Domino, also known as dominoes, are flat, thumbsized rectangular blocks that can be stacked on end to form long lines. Each domino has a face that is either blank or bears an arrangement of spots, called pips, similar to those used on a die. A complete set of dominoes contains 28 pieces. Dominos are often used to play positional games, in which players place one domino edge to edge against another so that their values add up to a specified total. They are also commonly used for making a variety of shapes and designs, and they may be used to create a domino show, in which builders construct elaborate and imaginative chains or reactions before an audience.
The word “domino” is actually a Latin genitive case of the Italian word domino, meaning “little domino,” which itself comes from the verb dominare (“to dominate”). It’s not uncommon for us to use this word in everyday speech as a synonym for the concept of something happening over and over again until it gets out of control or is stopped. The idiom comes from the fact that when you knock over one domino in a line, it causes all of the other ones to fall over as well.
In writing, we use the term domino effect to describe any action that leads to a series of subsequent actions, like the falling of the dominoes. It’s the same idea as the old “Dirty Harry” movies, where one small victory leads to a whole chain of events that ultimately result in the main character winning the big battle at the end of the movie.
The domino effect is also used in business, describing how changes to one process or policy can lead to changes in related processes or policies. For example, changing the way a company stores documents or manages data can have ripple effects across other parts of the organization that may not even realize they are being affected until later on. This can lead to unforeseen benefits or drawbacks that weren’t anticipated.
A good writer knows how to use the Domino Effect to their advantage. They know how to make sure all of their scenes are spaced out correctly so that each scene logically leads to the next one, without any hiccups or dominoes that fall over too soon. This is important for keeping readers engaged and interested in a story.
What are your favorite ways to use the Domino Effect? Share with us in the comments below!