a. 대단히 흥미로운
Consider some of the fascinating ways in which animals are involved in everyday English.
linguistic
a. 언어의
Let’s begin with a basic linguistic process, the analogy.
analogy
n. 비유
An analogy is a comparison between two things and a convenient way for language to create new meanings.
comparison
n. 비교
An analogy is a comparison between two things and a convenient way for language to create new meanings.
convenient
a. 편리한
An analogy is a comparison between two things and a convenient way for language to create new meanings.
similarity
n. 유사성
By way of analogy, animal expressions draw on the similarities between animals and humans.
logic
n. 논리
In most cases, it is not hard to see the logic behind the comparisons.
draw on
끌어내서 사용하다
By way of analogy, animal expressions draw on the similarities between animals and humans.
observation
n. 관찰
Animal analogies are based on close observation of animal behavior.
misinterpretation
n. 오해, 오역
What if the casual observation leads to false assumptions, or misinterpretation gets in the way?
pretend
v. ~인 척하다
One is said to weep “crocodile tears” if they pretend to be sad when they are not.
prey
n. 먹이
The idea comes from the popular belief that crocodiles weep over the prey they kill.
stimulate
v. 자극하다
Crocodiles seem to cry while they eat, but this is because their eyes are stimulated when the muscles around the mouth move to eat.
flawed
a. 결함이 있는
“Making a beeline” also belongs to the group of animal expressions based on flawed observation.
destination
n. 목적지
If you “make a beeline for” someone or something, you go straight toward your destination, ignoring everything else along the way.
irregular
a. 불규칙적인
As you may have observed, they make irregular twists and turns in their flight.
get in the way
방해하다
What if the casual observation leads to false assumptions, or misinterpretation gets in the way?
weep over
슬퍼하다
The idea comes from the popular belief that crocodiles weep over the prey they kill.
disappear
v. 사라지다
Even though many people know that these analogies are not based on science, the expressions do not easily disappear in the language.
obvious
a. 명백한
Sometimes, the meaning of analogies may not be obvious.
rare
a. 진귀한, 드문
Long ago, in Thailand, white elephants were very rare.
since
conj. ~때문에
The king would then give it as a royal “gift” to someone he did not like since the beautiful animal cost a fortune to take care of.
refuse
v. 거절하다
Nobody could refuse such a present, but it could financially ruin its owner.
financially
ad. 재정적으로
Nobody could refuse such a present, but it could financially ruin its owner.
ruin
v. 파산시키다, 망치다
Nobody could refuse such a present, but it could financially ruin its owner.
crime
n. 범죄
Moreover, it was a serious crime to mistreat a present from the king.
mistreat
v. 잘못 다루다, 학대하다
Moreover, it was a serious crime to mistreat a present from the king.
describe
v. 묘사하다
The expression turned out to be useful for describing costly but useless public buildings.
cost a fortune
돈이 많이 들다
The king would then give it as a royal “gift” to someone he did not like since the beautiful animal cost a fortune to take care of.
refer to
~을 가리키다, 나타내다
Today, it is used to refer to anything that might be costly and useless to someone.
worthless
a. 가치 없는
Long ago, black wool was worthless because it was almost impossible to dye.
dye
v. 염색하다
Long ago, black wool was worthless because it was almost impossible to dye.
odd
a. 특이한, 이상한
Today the expression “black sheep” refers to an odd and unpopular member of a family or a group, perhaps because the unpopular black sheep stood out in a group of white sheep.
unpopular
a. 인기 없는
Today the expression “black sheep” refers to an odd and unpopular member of a family or a group, perhaps because the unpopular black sheep stood out in a group of white sheep.
perhaps
ad. 아마
Today the expression “black sheep” refers to an odd and unpopular member of a family or a group, perhaps because the unpopular black sheep stood out in a group of white sheep.
root
n. 어원; 기원, 뿌리
Be curious about the English expressions and research their roots.
stand out
쉽게 눈에 띄다, 두드러지다
Today the expression “black sheep” refers to an odd and unpopular member of a family or a group, perhaps because the unpopular black sheep stood out in a group of white sheep.
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