Why is something or someone deemed unimportant referred to as being “just a footnote” when footnotes tend to refer to significant earlier works that support an argument?

Question

Why is something or someone deemed unimportant referred to as being “just a footnote” when footnotes tend to refer to significant earlier works that support an argument?

In: Culture

Answer 1

Something actually important is likely explained in the main text. The footnotes are those things that yeah, need a line or.two, but dont warrant taking up full space in the main text.