(no subject)

I was contemplating the expression "steep learning curve" and thinking I don't actually know what variables a learning curve is supposed to be graphing, and the obvious idea, something like "amount you learn per effort expended", seems like should have the exact opposite meaning. A steep curve in that graph means you get a lot of benefit from a small amount of effort. So what are they graphing?

So I looked it up and the answer is that in point of fact to the extent a learning curve is a thing it's exactly that thing and the expression "steep learning curve" in common usage means the opposite of an actual steep learning curve.

This is interesting because if I had to guess where the "steep = difficult" association comes from is from the intuitive idea that climbing a steep hill is harder than a shallow one. Compare that with potential energy curves, where thinking in terms of an actual landscape with gravity where going up costs effort is a very useful intuitive shortcut that gives you the right answers.