What does “To send (carry) owls to Athens.” mean?
"To send (carry) owls to Athens" means to do something pointless or unnecessary, or to give someone something they already have or do not need. This proverb originates from the ancient Greek city of Athens, which was renowned for its wisdom and learning. Owls, symbolizing wisdom, were abundant in Athens.
What context can I use the in?
Example
Why would you send him a book on how to tie shoelaces? That's like sending owls to Athens.
Example
She already has five pairs of sunglasses, so giving her another one would be like sending owls to Athens.
Example
Trying to explain the concept of gravity to a physicist is like sending owls to Athens. They already know all about it
Is “To send (carry) owls to Athens.” an expression, an idiom, or a proverb?
“To send (carry) owls to Athens.” is a proverb. A proverb is a short saying that teaches us something important or gives us advice. Unlike an idiom, it’s easy to understand even if it uses figurative language.
How would I use “To send (carry) owls to Athens.” effectively in context?
You can use "To send (carry) owls to Athens" to describe doing something pointless or unnecessary, or giving someone something they already have or do not need. For example, if someone is trying to explain a basic concept to an expert in that field, you might say, 'It's like sending owls to Athens. They already know all about it.'
- 1Gift Giving
She already has five pairs of sunglasses, so giving her another one would be like sending owls to Athens.
- 2Explanations
Trying to explain the concept of gravity to a physicist is like sending owls to Athens. They already know all about it.
- 3Unnecessary Actions
Why would you send him a book on how to tie shoelaces? That's like sending owls to Athens.
Similar phrases to “To send (carry) owls to Athens.”:
Good things to know:
Where does the phrase “To send (carry) owls to Athens.” come from?
The origin of the phrase "To send (carry) owls to Athens" comes from the ancient Greek city of Athens, which was known for its wisdom and learning. Owls were considered a symbol of wisdom and were plentiful in Athens.
Is “To send (carry) owls to Athens.” common in everyday conversation?
The phrase "To send (carry) owls to Athens" is not very common in everyday conversation, especially among beginner ESL students. It is more commonly used in academic or literary contexts to convey a specific meaning.
What tone does “To send (carry) owls to Athens.” have?
"To send (carry) owls to Athens" conveys a tone of futility or redundancy. It is often used to highlight the pointlessness of an action or the unnecessary nature of giving something to someone who already has it.
Can “To send (carry) owls to Athens.” be used in informal and formal settings?
The phrase "To send (carry) owls to Athens" is more formal in nature and is typically used in academic or literary contexts. It may not be commonly used in casual or informal conversations.
Can it be used by itself, or is it usually part of a sentence?
The phrase is commonly used as part of a sentence to convey its full meaning. For example, 'Giving her another pair of sunglasses would be like "sending owls to Athens".' However, in informal conversations, people might understand the phrase even if used alone, like saying 'That's like "sending owls to Athens"!' to imply the pointlessness of an action.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
- doing something pointless
- doing something unnecessary
- giving someone something they already have
- giving someone something they do not need
Antonyms
- doing something necessary
- giving someone something they need
