Stop nodding along to terms you don't actually know.

The deadline after which a legal claim can no longer be filed, no matter how strong the case.

💡 Mental model: A closing window, once it shuts, the courthouse door won't open for that claim.

📌 Example: “The dispute happened six years ago, past the statute of limitations for this state.”

⚠️ Anti-example: Assuming it means the claim is forgiven, it just means it can no longer be pursued.

🛠 In practice: Lawyers check it first, since a case can be thrown out before the facts matter.

⚡ Debated: Some argue certain claims, like abuse cases, shouldn't have a limitations period at all.

• Related to Tolling

Funds or documents held by a neutral third party until every condition is met.

💡 Mental model: A holding pen, money sits there, untouchable by either side, until it's done.

📌 Example: “The deposit is in escrow until the inspection clears.”

⚠️ Anti-example: Assuming escrow means the deal is final, it just means the money's parked.

🛠 In practice: Buyers and sellers rely on it so neither side has to trust the other with cash.

⚡ Debated: Some argue escrow fees mostly protect the title company, not the parties.

• Related to Closing

A specific situation where a drug or treatment could cause harm and shouldn't be used.

💡 Mental model: A red flag on the label, a reason this specific patient shouldn't take this drug.

📌 Example: “Pregnancy is a contraindication for that medication.”

⚠️ Anti-example: Confusing it with a side effect, it's a reason to avoid the drug entirely, not just a risk.

🛠 In practice: Doctors cross-check a patient's full history against it before prescribing.

⚡ Debated: Some argue contraindication lists are overly cautious, based on rare edge cases.

• Related to Side effect

A result unlikely to have happened by chance alone, based on a pre-set threshold.

💡 Mental model: A bar you clear, not proof of truth, just evidence the pattern isn't random noise.

📌 Example: “The results were statistically significant, but the effect was too small to matter.”

⚠️ Anti-example: Treating it as proof of a big effect, significance is about confidence, not size.

🛠 In practice: Researchers set the threshold before the study runs, not after seeing the results.

⚡ Debated: Some argue the standard threshold is arbitrary and encourages cherry-picking.

• Related to P-value