Why is it so rare to find albinos in nature?
In fact, it is almost impossible to meet a "white crow". This is an extremely rare event resulting from a strong mutation of the genes responsible for pigmentation. Since it is much easier to notice the "white crow" than the same bird with a natural color, it becomes much more vulnerable and easily detected by all kinds of predators.Therefore, the second meaning of the expression "white crow" is associated by many with such concepts as suffering, chosenness and defenselessness. The great rarity of these birds in nature began to be mentioned in many works, and the first the mention of white crows is considered to be the poet Juvenal, who lived in Ancient Rome.His work was published in the 1st century AD.
Here is what this satirist poet wrote about the "white crows":
"The slave has a chance to become a king, the captives will be able to get freedom and only a white crow will remain a white crow"
This comparison made the whole of Rome applaud the talented poet. Similar phrases that are associated with the peculiarity of appearance and uniqueness can be found among other peoples.
A similar metaphor appeared in the East - there, instead of the expression "white crow" they use the phrase "white elephant". Since the albino elephant is an extremely rare occurrence, this idiom was to the taste of oriental people.
White elephants are equated with the sex of divine beings and are highly revered in Indochina.
The metaphor "black sheep" in the same way became an analogue of the Russian phrase "white crow". Since the sheep in the soybean mass are white, the appearance of a black sheep among them is a unique phenomenon.
The main meaning of the Russian metaphor "white crow" is conveyed by idioms of other peoples:
- in German "Ein weißer Rabe", which means the same white crow
- in French "Un moution a cinq pattes", which means a ram with five legs
- in Spanish "Mirlo blanco" which means blackbird.
Read more.
World nature is very multifaceted and mysterious, presenting mankind with many amazing mysteries, one of which is albinism. This rare phenomenon that manifests itself in the animal kingdom is explained by a malfunction in genetic code when there is no pigment responsible for color in the skin and hairline.
This leads to the fact that the animal is born with a white color, unusual this species. Such an individual in the animal environment is called an albino, from Latin word"albus" means "white". This phenomenon is most common in rabbits and mice, less often in horses and cows. Cases have been recorded in squirrels, deer, thrushes. It is very rare to see a white tiger or an elephant.
And how do you white color toad and sturgeon? But the white crow is considered the greatest rarity, although all its relatives are gray or black. So it is not surprising that it was she who was honored to perpetuate herself in famous phraseological unit"White crow".
The meaning of the phraseological unit "white crow"
"White in rona" is called a person who is very different from others in his outlook on life, behavior or his appearance. The values, interests and goals of such a person differ greatly from the society in which he is located.
This is manifested in his extraordinary statements and actions. Such a person is considered strange and even crazy. But it's not. It's just that he is concerned about completely different topics that the vast majority are completely uninteresting.
And for him, this is almost the main thing in life. On the other hand, values that are established and recognized in society can be treated with indifference. It can also be distinguished by demeanor. He behaves quietly and modestly, does not touch anyone, may have a strange gait or constantly mutter something under his breath, uncommunicative and laconic.
Appearance can also distinguish it from others. I don’t mean any physical defects, but self-expression in clothes, piercings, tattoos. Although in our time this is hardly surprising.
“You are the father of a man who fought against the autocracy. You can rightly be proud of Vasily Andreevich. - So it is so, but Vasily is among us white crow was. And if he went against the king, then my merit is not here. “That’s how to say it,” Rogov laughed. “From a bad seed there is no bad tribe.”
K.FSedykh (1908-1979), "Dauria", 1948
“Are you also a collective farmer? Sergei asked. - No, what are you! Lena raised her eyebrows in surprise. - I'm a guest here, unfortunately ... That's why my mother calls me white crow».
S.P. Babaevsky (1909-20000), "Chevalier of the Golden Star", 1947-1948
"White Crow" is a controversial personality. On the one hand, dissent, uniqueness and unusualness, and on the other hand, misunderstanding of others, the role of an outcast and loneliness. And yet, something pure and vulnerable is felt in this image.
The origin of the phraseological unit "white crow"
The first mention of the expression "white crow" is found at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries by the Roman poet Decimus Junius Juvenal (about 60 - not earlier than 128) or simply Juvenal in one of his satires:
“Fate gives kingdoms to slaves, delivers triumphs to captives.
However, the lucky man is the same less often white crow It happens".
Juvenal, "7th satire".
Such a rare phenomenon as a “white crow” prompted the satirist to such a metaphor. It can be seen that this vivid and accurate comparison sunk into the soul of the Romans, if after 20 centuries they use the expression "white crow".
But still, the phraseological unit "white crow" is negative. People in general do not really favor strange, unlike everyone else and stand out from the general mass of people. At the very least, treat them with great apprehension and wariness.
Parable about the "white crow"
In fairness, one parable about the "white crow" should be mentioned.
From the early childhood The "white crow" was disliked by her relatives. She did not understand why and why they hated her, they joked evilly, constantly dirty and teased. But the bird did not respond to insults, but simply tried to be in the flock less often and communicate less. She flew high into the sky and indulged in loneliness.
Being without friends, the bird matured early. A hard life early taught the crow to overcome difficulties that hardened her and made her hardy and strong. For this, they began to envy her and hated her even more.
And so the patience of the crow ended, and she decided to leave the flock and go in search of white crows similar to herself. The disappearance did not go unnoticed. Other birds suddenly remembered all of her good qualities, regretfully recalled the grievances inflicted on her.
The moral is that you should always be yourself and be able to find friends and like-minded people.
In conclusion, I would like to say that along with the expression "white crow" there are other similar expressions based on the unusual color of the animal, which is radically different from the main color of animals of this species. These include expressions little known in Russia and the “black sheep”.
White rabbits and white mice, in principle, are not uncommon. White horses and cows are less common, as are thrushes and deer. Completely white squirrels are occasionally found in North America. And in Russian newspapers sometimes notes are printed about a white sturgeon caught or a white fox caught by hunters. Imagine, there are even red-eyed toads of milky color!
White color is not a typical color of all these animals, fish and birds. They are representatives of albinos. Albinism, so named from the Latin word "albus", which means "white", occurs when the cells do not have the necessary pigment responsible for the color of hair and skin.
There are albinos among the crows, but this is extremely rare. The phraseological expression known today was given to the world by the Roman satirist poet Juvenal. In the 1st-2nd centuries A.D. he very aptly remarked: “A slave can become a king, captives can wait for a triumph. Only the lucky one is rarer than a white crow ... ".
The comparison of the wise Juvenal has firmly entered the Russian language. Today, more than two thousand years later, we are talking about a non-trivial person, unlike everyone else, that he is a “white crow”.
In the East, too, one finds a similar comparison. But it affects elephants, which are also extremely rare in white color with red eyes. The inhabitants of Indochina value them precisely for their rarity, as well as the people who are called the "white elephant".
How to call a person who is not like the majority? One of the options is the "white crow". The meaning of phraseologism will be considered on understandable examples.
Definition
Let's start with the obvious. Ravens are usually black, sometimes black and grey, but by no means white. Albinos are generally rare.
Hence the white crow (see below for the meaning of the phraseological unit) is an object that stands out strongly from the general series. This is not just a quantitative difference, but a natural inside line something that creates a completely different view of the state of affairs. Foggy wording. Examples will help us to clarify it.
Examples
Imagine a typical school environment. With the usual division into "hooligans" and "nerds". Hooligans don't learn, they like to make trouble in the broadest sense of the word. Botanists, on the contrary, are diligent students, do not drink alcohol, read books. The reader knows for sure both those and those. So, the white crow (the meaning of the phraseologism is being studied with all care) is a bully, to the point of trembling in his hands book loving, and absolutely any: historical, artistic, scientific.
He is considered a man "out of this world" by fellow hooligans and nerds alike. People are prone to maximalism, so you have to be a hooligan or a nerd, but to the very end, “to the bottom”, as V. V. Mayakovsky said. A person who perceives reality as a mosaic in which elements can be freely shuffled makes a strange and wonderful impression on those around him. They say things like, “Oh! There's a white crow." The meaning of phraseologism now does not cause difficulties.
This is not a judgment
In fact, being very different from your surroundings is not so bad, because it can be so-so. But we must understand that this characteristic does not mean anything. Among hooligans, a person who reads books is a white crow. Then in force different reasons the company can change, and a person will find himself in an environment where it is a shame not to read, not to be interested in something, not to develop.
There is a wonderful literary analogy a person to whom the definition of “white crow” is suitable (the meaning of a phraseological unit, an example with it was a little earlier, but we still decided to concretize our reasoning). This, of course, is about Alex from the work of Burgess " Clockwork orange». Main character works, no doubt, a terrible person, but at the same time he has a developed (or innate) sense of beauty and some kind of mind. This is what makes him stand out from the crowd.
Often we hear in conversations such an expression as "white crow". The meaning is not clear to everyone. It's about, as a rule, about a person who is very different from others. Compare it with an albino crow. Sometimes there is a glitch in the genetic code of animals and birds.
As a result, the pigment that is responsible for the color of the skin and hair in the body is simply absent. That is why there are absolutely white crows, horses, cows, squirrels and even elephants in the world.
The white crow, I must say, is the least common. We do not even think that these birds may not be black or gray.
The white crow is a metaphor that denotes a person who has a different behavior, appearance or value system from those around him.
A white crow is called someone who is too unlike his surroundings. It can be differences in clothes, manners, outlook on life and hobbies. Sometimes society calls those who stand out weird.
There are often rumors about such people that they are not all right with their heads. Most of them are social outcasts. Because not everyone is ready to accept those who are different from them. Not everyone is ready to put up with the fact that a person nearby is independent of the rules adopted in society.
This is interesting! Sometimes the term "white crow" is endowed with a positive meaning. So called bright and extraordinary people.
The phrase first appeared in ancient Rome. At the end of the 1st - beginning of the 2nd century, the poet Junius in his writings stated that only by chance a slave can become a king, and a prisoner achieve a triumph. This happens less often than you can meet a white crow.
Who is considered a white crow
Teenagers usually oppose themselves to society. They easily endure rejection from society and the absence of like-minded people. Many are afraid to stand out among their peers so as not to face ridicule.
But often the “white crows” are already adults and mature personalities. They, as a rule, are more difficult to tolerate criticism from the environment.
It is not difficult to catch the views of society full of bewilderment and earn the nickname "white crow".
Here's what you need for this:
- Go against the established foundations and norms.
- Show that your views are different from the views of others.
- Have an unusual appearance. Don't follow fashion trends.
- Get involved in something special.
To pass for a white crow is enough to have an unusual appearance
Unfortunately, even these simple signs enough to deserve the ridicule of others. But in no case should the “black sheep” strive to adapt to them, to become ordinary. Don't shut yourself up and become an outcast. No need to endure insults, contempt. Many will try to suppress the personality of such people. But you need to defend your views and be confident in yourself.
Of course, you should not go into conflict with the rest. The opinions of others must be taken with respect. In the process of communication, you need to pay attention to their wishes and advice. Explain your point of view calmly. And it is advisable not to be offended.
Fact! Remember that your features can play into your hands. For example, tall girls can make a modeling career. People with original thinking become famous writers and screenwriters.
Useful video: where did the expression come from?
The Parable of the White Crow
There is a legend about the white crow. Among ordinary crows, there lived one with white plumage. The rest of the birds often laughed at her. But the white crow was friendly and did not respond with evil to ridicule. True, she strove to spend less time with the others. Therefore, the crow often soared high in the sky all alone.
The black birds didn't like it. They did not understand why the white woman does not worry about her "inferiority", does not seek to please them. Every day they hated her more and more, envied her strength and freedom.
The crow felt it. That's why she dreamed of finding birds like her and no longer standing out. When she flew away, the others began to regret what had happened. They reminisced good qualities white crows and finally admitted that they had behaved incorrectly.
From this parable, we can draw the following conclusion: you do not need to worry about the behavior of your environment. Maintain dignity and appreciate your features.
Use of metaphor
The term "white crow" is often used in culture.
Here are some examples:
- Valery Leontiev has the song "White Crow". The Chaif group has a composition with the same name. She came out in 1987.
- Phraseologism was also used in the song "Our Family" by the group "Nautilus Pompilius".
- In the publication "Soviet Sport" about thirty years ago, the heading "Club of the White Crows" was published. It included notes for those who love sports and are committed to healthy lifestyle life.
- In 1990, a group of actors "The Theater of Rains" was formed in the city of St. Petersburg. It was the crow of an unusual color that began to symbolize this team. The fact is that the actors consider themselves and their fans to be extraordinary personalities. And in our time, those who are tired of the cruelty and anger that are happening around come to see the performances of the group.
Useful video: white crow in verse for children
Conclusion
Now you know the origin of the phraseologism "white crow" and its explanation. This is not an offensive expression, but a term that means a person who stands out from the rest. Interestingly, there are many other expressions with similar meaning: "black sheep", " ugly duck". In the East, another analogue is used - “white elephant”. There are plenty of ordinary elephants, but white ones are considered very rare and valuable.
