BOOKWERM
Recently fractured a rib during a bout of acute bronchitis induced coughing. ER doctor said this is a, "not uncommon experience."
I have wondered about phrases such as this for a long time. But only in my current state of mind, brought on by codeine cough medicine and pain killers, has it become a priority that needs immediate attention. Also, there is the fact that I am pretty much immobile, and making lemonades out of lemons, am tending to time consuming texting tasks, previously neglected.
Does the above apply to the rule two negatives make a positive?
Is this something like the idiom couldn't (or could) care less?
Do these profound questions have answers?
RESPONSE
It's not an idiom, and it's not two negatives. It's an adjective that can take what I call a "nuanced negative". The negative can increase or decrease the extremity of meaning. You can order that adjective in this way:
Uncommon
Not common
Not uncommon
Common
So your doctor meant your condition is fairly common, but uncommon enough to raise some eyebrows of those not familiar with bronchitis or medicine. There's a number of these kinds of adjectives. I recently discussed a particular exercise with a trainer and asked if it was harmful at my age. He said, "Well, it's not unharmful." Then he explained I could possibly get some benefit from it, but there was a decent chance it would exacerbate other problems I was experiencing. I'm sure you've heard how inflection can nuance the meaning of these adjectives even further.
So no, not an idiom, and neither is "I couldn't care less", but "I could care less" is an idiom.
Sorry to hear about the rib...ouchies.