What do you call a person who is not like the majority? One of the options is " white crow" The meaning of phraseological units will be discussed using clear examples.

Definition

Let's start with the obvious. Crows are usually black, sometimes black and gray, but never white. Albinos are generally a rare phenomenon.

Hence the white crow (see below for the meaning of the phraseological unit) is an object that stands out strongly from 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 affairs. Vague wording. Examples will help us clarify this.

Examples

Imagine a typical school environment. With the usual division into “hooligans” and “nerds”. Hooligans don’t learn; they love to make trouble in in a broad sense this word. Botanists, on the contrary, are diligent students, do not drink alcohol, and read books. The reader knows for sure both of them. So, the white crow (the meaning of the phraseological unit is studied with all care) is a bully, to the point of trembling in his hands book lover, and absolutely any: historical, artistic, scientific.

He is considered a man “out of this world” by fellow bullies and nerds alike. People are prone to maximalism, so you have to be a hooligan or a nerd, but until 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 talk about this: “Oh! There's a white crow." The meaning of phraseological units now does not cause difficulties.

This is not a sentence

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 black sheep. Then, for various reasons, the company may change, and the 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 for whom the definition of “white crow” is suitable (the meaning of a phraseological unit, there was an example with it a little earlier, but we still decided to concretize our reasoning). We are, of course, talking about Alex from Burgess’s work “ A Clockwork Orange». Main character works, without a doubt, a terrible person, but at the same time he has a developed (or innate) sense of beauty and some kind of intelligence. This is what makes him stand out from the crowd.

0 Wherever we spend our time, at work, on vacation or at home, there is a huge amount ironic people and jokers. Their mentality is built in such a way as to highlight ordinary things and focus attention on them. Today we will talk about an old expression that was coined by one sarcastic person, this White Crow, you can find out the value a little lower. Our website is full of surprises and useful information, so read it, getting to know 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 topic of phraseological units. For example, how to understand Making a mountain out of a molehill; meaning of the expression They carry water to the offended; what does Broken Hour mean? what does rest in peace mean, etc.
So let's continue What does White Crow mean??

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

White Crow- this is what they say about a person who is somehow sharply different from others in his actions and thoughts

If you live in rural areas, then it is not surprising for you to see a white mouse or a white rabbit. On TV we were repeatedly shown white cows, horses, deer, and even white blackbirds. There are places in the United States where you can encounter white squirrels. In Tsarist Russia, sturgeons were pulled out of the river more than once white. Maybe you think that there is no such thing among amphibians" perversions"? You are mistaken, toads white colors, and even with red eyes like hot coals, are quite common in nature.

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

This expression was first used by a satirist and poet Juvenal, who in one of his works expressed the idea that " A slave can become a king, a captive can escape, but such lucky people are rarer than a black crow..."

His contemporaries really liked this comparison, and subsequently began to use it everywhere. Much time has passed since then, but this expression is so " it's ingrained"in our speech, that seeing unusual person, standing out from its surroundings with strange qualities, immediately " sculpt"there's a label on it -" white crow".

At that time, the thoughts of many peoples seemed to be going in the same direction. Since in the east a similar saying was also born - “White elephant"Among the aborigines of the Indochina peninsula, elephants with white skin and red eyes are highly valued, mainly because of their rarity.

After reading this short article, you will now be aware of White Crow meaning phraseological unit. And only you can 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 something strange and unusual person with behavior and conversations that are fundamentally different from the rest of the people around him.

Why are it so rare to find albinos in nature?

In fact, it is almost impossible to meet a "black sheep". This is an extremely rare event that occurs as a result of a strong mutation of the genes responsible for pigmentation. Since it is much easier to notice a “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 poet Juvenal, who lived in Ancient Rome.His work was published in the 1st century AD.
This is what this satirical poet wrote about “white crows”:
"A slave has a chance of becoming a king, captives will be able to gain freedom and only a black sheep will remain a black sheep"
This comparison made the whole of Rome applaud the talented poet. Similar phrases that are associated with a particular appearance and uniqueness can be found among other nations.
A similar metaphor appeared in the East - there, instead of the expression “white crow,” they use the phrase “white elephant.” Since an albino elephant is an extremely rare phenomenon, this idiom appealed to the taste of oriental people.
White elephants are considered gender 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 most sheep 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 the 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.

Phraseologism “White Crow” meaning

About a person who is sharply different from others in his actions.

Nature often makes mistakes and blunders that modern science interprets as failures in genetic code or mutations. It is for this reason that sometimes there are individual individuals whose color is unusual for animals of this species. The most common examples are perhaps white rabbits and mice. From time to time information comes in that white foxes, fish and even toads have been spotted here and there.
The reason for this phenomenon is the absence of the pigment responsible for color in the hair and skin. Such deviations were called special term– albinism. Accordingly, animals suffering from this disease are albinos. And it is very rare to find an albino crow.
The ancient Roman poet Juvenal, using this fact, uttered his famous pearl: “A slave can become king, captives can wait for triumph. Only the lucky one of such a rare white crow...”
So the authorship of the phrase so widely used now belongs to a Roman who lived 2000 years ago. The black sheep they call people who stand out sharply from the background of the team by their behavior, appearance or life position.
By the way, this expression has an eastern analogue - “ white elephant" Albinism is extremely rare among elephants, so in Southeast Asia, white-skinned elephants are considered sacred animals.

Example:(First found in the 7th satire of the Roman poet Juvenal: Fate gives kingdoms to slaves, brings triumphs to captives. However, such a lucky person is rarer than a black crow).

We often hear in conversations such an expression as “black sheep.” The meaning is not clear to everyone. As a rule, we are talking about a person who is very different from others. They compare him to an albino crow. Sometimes there is a malfunction in the genetic code of animals and birds.

As a result, the pigment that is responsible for the color of skin and hair is simply absent in the body. 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 don’t even think that these birds may not be black or gray.

A white crow is a metaphor that denotes a person who has behavior, appearance, or a value system that is different from those around him.

A black sheep is someone who is too different from his surroundings. These may be differences in clothing, manners, outlook on life and hobbies. Sometimes society calls those who stand out strange.

There are often rumors about such people that not everything is right in their heads. Most of them are outcasts in society. Because not everyone is ready to accept those who are different from them. Not everyone is ready to accept the fact that the person next to them is independent of the rules accepted in society.

This is interesting! Sometimes the term “black sheep” is given a positive meaning. This is what they call 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 stated in his writings that only by chance could a slave become a king, and a prisoner achieve triumph. This happens less often than you might encounter a white crow.

Who is considered the black sheep?

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” become adults and mature individuals. They tend to have a harder time withstanding criticism from others.

It won’t be difficult to catch the bewildered glances of society and earn the nickname “black sheep.”

Here's what you need for this:

• Go against established foundations and norms.
• Show that your views are different from the views of others.
• Have unusual appearance. Don't follow fashion trends.
• Get involved in something special.

To be considered a black sheep, it is enough to have an unusual appearance

Unfortunately, even these simple signs are enough to earn ridicule from others. But in no case should the “black sheep” strive to adapt to them, to become ordinary. Don't withdraw into yourself and become an outcast. There is no need to endure insults and 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 shouldn’t go into conflict with others. The opinions of others must be taken with respect. During the communication process, 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 career as a model. People with original thinking become famous writers and screenwriters.

Useful video: where did the expression come from?

Parable of the White Crow

There is a legend about the white crow. Among ordinary crows there lived one with white plumage. The other birds often laughed at her. But the white crow was friendly and did not respond with anger to ridicule. True, she wanted to spend less time with the others. Therefore, the crow often soared high in the sky, completely alone.

The black birds didn't like it. They did not understand why the white woman did not worry about her “flawedness” and did not strive to please them. Every day they hated her more and more, envied her strength and freedom.

Crow felt it. That's why she dreamed of finding birds like her and not standing out anymore. When she flew away, the others began to regret what had happened. They remembered the good qualities of the white crow and finally admitted that they had behaved wrongly.

From this parable we can draw the following conclusion: there is no need to worry about the behavior of your environment. Maintain your dignity and appreciate your differences.

Use of metaphor

The term "black sheep" is often used in culture.

Here are some examples:

• Valery Leontyev has a song “White Crow”. The group “Chaif” has a composition with the same name. It came out in 1987.
• The group “Nautilus Pompilius” also used phraseology in their song “Our Family”.
• About thirty years ago, the publication “Soviet Sport” published the column “White Crows Club”. It included notes for those who love sports and are adherents healthy image life.
• In 1990, a group of actors “Theater of Rains” was formed in St. Petersburg. It was the crow of unusual color that began to symbolize this group. The fact is that actors consider themselves and their fans to be extraordinary individuals. And in our time, those who are tired of the cruelty and bitterness going on around them come to see the group’s performances.

Useful video: white crow in poetry for children

Conclusion

Now you know the origin of the phraseological unit “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 a similar meaning: “black sheep”, “ ugly duckling" In the East, another analogue is used - “white elephant”. There are plenty of regular elephants there, but white ones are considered very rare and valuable.