like lambs to the slaughter 🐑
Definition: Helpless and unaware of impending danger. Often retains a chilling connotation of innocence and naiveté leading to an unfortunate fate.
Origins: This figure of speech first appeared in the Old Testament’s Book of Isaiah (“He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,” 53:7) and again in the Book of Jeremiah (“I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter,” 11:19) and has been echoed ever since.
Related and Similar Terms:
- Sacrificial lamb: Someone who is sacrificed for the common good or as a scapegoat.
- Walking into the lion’s den: Facing a situation full of imminent danger.
- Lamb led to the slaughter: Synonymous in figurative usage.
- Sitting ducks: Completely defenseless and exposed to danger.
- Fodder for the cannon: Used to describe people whose lives are less valued and thus put in dangerous situations.
Proverbs and Expressions:
- “Ignorance is bliss, until reality bites.”
- “Naïveté often wears the cloak of innocence.”
Quotes:
- “He went to his fate like a lamb to the slaughter, never knowing the weight of the dagger above.” – Imaginations Unchained (fictitious book)
References:
- Literature: George Orwell’s 1984—There are scenes where characters realize too late they are at the mercy of oppressive forces.
- Books: William Golding’s Lord of the Flies—Simplicity and innocence succumbing to primal chaos.
- Songs: The Smith’s “Meat is Murder”— Juxtaposing innocence with the brutality of reality.
- Poetry: “The Tyger” by William Blake—Contrasts innocence with fierceness.
- Movies: Steven Spielberg’s Schindler’s List features unsettling scenes showcasing human innocence shamefully led astray.
Inspirational Thought:
- Despite the grim context of this saying, fostering awareness and critical thinking can be the shield against an otherwise oblivious journey into peril. Be vigilant, question, and stray away from complacency.
### Which Biblical book first mentioned “like lambs to the slaughter”?
- [x] Isaiah
- [ ] Ezekiel
- [ ] Psalms
- [ ] Genesis
> **Explanation:** The phrase "like lambs to the slaughter" first appears in Isaiah 53:7.
### Which of these expressions relates to danger?
- [ ] A piece of cake
- [ ] Busy as a bee
- [x] Sitting ducks
- [ ] Fit as a fiddle
> **Explanation:** "Sitting ducks" implies being unprotected and an easy target.
### True or False: "Sacrificial lamb" refers to someone intentionally put in harm's way at the cost of the common good.
- [x] True
- [ ] False
> **Explanation:** A sacrificial lamb is someone who is sacrificed for the common good, often unwillingly.
### Identify the phrase that describes oblivious innocence facing danger.
- [ ] Raining cats and dogs
- [ ] A canary in a coal mine
- [x] Like lambs to the slaughter
- [ ] Skeletons in the closet
> **Explanation:** "Like lambs to the slaughter" precisely embodies oblivious innocence heading towards inevitable peril.
### Which related idiom describes entering into a dangerous place?
- [ ] Hit the sack
- [ ] When pigs fly
- [x] Walking into the lion’s den
- [ ] Burn the midnight oil
> **Explanation:** "Walking into the lion’s den" means knowingly entering a perilous situation.
Until we meet again, remember: Know thy surroundings, and think twice before following the herd. 🌟
