🍏 Welcome to “Steer Clear: The Art of Avoidance and Other Ancient Admonitions” 🚷
Talk about old school advice! When St. Jerome dished out words to “avoid, as you would the plague,” he wasn’t mincing words. Back then, avoiding the plague was a literal lifesaver, and even clerics weren’t above a sharp bit of shade! Let’s dive into this cautionary cliché and many others, mixing humor, history, and a whole lot of linguistic love.
Definition
“To stay away from; assiduously shun.”
Synonyms
- Eschew: To abstain from or deliberately avoid.
- Evade: To avoid something or someone skillfully.
- Sidestep: To avoid dealing with or talking about something complex or unpleasant.
- Steer clear of: To keep a safe distance from something undesirable.
Antonyms
- Embrace: To accept or support something willingly and enthusiastically.
- Confront: To deal with something head-on rather than avoiding it.
- Pursue: To follow or chase with intent.
- Approach: To come near or nearer to something in proximity or time.
Historical Context and Interesting Tidbits
The fear of the plague influenced many phrases related to avoidance. In medieval Europe, the Black Death scattered humanity and common sense alike. Even the slightest whiff of something fishy—and I don’t mean the market streets of Sicily—had people running for the hills, metaphorically and physically.
Fun Facts
- The phrase “avoid like the plague” implies a drastic, almost exaggerated precaution. After all, if you aren’t drastically avoiding something serious, aren’t you tempting fate?
- A poignant example from Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes series is the famous hound of Baskervilles. Even the suspicion of a monstrous dog had the villagers avoiding the moors “like the plague.”
Humorous Quotes
“If avoidance were an art, my ex would be Picasso."—Anon
Proverbs and Related Expressions
- “Better safe than sorry.”: Suggests that taking precaution is better than risking potential danger.
- “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”: Avoiding trouble is more efficient than dealing with its aftermath.
- “Look before you leap.”: Cautious planning can prevent avoidable mishaps.
Cultural References
- Books: George Orwell’s 1984: A novel illustrating avoidance in extreme surveillance.
- Songs: Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson: Exemplifies staying away from unsavory characters.
- Movies: Jaws: Instilled in viewers the dramatic art of avoiding a shark-infested beach.
Literature and Classical Use
St. Jerome, a renowned scholar, emphasizes the earliest known use with a profound suggestion. His alert to avoid businessmen clergymen suggests that naivety should be balanced with wisdom—and an eye on the human condition.
Quizzes
Put the words of the wise into action, remember, sometimes the best offense is a good absence—with tongue firmly in cheek, of course.
Inspirational Thought-Provoking Farewell:
As we navigate the dictionary of clichés, may we approach language with keen eyes and open minds, avoiding the mundane to uncover the extraordinary.
Your faithful wordsmith,
E. V. Evansham
