Oympian detachment

[keitra]

What does "Olympian detachment" mean?

[Yinzer]

I assume it refers to the detachment of mind from body that olympians have to make in order to block out the physical stress so they can perform well. I'm sure so much strenuous activity tells the body to stop by sending pain and fatigue signals, and so they have to block it out in order to keep going.

[Quizmonster]

In ancient Greece, the gods were believed to live on Mount Olympus. They were considered to be distant from humanity's day-to-day activities, treating them as mere playthings. As a result, the idea of 'detachment'...ie non-involvement...came to be applied to them. Hence, if someone treats you as beneath consideration nowadays, he/she might be described as showing "Olympian detachment".