your niche and getting your groove back.
