English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Bird of passage
Meaning
The idiom "bird of passage" refers to someone who is temporarily passing through an area or situation, but does not have any permanent ties or connections to it. The phrase often carries a sense of being a stranger or outsider, and can also imply that the person is simply transiting on their way to another place or time.
Usage
- As she was only staying in the city for two days, Sarah didn't bother to unpack her bags since she planned on leaving as soon as her business was over.
- He had been traveling from country to country for months, and by this point he felt like a bird of passage passing through foreign lands.
- The refugee family was treated with suspicion and hostility by the neighbors, who saw them as nothing more than birds of passage.
- She had spent most of her life moving from place to place, never putting down roots or building any real connections to any one location.
- He knew that he would have to leave his job soon and find a new career if he wanted to continue on the path of success, which made him feel like a bird of passage passing through different stages of life.
Roots and History
The idiom "bird of passage" is thought to have originated from the practice of hunting for birds during migration season. In this context, the phrase refers to the transient nature of migratory birds, who often spend only a brief time in one area before moving on to the next. Over time, the phrase has come to be used metaphorically to refer to people who are simply passing through a situation or location, rather than having any permanent ties or connections to it.
Synonyms in English
- Traveler
- Tourist
- Sojourner
- Stranger
- Touring company
Synonyms in other languages
- In Spanish, the equivalent idiom is "pajero en tránsito" which means "passenger in transit."
- In French, the idiom is "trèsor de passage" which translates to "treasure on its way."
- In German, the phrase is "Übergang" which literally means "transition."
- In Portuguese, the equivalent idiom is "pajero em transito" which has the same meaning as in Spanish.
- In Italian, the phrase is "passante" which means "passenger" or "traveler."