How did the phraseologism white crow. Where did the expression "white crow" come from?

27.02.2019

White crow Iron. A person who stands out sharply in something among the people around him. - Are you also a farm worker? - asked Sergei. - No, what are you! Lena raised her eyebrows in surprise. - I'm a guest here, unfortunately ... That's why my mother calls me a "white crow"(S. Babaevsky. Cavalier of the Golden Star).

Phrasebook Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008 .

Synonyms:

See what "White Crow" is in other dictionaries:

    White crow- in the zoo This term has other meanings, see White crow (meanings). Request " Black sheep» redirects here; see also other meanings ... Wikipedia

    White crow- Translation from Latin: Albus corvus (Albus Corvus). From the 7th satire of the Roman satirist poet Juvenal (Decimus Junius Juvenal, c. 60 c. 127): Fate gives kingdoms to slaves, delivers triumphs to captives. However, such a lucky man happens less often than a white crow. ... ... Dictionary of winged words and expressions

    White crow- a rare bird, an exception Dictionary of Russian synonyms. white crow n., number of synonyms: 2 exception (44) ... Synonym dictionary

    WHITE CROW- "WHITE CROW" (short story in the film almanac "Combat Film Collection N7"), USSR, Soyuzdetfilm, 1941, b/w. Novella. By story of the same name Lev Nikulin. A pamphlet about a German officer of the Second World War, robbing civilians in occupied Holland ... ... Cinema Encyclopedia

    "White crow" - phraseological turn, which is used in colloquial speech when characterizing a person who stands out from the people around him with something: clothes, appearance, erudition, habits, etc. Such a person appears in society, as a rule, not in ... Fundamentals of spiritual culture ( encyclopedic Dictionary teacher)

    White crow- Razg. A rare, unusual person, who stands out sharply from other people. FSRYA, 79; Mokienko 1989, 110; BTS, 70, 150; ZS 1996, 26; SHZF 2001, 18; BMS 1998, 98 99 ... Big dictionary of Russian sayings

    White crow- wing. sl. This expression, as a designation of a rare person, sharply different from the rest, is given in the 7th satire of the Roman poet Juvenal (mid-1st century after 127 AD): Rock gives kingdoms to slaves, delivers triumphs to captives. However, such a lucky ... ... Universal optional practical Dictionary I. Mostitsky

    White crow- This expression is used (often with a disapproving connotation) in relation to people who are eccentric, unusual, stand out sharply from others. It goes back to the 7th satire of the Roman poet Juvenal: Fate gives kingdoms to slaves, delivers triumphs to captives. However... Phraseology Handbook

    White crow- About a person who stands out sharply from others, unlike those around him ... Dictionary of many expressions

    White Crow (film)- White Crow The Breaks Genre comedy ... Wikipedia

Books

  • White Crow, Valentina Ostrovskaya. In this book, in a poetic presentation, the reader is given the opportunity to plunge into the world of the White Crow. Love is the main thing. It is she who turns the worldview of a person, makes him ... Buy for 490 rubles eBook

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 a person who is very different from others in their outlook on life, behavior or their 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”.

0 Wherever we spend our time, at work, leisure or at home, there are a huge number of ironic people and jokers among us. Their mindset is built in such a way as to stick out ordinary things, to focus on them. Today we're going to talk about an old expression that a sarcastic person came up with, which is White crow, you can find out the value a little lower. Our site is full of surprises and useful information, so read it, knowing the very essence of things. I recommend visiting this resource, as we regularly post interesting news.
However, before I continue, I would like to recommend a couple of other publications on the subject of phraseological units. For example, how to understand Make an elephant out of a fly; the meaning of the expression They carry water to the offended; what does the dead hour mean; what does the Earth rest in peace, etc.
So let's continue what does white crow mean?

White crow is a metaphor intended to refer to a person who has a value system or behavior that is different from other people in that society


White crow- so they say about a person who is somehow sharply different from others in his deeds and thoughts


If you live in countryside, then it is not something surprising for you to see a white mouse or a white rabbit. On TV, we were shown more than once white cows, horses, deer, and even white blackbirds. There are places in the USA where you can stumble upon white squirrels. IN Tsarist Russia more than once, white sturgeons were pulled out of the river. Maybe you think that among amphibians there is no such " perversions"? You are wrong, toads white colors, and even with eyes red as hot coals, are quite common in nature.

Some particularly inquisitive citizens will be interested in the nature of such an anomaly. However, " the casket just opened' need not be mentioned here. evil spirit, it's all about a special pigment, which is practically absent in white animals. Creatures with a similar deviation are called albinos. It is worth noting that albino crows are an extraordinary rarity.

For the first time this expression was used by a satirist and poet Juvenal, who in one of his works suggested that " A slave can become a king, a prisoner can run away, however, such lucky ones are less common than a white crow..."

His contemporaries liked this comparison very much, and subsequently began to be used everywhere. A lot of time has passed since then, but this expression is so " ingrained"into our speech that seeing unusual person, standing out from his surroundings with strange qualities, immediately " sculpt" label on him - " White crow".

At that time, the thought seemed to go in many peoples in the same direction. Since a similar saying was also born in the east - "White elephant". Among the natives of the Indochina peninsula, elephants with a white skin and red eyes are very much valued, mainly because of their rarity.

After reading this short article, you will now be aware of White crow meaning phraseological unit. And it's up to you to decide whether to be offended by this innocent nickname or not.

White crow- a special symbol, it denotes both uniqueness and originality, which is associated with alienation and rejection by others. Most citizens use the phraseology "white crow" to denote a strange and somewhat unusual person with behavior and conversations fundamentally different from the rest of the people around him.

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 a feature appearance and uniqueness can be found in other nations.
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.

The white crow is a very rare bird, therefore people who fall out of society and social norms of behavior are also called that. Because in recent decades albino crows have become an extremely rare occurrence, we can talk more about phraseology. Why do individuals choose such an image: by their own will or from birth?

What does "white crow" mean?

The expression "white crow" is used in 2 meanings:

  1. In the natural world, an albino crow. Albinism is an anomaly, creatures that have a similar disease are considered special.
  2. The white crow in society is a person who stands out from the crowd with his views, tastes, manners and behavior.

White crows in nature are not very adapted, it is difficult for them to hide from predators because of their light plumage. They are not like others. This explains the origin of the phraseologism "white crow", as people began to be called unusual in behavior, who stand out from the crowd with their manners and views. Such an expression is inherent in two polar:

  1. Artists, writers, scientists living in their own world of sounds, images and fantasy.
  2. People are stupid and narrow-minded, who are too lazy or find it difficult to rise to the generally accepted level.

"White Crow" - psychology

As a term, this phrase has found application in psychology. By the standards of psychology, a “white crow” is a person whom society considers a stranger because of being different from others. This is not about appearance, but about moral values ​​and assessments of what is happening. Quite often, teenagers or creative individuals choose this manner of behavior in order to make themselves known, to achieve recognition. Character traits such people:

  • do not hide their views that are different from the generally accepted ones and are proud of them;
  • do not want to accept the stereotypes of society in order to pass for their own;
  • demonstrate their opposition to the principles of society.

Is it easy to be a "black sheep"?

A "white crow" is a person with his own, unlike a nonconformist, such a person does not aim to stand out, he simply considers his moral values ​​to be more correct. At all times, such people had a hard time, because:

  • they are not understood, offended and often despised;
  • trying to suppress individuality;
  • they are lonely or find friends among the same personalities;
  • their opinion is ignored by the majority.

What to do if you are a "white crow"?

Many parents are interested in the question: how to live the "black sheep"? Children themselves are not always burdened by loneliness, sometimes teenagers even strive to show their dissimilarity. And the mother and father are concerned about how the child will settle in adult life. Often, adults are burdened by their inability to adapt to society. Psychologists give such recommendations:

  • do not treat your environment aggressively, maintain goodwill, accept the views of other people;
  • note what you can learn from others;
  • calmly express your position, without offense and categorical judgments;
  • if the problem is a handicap, such as a major or short stature, you can turn it into a virtue. Sign up for modeling courses, basketball, or become a seller in a clothing store for short ones;
  • get used to your individuality, accept it as it is.

How to become a "white crow"?

It is very easy to fall into the category of those who are called the “white crow”, it will be enough to express radically opposite views to generally accepted positions, change the style of clothing, hairstyle and manner of speaking. Give up your mobile, iPad, iPhone, pages on social networks, demonstrate your independence from the norms. Although in Lately moods on the Internet began to highlight the concept of "white crow" in the positive, when we are talking business on social media. Advice on what you need to not be afraid to be a "black sheep":

  • come up with an original idea for your ad;
  • surprise the audience with an interesting offer;
  • do not be afraid to invite guests and communicate;

The Parable of the White Crow

Unique light plumage spawned instructive parable about the white crow. Since childhood, she was not loved for her strange color, so she had to grow up quickly. This crow was hated by many, but she could not understand why and why. They did dirty tricks, but the bird responded kindly to insults, and in order to communicate less, it began to soar high in the sky, away from its relatives. The life of the white crow was difficult, but she grew up strong, hardy, for which she was envied even more.

And once a white crow decided to fly away in search of the same white birds as she was, so that she would be accepted into a new flock. And only after the disappearance of the white bird, others appreciated its qualities and began to regret their mistakes. The moral of this parable is that one should not be afraid to be oneself, maintain pride and dignity, be able to look for like-minded people and never try on someone else's fate.



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