As writers, we have to search to find unique ways to describe everyday life. Sometimes, especially when we write dialogue, we find ourselves resorting to idioms, figures of speech and (gasp) clichés. But where did those idioms originate? That’s what we’re exploring in this week’s blog hop.
I’ve heard the expression “blind as a bat” since I was young. Several of my siblings fit that
description. One brother needed glasses in first grade.
Of course, we now know that bats aren’t blind. Most people know they use a radar-like detection system for hunting, called echolocation. But they can see in daylight, although their vision isn’t as sharp as many other night hunters. They aren’t really blind
So where did the saying originate? Some scholars point to Aristotle. Supposedly he experimented with bats while he was trying to come up with a system to classify living beings. We also attribute the saying “For as the eyes of bats are to the blaze of day, so is the reason in our soul to the things which are by nature most evident of all” to him as it appeared in his work “Metaphysics.”
There is also research that suggests the saying originated in the seventeenth century. In John’s Clarke’s Paromiologia there is a line that reads “Blind as a bat at noone.”
The expression now is used to describe more that just a person’s vision. It can also be used to describe a person’s unwillingness to recognize the truth. In the current political battle in the Unites States, the followers of both major parties frequesntly accuse their rivals as being blind as bats. However, the words they use may not be so polite.
There are lots of idioms out there enriching our language. I’m looking forward to seeing what our other authors bring to the table. 🙂 To find out, follow the links below!
November 7 – Idioms – figures of speech – For example, what does “in a New York minute” mean, where did it come from, what does it mean to you? (I think this might be a fun way to highlight our different cultures).
Rules:
1. Link your blog to this hop.
2. Notify your following that you are participating in this blog hop.
3. Promise to visit/leave a comment on all participants’ blogs.
4. Tweet/or share each person’s blog post. Use #OpenBook when tweeting.
5. Put a banner on your blog that you are participating.
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