🚜 Country Cousin: Embracing Rustic Charm in Urban Places 🌇
Definition:
Country Cousin - A visiting unsophisticated relative or friend whose naïveté or rough manners embarrass the host. These fine folks became comedic staples in Restoration comedies of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. By the nineteenth century, they were cliché, their rustic antics often serving as a humorous contrast to urban polish.
Example in Literature:
Anthony Trollope’s son reminisces in What I Remember (Thomas Adolphus Trollope, 1887), “One of the sights of London for country cousins was to see the mails starting.”
The Modern Scene:
Though less commonly heard today, the term can still pop up when your ivy-league aunt attempts to navigate public transportation or when your small-town buddy palavers at the swanky coffee shop.
Related Terms and Expressions:
- Fish out of water - Someone in an unfamiliar situation.
- Greenhorn - A novice or inexperienced individual.
- Babe in the woods - An innocent, naïve person in a critical or dangerous situation.
- Country bumpkin - A simple, unsophisticated person from the countryside.
Synonyms:
- Hayseed
- Yokel
- Rube
- Hick
Antonyms:
- City slicker
- Sophisticate
- Urbanite
- Cosmopolitan
Proverbs and Quotes:
- “A countryman between two lawyers is like a fish between two cats.” – Benjamin Franklin
- “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country.” – Biblical Proverb, Mark 6:4
Inspirational Thought:
“True sophistication lies not in masking one’s roots, but in fully embracing them wherever life may lead.”
Suggested Literature, Music, Film:
- Books:
- “Gentleman Prefer Blondes” by Anita Loos – A humorous exploration of contrasting lifestyles.
- “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen – Watch how the rustic charm of Elizabeth Bennet rattles high society.
- Movies:
- Green Acres – A sitcom showcasing the humorous transition from urban to rural life.
- My Fair Lady – Transformation and societal dynamics, though more ‘country cousin’ metaphorically.
- Songs:
- “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” by John Denver – Rustic pride!
- “Country Cousin” by Simon Posford – Surprisingly on the nose.
With rustic charm and a wit sharpened by worldly encounters, let every “Country Cousin” be a reminder of the beauty in embracing our roots and sharing diverse experiences.
Adventurously yours, Amelia N. Everfun 🌻
