Don’t Let The Muggles Get You Down – Meaning, Origin

If you’re into the Harry Potter universe, even just a little bit, you’ve likely come across the phrase ‘Don’t Let the Muggles Get You Down’. It’s quoted in many posts, fan pages, interviews, social media posts, and more. But, what does it really mean? And most importantly, how is it connected to our everyday life? 

What Is a Muggle in the HP World?

To begin with, a Muggle is a non-magic person, typically born to parents who have no magical powers. It’s one of the most common terms in the Harry Potter world, and if you want to know more about the magical terminology, read our article on HP terms explained.

The sad thing is, Muggles were totally excluded from the magic world, and most of them even considered magic a ‘childish fantasy’. Wizards and witches, too, had to keep the existence and proof of magic a secret from all non-magical people, this specified in the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy of 1962. With the existence of magic being hidden from the muggles, these two groups were very often led to tension.

Despite all that, these two worlds sometimes intersected, and that mostly by marriage. Muggles were often found in relationships with wizards and witches, many of which having children with magical powers. And that’s basically a windup of Muggles and their relation with magic!

What Is the Meaning of ‘Don’t Let The Muggles Get You Down’? 

As all of you Potterheads know, Harry Potter ended up an orphan, after Lord Voldemort tried to kill Harry but failed, and killed his parents, according to the prediction that Harry would kill Voldemort. Thus, his very ‘caring’ family, the Dursleys, offered to take care of him. His non-magical aunt & uncle, and their son Dudley, who were against wizards and witches to death, did nothing but abuse and bully him. 

Of course, the only person he could share all this mistreatment and horrible stories with is his best friend, Ron Weasley, a pure-blood wizard. Knowing how they treated him and hearing how badly they shouted when they found out Harry was talking to a wizard, Ron had to do his job in giving courage to his friend and cheering him up. 

So, on the 31st of July 1993, on Harry’s birthday, among other gifts, Ron sends him a letter and after he explains everything about Egypt and the amazing time he’s spending there, Ron advises Harry not to let the muggles, the Dursleys, get him down.

Ps. This phrase was found in the books, but we have never heard it in the movies. At least not yet. 

Meaning of the Phrase in Today’s Context 

A wizard or not, we’ve all encountred our little ‘muggles’, who try to get us down. Therefore, this phrase encourages us to rise above negativity and not let others make us feel less than we are. 

What we truly believe is that when J. K. Rowling mentioned the term Muggle, she was referring to ordinary people, those without any magical powers, who are hated by the witches. But, if looked at a deeper level, it’s all about cherishing each other’s differences. So, in this context, the Muggles are the conventional, traditional mindsets, while Witches are those who dare to stand out, and it’s the only time you should be proud to be a witch 🙂   

Over the decades, this phrase has gotten out of the pages of the books: we find it in mugs, shirts, stickers, and even tattoos, as a metaphor for self-empowerment.

If Ron were alive in our days, he would give us a second piece of advice too: play Cards Against Muggles. Till next time, resist the muggles and find magic in life. That’s all that matters.