🏃♂️ Avoid Like the Plague: The Epic Art of Giving Something the Cold Shoulder ❄️
To stay away from, assiduously shun. The scourge of western Europe on numerous occasions, the plague, although poorly understood, was known to be contagious even in the time of St. Jerome (A.D. 345–420), who wrote, “Avoid, as you would the plague, a clergyman who is also a man of business.”
Related and Similar Terms:
- Avoid like the coronavirus (humorously updated) - Social distancing from something or someone troublesome.
- Steer clear of - To avoid or keep a distance from.
- Give a wide berth to - To maintain a considerable distance from.
- Shun - To persistently avoid, ignore, or reject.
Proverbs & Common Expressions:
- “Better safe than sorry.” - It’s better to avoid a risk than to deal with the consequences.
- “Prevention is better than cure.” - Better to avoid problems than to fix them.
Synonyms:
- Dodge, eschew, sidestep, evade, escape.
Antonyms:
- Engage, confront, face, tackle.
Humor-Filled Quote:
“I avoid work like the plague. Which is fitting since work gives me a contagious rash.” - Lazy Larry
Cultural References:
- Literature: “The Masque of the Red Death” by Edgar Allan Poe
- Movies: “Contagion” (2011)
- Books: “World War Z” by Max Brooks
- Songs: “Don’t Stand So Close to Me” by The Police
🚀 Embrace the wisdom of ornithological exemplars—they wisely observe any ill-wind and flap away in the opposite direction! 🦉 Now, let’s test your idiom intelligence:
### Which of these is an equivalent phrase to "avoid like the plague"?
- [x] Steer clear of
- [ ] Running with scissors
- [ ] Riding a comet
- [ ] Talking to bananas
> **Explanation:** "Steer clear of" is a genuine idiom synonymous with "avoid like the plague." The others? They’re out of this idiomatic world!
### True or False: "Avoid like the plague" has been used since ancient times.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** True, though the specific phrase may have variations, the concept dates back to ancient insights on avoiding infectious diseases.
### Which phrase is closest in meaning to 'avoid like the plague'?
- [ ] Embrace with open arms
- [x] Give a wide berth to
- [ ] Talk the hind leg off a donkey
- [ ] Roll out the red carpet
> **Explanation:** "Give a wide berth to" aligns closely with the idea of avoiding something enthusiastically.
✨ Until next time, smart reader, remember: why agonize over complexities when you can simply evade them with grace, one idiom at a time. 📚💡
