English Idioms
Comprehensive resource for understanding and mastering English idioms
Greenhorn
Meaning
The idiom "greenhorn" refers to someone who is new or inexperienced, particularly when it comes to a certain activity or situation. It can also refer to someone who is naive or gullible.
Usage
- The new employee was greenhorn on the job and didn't know how to use the computer.
- He was a complete greenhorn at poker and lost all his money in one hand.
- Don't be a greenhorn and trust everything people tell you without questioning it.
- She played like a greenhorn, making the same mistakes over and over again.
- The old-timers looked down on the newcomers as greenhorns who didn't know how to do anything right.
Roots and History
The idiom "greenhorn" originated in the early 20th century and is believed to have come from the practice of branding cattle with green paint. New or inexperienced cowboys were often marked with green paint so that they could be easily identified and kept separate from the experienced ones. Over time, the term "greenhorn" came to refer to anyone who was new or inexperienced in general.
Synonyms in English
- Novice
- Rookie
- Neophyte
- Newbie
- Beginner
Synonyms in other languages
- French: Rôti (rookie)
- German: Einfacher (simpleton)
- Spanish: Inocente (innocent)
- Italian: Stolido (stupid)
- Japanese: 新人 (newbie)