The world's nature is very multifaceted and mysterious, presenting humanity with many amazing mysteries, one of which is albinism. This rare phenomenon, which manifests itself in the animal world, is explained by a failure in genetic code when there is no pigment in the skin and hair that is responsible for color.

This leads to the fact that the animal is born with a white color, which is unusual for this species. In the animal environment, such an individual is called an albino, from Latin word“albus”, that is, “white”. This phenomenon occurs most often in rabbits and mice, less often in horses and cows. Cases have been recorded in squirrels, deer, and blackbirds. It is very rare to see a white tiger or elephant.

How do you like it? white toad and sturgeon? But the greatest rarity is the white crow, although all its relatives are gray or black. So it is not surprising that it was she who received the honor of immortalizing herself in well-known phraseological unit"white crow"

The meaning of the phraseological unit “white crow”

"White in rona" is a person who is very different from others in his outlook on life, behavior or his appearance. The values, interests and goals of such a person differ greatly from the society in which he is located.

This is manifested in his extraordinary statements and actions. Such a person is considered strange and even crazy. But that's not true. He’s just concerned about completely different topics, which the vast majority are not interested in at all.

And for him this is almost the most important thing in life. But he may be indifferent to established and recognized values ​​in society. It can also stand out due to its demeanor. He behaves quietly and modestly, does not bother anyone, may have a strange gait or constantly mutter something under his breath, is uncommunicative and taciturn.

His appearance can also set him apart from others. I don’t mean any physical defects, but self-expression in clothes, piercings, tattoos. Although in our time this hardly surprises anyone.

“You are the father of a man who fought against autocracy. You can rightfully be proud of Vasily Andreevich. - That’s right, but Vasily is among us black sheep was. And if he went against the king, then my merit is not there. “That’s how to say it,” Rogov laughed. “A bad seed does not produce a bad tribe.”

K.FSedykh (1908-1979), “Dauria”, 1948

“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 black sheep».

S.P.Babaevsky (1909-20000), “Cavalier of the Golden Star”, 1947-1948.

"White Crow" is a contradictory personality. On the one hand, dissent, uniqueness and unusualness, and on the other, misunderstanding of others, the role of an outcast and loneliness. And yet there is something pure and vulnerable in this image.

Origin of the phraseological unit “white crow”

The first mention of the expression “white crow” occurs at the turn of the 1st and 2nd centuries by the Roman poet Decimus Junius Juvenal (circa 60 - no earlier than 128) or simply Juvenal in one of his satires:

“Fate gives kingdoms to slaves, brings triumphs to captives.

However, the lucky one is less likely to be the same white crow It happens".

Juvenal, "7th Satire".

Such a rare phenomenon as a “white crow” prompted the satirist to use such a metaphor. It is clear that this vivid and accurate comparison sunk into the soul of the Romans, if after 20 centuries they use the expression “white crow”.

But still, the phraseological unit “white crow” carries negative character. People generally don’t really like people who are strange, different from everyone else, and stand out from the general mass of people. By at least, treat them with great caution and wariness.

Parable about the "white crow"

In fairness, one parable about the “white crow” should be mentioned.

From the very early childhood The “white crow” was disliked by her relatives. She didn’t understand why and why they hated her, they made fun of her, constantly played dirty tricks on her and teased her. But the bird did not respond to insults, but simply tried to be in the flock less often and communicate less. She flew high into the sky and indulged in loneliness.

Being without friends, the bird matured early. A hard life early taught the crow to overcome difficulties, which tempered her and made her resilient and strong. For this they began to envy her and hated her even more.

And then the crow’s patience ran out, and she decided to leave the flock and go in search of white crows similar to herself. The disappearance did not go unnoticed. The other birds suddenly remembered all of her good qualities, recalled with regret the insults inflicted on her.

The moral is that you should always remain yourself and be able to find friends and like-minded people.

In conclusion, I would like to say that along with the expression “white crow” there are other similar expressions based on the unusual color of the animal, which is radically different from the main color of animals of this species. These include little-known expressions in Russia and “black sheep.”

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).

Russian phraseological dictionary literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008.

Synonyms:

See what “White Crow” is in other dictionaries:

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) ... Dictionary of synonyms

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"- a phraseological turn that 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 ... Big dictionary 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 explanatory dictionary I. Mostitsky

white crow- This expression is used (often with a disapproving connotation) in relation to people who are eccentric, unusual, and 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 e-book

The white crow is a very rare bird, so 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. This is 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. Characteristics 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 disadvantage, such as being tall or short, you can turn it into a strength. 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 sentiment on the Internet began to highlight the concept of “black sheep” in a positive way when we're talking about about business in 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 white crow's life was difficult, but she grew up strong and resilient, for which she was even more envied.

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.

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 the 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 do not learn; they love to make trouble in the broadest sense of the 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 in effect 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.

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 white fox caught by hunters. 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”.