Birds of a feather flock together

Meaning

The idiom "birds of a feather flock together" means that people who have similar interests, personalities, or qualities tend to spend time with each other. It suggests that birds of the same species are attracted to one another and prefer to travel together in large groups. This idiom is often used to describe how people who share common characteristics tend to form social groups and interact with one another more frequently than those who do not.

Usage

• The group of musicians at the festival were all birds of a feather, playing the same type of music and wearing similar outfits.
• Sarah and her friends were all birds of a feather, having grown up in the same city and attending the same school.
• Despite their differences in age, the four siblings were birds of a feather, always supporting each other through thick and thin.
• The employees at the tech company were all birds of a feather, wearing hoodies and sneakers to work every day.
• The tourists on the beach were all birds of a feather, lounging in the sun and taking selfies with their friends.

Roots and History

The idiom "birds of a feather flock together" has been used since at least the 17th century. The earliest known usage can be traced back to John Dryden's poem "Annus Mirabilis," published in 1684, which includes the line "Like parrots, which are of one kind, / Fluttering and squawking, if you touch them." This suggests that birds of a feather flock together because they are attracted to each other. Over time, the idiom has evolved to refer specifically to people who share common interests or qualities. It is now commonly used in contemporary language to describe how people tend to form social groups based on shared characteristics. The idiom may have regional variations depending on the culture and language spoken in different parts of the world. For example, in Spanish, a similar expression is "De pájaro feo," which means "of a different kind of bird."

Synonyms in English

• Like-minded people
• Soulmates
• Birds of a kind
• Kindred spirits
• People of the same persuasion

Synonyms in other languages

• De paja feja (Portuguese) - "Of a different breed of birds"
• Jajci z gniazda (Czech) - "Birds from the same nest"
• Ptaki od tego samego vrsta (Russian) - "Birds of the same species"
• Oiseaux d'une même espèce (French) - "Birds of the same kind"
• 鳥類同種 (Japanese) - "Birds of the same type"

Similar Idioms

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• back to basics

• black hole