How do you understand the expression white crow? History and meaning of the phraseological unit white crow

White crow is a very rare bird, which is why people who fall very far from society and social norms of behavior are also called that. Since in last decades Albino crows have become an extremely rare phenomenon, we can talk more about phraseological units. Why do individuals choose this 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 with a similar disease are considered special.
2. A black sheep in society is a person who stands out from the crowd with his views, tastes, manners and behavior.

White crows are very unadapted in nature; it is difficult for them to hide from predators due to their light plumage. They are not like others. This explains the origin of the phraseological unit “white crow”; this is how people with unusual behavior began to be called, who stand out from the crowd with their manners and views. This expression is inherent in two polarities:

1. Artists, writers, scientists living in their own world of sounds, images and imagination.
2. People are stupid and narrow-minded, who are 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 “black sheep” is a person whom society considers a stranger because he is different from others. It's about not about appearance, but about moral values ​​and assessments of what is happening. Often teenagers or creative individuals choose this behavior in order to express themselves and achieve recognition. Character traits such people:

• do not hide their views that differ from the generally accepted ones and are proud of them;
• do not want to accept society’s stereotypes in order to pass as one of 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 set out to stand out, he simply considers his own moral values more correct. At all times, such people have had a hard time because:

• they are misunderstood, offended and often despised;
• trying to suppress individuality;
• they are lonely or find friends among the same individuals;
• their opinion is ignored by the majority.

What to do if you are a “black sheep”?

Many parents are interested in the question: how to live as a “black sheep”? Children themselves are not always burdened by loneliness; sometimes teenagers even strive to show their difference. 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 the following recommendations:

• do not treat your environment aggressively, remain friendly, accept the views of other people;
• celebrate what you can learn from others;
• calmly express your position, without offense or categorical judgments;
• if the problem is a physical disability such as a large or short stature, you can turn it into a virtue. Sign up for modeling courses, basketball, or become a salesperson in a clothing store for short people;
• get used to your individuality, accept it as it is.

How to become a “black sheep”?

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

Parable of the White Crow

The unique light plumage gave rise to the instructive parable of the white crow. Since childhood, she was not loved for her strange color, so she had to grow up quickly. Many hated this crow, 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 and resilient, for which she was envied even more.

And one day a white crow decided to fly away in search of white birds like her, so that she could be accepted into a new flock. And only after the disappearance of the white bird did others appreciate its qualities and began to regret their mistakes. The moral of this parable is that you should not be afraid to be yourself, maintain pride and dignity, be able to look for like-minded people and never try on someone else’s fate.

White rabbits and white mice, in principle, are not uncommon. White horses and cows are less common, as are blackbirds and deer. Completely white squirrels are occasionally found in North America. And in Russian newspapers Sometimes notes are published about a white sturgeon caught or a fox caught by hunters white. Imagine, there are even milky-colored red-eyed toads!

White is not the typical color of all these animals, fish and birds. They are representatives of albinos. Albinism, named after the Latin word “albus,” which means “white,” occurs when cells lack the necessary pigment responsible for hair and skin color.

Albinos are also found among crows, but they are extremely rare. The phraseological expression known today was given to the world by the Roman satirical poet Juvenal. In the 1st-2nd centuries AD. he very aptly noted: “A slave can become king, captives can wait for triumph. Only a lucky person is more rare than a black crow...”

The comparison of the wise Juvenal has become firmly established in 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 “black sheep.”

In the East you can also find a similar comparison. But it affects elephants, which are also extremely rare and white with red eyes. Residents of Indochina value them precisely for their rarity, just like people who are called “white elephants”.

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 in genetic code animals and birds fail.

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 a different behavior, appearance or value system 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 an 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 similar meaning: "black sheep", " ugly duck" 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.

Why are it so rare to find albinos in nature?

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.

White crow Iron. A person who stands out in some way from the people around him. - Are you also a collective farmer? - asked Sergei. - No, what are you talking about! - Lena raised her eyebrows in surprise. - I’m a guest here, unfortunately... That’s why my mother calls me a “black sheep”(S. Babaevsky. Knight of the Golden Star).

Phrasebook Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST.

2008.

White crow- in the zoo This term has other meanings, see White Crow (meanings). "Black Sheep" query 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, brings triumphs to captives. However, such a lucky person is rarer than a black sheep... ... Dictionary winged words and expressions

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

WHITE CROW- “THE WHITE CROW” (short story in the film anthology “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 who robbed civilians of occupied Holland... ... Encyclopedia of Cinema

"White crow" - phraseological turn, which is used in colloquial speech when characterizing a person who stands out from the people around him in some way: clothing, 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 person, unusual in his qualities, who stands out sharply among other people. FSRY, 79; Mokienko 1989, 110; BTS, 70, 150; ZS 1996, 26; SHZF 2001, 18; BMS 1998, 98 99 ... Large 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): Fate gives kingdoms to slaves, delivers triumphs to captives. However, such a lucky man... ... Universal additional practical Dictionary I. Mostitsky

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

White crow- About a person who stands out sharply among 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, narrated in poetry, 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 a person’s worldview upside down, makes him... Buy for 490 rubles eBook