White crow idiom. White crow - is it easy to be different from everyone else? See what "White Crow" is in other dictionaries

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).

Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008 .

See what "White Crow" is in other dictionaries:

White crow- in the zoo This term has other meanings, see White crow (meanings). "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. Based on the story of the same name by Lev Nikulin. A pamphlet about a German officer of the Second World War, robbing civilians in occupied Holland ... ... Cinema Encyclopedia

"White crow"- a phraseological phrase that 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 of a 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 additional practical explanatory dictionary by 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 ...

The essence of the expression "white crow"

The white crow is a rather controversial symbol, denoting both originality and uniqueness in its own way, but at the same time associated with alienation and misunderstanding of others. The metaphor most of us know is “ White crow

" is used to refer to an unusual and even slightly strange person, whose thoughts and behavior are strikingly different from other people from his environment.

The White Crow and the Extraordinary Rarity of Albinos

In nature, it is extremely rare to find crows with white plumage, also called albinos. Individuals of white crows, which arose as a result of a rare mutation, are more vulnerable prey for predators because of their visibility. That is why the second meaning of the idiom "white crow" associated with such concepts as: chosenness, defenselessness and suffering.

The unusual rarity of white ravens in nature was the reason for their mention in the satire of the ancient Roman poet Juvenal, who published his work in the middle of the 1st century AD. The white crows mentioned as a comparison for a long time entrenched in the memory of the satirist's admirers: “A slave can become king, captives can wait for a triumph. Only the lucky one of such a rare white crow ... ”His contemporaries liked the successful comparison so much that it received a long life among his descendants.

Similar expressions in other nations

Similar metaphors, associated with the peculiarity of coloring and uniqueness in its own way, can also be found among other peoples. For example: in the East, the expression "white elephant" also arose due to the rarity of albino elephants. They are highly revered among the local population of the Indochina peninsula and are considered a sacred animal that cannot be killed and used for work.

The idiom "black sheep" is also an analogue of the well-known Russian expression. It is based on the contradiction between the unique black sheep against the background of the general mass of individuals with white fur. Basic the meaning of phraseological unit white crow Expressions from other peoples are also transmitted: Spanish “Mirlo blanco” - a white thrush, French “Un moution à cinq pattes” - a ram on five legs, German - “Ein weißer Rabe” - a white crow.

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 internal feature of something that creates a completely different idea of ​​\u200b\u200bthe state of things. 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 studied with all care) is a bully who loves books to the point of trembling in his hands, 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, for various reasons, the company may 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 of a person who would fit the definition of "white crow" (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 Burgess's A Clockwork Orange. The protagonist of the work, no doubt, is 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.

Nature surprises with its mysteries, and one of them - albinism. This phenomenon occurs due to a malfunction in the genetic code of animals, while the skin and hair cover are deprived of a special pigment responsible for their color. Such an animal is born and remains white throughout its life. These individuals in the animal world are called albinos (from the Latin word "albus" - white).

In nature, you can find white horses and cows, mice and rabbits, deer and squirrels. Less often you can find a white elephant or a tiger, a toad and a sturgeon. But the most rare White crow. Usually these birds are black or gray in color. That is why she is mentioned in famous phraseological unit "white crow".

In contact with

Expression value

This phrase is used to describe a person who is radically different from others in their appearance, behavior, attitudes or interests. All this is manifested in the actions or statements of this person. Society may consider him strange or mentally unhealthy, although this is completely untrue.

Inconsistency is the main feature of the "white crows". On the one hand, this is a unique, interesting person, a bright personality. On the other hand, he is always considered an outcast, he is not accepted or feared by society.

When using this phrase in sentences, people mean those who go beyond the generally accepted framework and violate the established rules with their extraordinary behavior.

Many are unsettled by the fact that someone may not pay attention to established canons and act solely at their own discretion. In recent years, the meaning of the expression has been used in a positive way, as bright personalities become role models.

The history of the appearance of phraseology

The origin of the phraseologism "white crow" is associated with the poet Junius, who lived in Rome at the end of the first and beginning of the second century. History claims: the phrase was first heard in his poem, where the poet said that only the will of chance can give the slave a kingdom, and the captive - a triumph, and such a case is even rarer than a white crow.

Knowing what the hierarchical structure of society was like in the Ancient Roman Empire, it is difficult to disagree with these words. In the seventh satire of Junius, this phrase is literally indicated. In eastern countries, an analogue of this phraseological unit is used - “white elephant”, since albino elephants can be found very rarely there.

How people become white crows

It is easy to be judged by society. For this, a person is enough go against stereotypes, to have radically opposing views, strange appearance and unusual hobbies. Independence from established norms, the rejection of branded clothing and household items, social networks distinguish a person in the same way as belonging to subcultures, strange addictions, or refusal to create a family.

It is difficult for the "White Crow" to fight the opinions of others, but she should not be afraid to express her individuality. In order to stop feeling oppressed because of being different from others, you must:

• Present your views and opinions as an original idea;
• Bring interests and hobbies to the public and surprise society with them;
• Learn to communicate, trust people and share both your interests with them, and accept their hobbies.

Is it easy to be unique

Those who are called the "white crow" do not seek to impose their views on others, but consider their point of view to be more correct. It is with this that society is trying to fight, which does not like dissident people. It is difficult for them to adapt in groups, among friends and acquaintances, because:

• They are subjected to insults, contempt and insults;
• Their individuality is being suppressed;
• With strange people, few people want to communicate, so they have few friends. Usually "white crows" are looking for comrades among the supporters of their views.
• Society often ignores the opinion of people.

How to behave as a white crow

Most often, teenagers are distinguished by dissimilarity, but it is easier for them to endure loneliness and unacceptability on the part of society. Sometimes they themselves want to stand out among their peers. Although children can be very cruel to those who do not merge with the general mass. But adults are also ridiculed, and it is much more difficult for them to be around those who do not share their hobbies.

Relationship psychologists offer the following advice to adult “black sheep” and unusual teenagers:

• It is necessary to learn to understand and respect the views and opinions of other people, to treat them kindly.
• Observe those around you and notice what you can learn.
• Explain your views and position not categorically and calmly, do not offend opposing judgments.
• In the case of ridiculing physical shortcomings, it is worth using them as the main advantage. High growth, for example, will allow women to get a job in a modeling agency, and men to start playing basketball.
• You need to get used to your dissimilarity, to emphasize individuality.

There is a parable about the white crow. An unusual bird lived among its black relatives and was constantly ridiculed by them without explaining the reason for such behavior. The white bird responded to the evil done only with kindness. Trying to communicate as little as possible with other crows, she took off and soared high in the sky. Due to oppression, the white crow matured early, became independent and independent, for which hatred and envy towards her only intensified.

The white bird decided to fly away in search of the same crows in order to finally become ordinary and not stand out among the flock. The white crow flew away, but its disappearance was noticed. The relatives of the bird remembered her good qualities, admitted their mistakes and regretted that the white crow had left them.

Moral of the parable: no need to pay attention to the ridicule of others. It is important to preserve your dignity and individuality, look for like-minded people and behave naturally.