🖌️ Tarred with the Same Brush 🐏
Tarred with the same brush, to be - Characterized by the same faults or bad qualities. This expression likely comes from sheepherding, where there was a long-standing practice of treating a sheep’s sores by applying a brush dipped in tar. Since all the sheep in a flock were treated this way, the term metaphorically transferred to humans sharing similar (usually negative) qualities.
In literature, Sir Walter Scott popularized this figurative use in several novels during the early nineteenth century. Linguist John Ciardi suggested an alternate origin tied to sailors who, working in cramped quarters, often ended up inadvertently using tar brushes on each other while caulking ships. However, this origin is more slippery than the tar itself.
Synonyms:
- Painted with the same brush
- Branded alike
- Cut from the same cloth
Antonyms:
- Different as night and day
- Chalk and cheese
Related Terms:
- Birds of a feather flock together
- Guilty by association
- One bad apple spoils the barrel
Proverbs:
- “A rotten apple quickly infects its neighbors.”
- “Judge a tree by its fruit.”
In Literature:
- “Ivanhoe” by Sir Walter Scott - Highlighted the idiom through various character interactions.
- “Moby Dick” by Herman Melville - Explored similar themes of shared blame among sailors, though not with the exact phrase.
In Music:
- 🎵 “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson - Touches on themes of collective responsibility and shared qualities.
In Movies:
- 🎬 “The Breakfast Club” - Showcases different characters initially judged similarly by their stereotypes, only to reveal individual complexities.
🎨 Humor-Filled Quote:
“Being tarred with the same brush is much better than being tarred and feathered, especially if you’d prefer to keep your dignity and your chicken-free wardrobe.” 🐔
👓 Thought-Provoking Farewell:
Remember, while one might be tarred with the same brush, the true colors of character should be judged with a comprehensive palette.
