Wail Like a Banshee, To
Definition: To scream shrilly. In Irish folklore, a “banshee” is a spirit in the form of a wailing woman who appears or is heard as a sign that one member of a family will soon die. The word appeared in English (from the Gaelic bean sidhe) in the second half of the eighteenth century. The simile dates from the late nineteenth century.
Related Expressions:
- Cry Wolf: To give a false alarm.
- Scream Bloody Murder: To scream very loudly, usually in fear or pain.
- Howl at the Moon: To lament hopelessly.
Proverbs & Sayings:
- “Don’t count your chicken before they hatch."—Warns against celebrating before seeing the results; could lead to strong emotions if expectations falter.
- “Every cloud has a silver lining."—A hopeful proverb indicating that even bad situations have positive aspects.
Humor-Filled Quotes:
- “I used to be a banshee in a past life. Now I just complain audibly.” — Anonymous Ghostwriter 🎃
- “Sometimes I want to wail like a banshee, but then I remember—I’m a grown-up, so I just write a strongly-worded email.” — Office Philosopher 🤓
Literature, Books, and References:
- “Wuthering Heights” by Emily Brontë - Home of eerie cries and ghostly hauntings.
- “The Banshee” by Elliot O’Donnell - A spine-chilling collection of banshee lore.
- “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” - Features a banshee as a boggart that exploits deep-seated fears.
Music:
- “Banshee” by Santigold - A lively tribute with a banshee metaphor.
- “Cry, Little Sister” by Gerard McMann - A haunting tune woven into folklore ambiance.
Movies & Shows:
- “Darby O’Gill and the Little People” - Classic film featuring Irish folklore and an eerie banshee.
- “Penny Dreadful” - TV show laden with mythical creatures, including a banshee or two.
### Which idiom describes a loud, shrill scream?
- [x] Wail like a banshee
- [ ] Hum like a hummingbird
- [ ] Bark like a puppy
- [ ] Sing like a nightingale
> **Explanation:** "Wail like a banshee" is an idiom that refers to a loud, shrill scream, similar to the mythical banshee's wail predicting doom.
### Which of these involves raising a false alarm?
- [x] Cry wolf
- [ ] Dance with wolves
- [ ] Speak of the devil
- [ ] Shoot the breeze
> **Explanation:** "Cry wolf" is an idiom that means to raise a false alarm, which can also result in very emotional reactions when found out.
### Identify the phrase that depicts seeking hopelessly.
- [ ] Sing a song
- [ ] Hold the fort
- [x] Howl at the moon
- [ ] Fly on wings
> **Explanation:** "Howl at the moon" reflects a hopeless or futile exertion, similar to the mythical howling banshee.
### Which of these could *'scream very loudly'* mean?
- [ ] Walk in the park
- [x] Scream bloody murder
- [ ] Hit the hay
- [ ] Drink like a fish
> **Explanation:** "Scream bloody murder" means to scream extremely loudly, usually out of fear or pain, similar to the wail of a banshee.
### True or False: The banshee is a herald of good news.
- [ ] True
- [x] False
> **Explanation:** False. The banshee traditionally appears or is heard as a sign that one member of a family will soon die, not bring good news.
May your curious ears always stay intrigued and your vocal cords remain perfectly unbanshed, dear reader.
— Farewell thought: “Sometimes, letting out a hearty wail clears the clouds in your soul. Don’t bottle things up!” 🌬️
— Laney Lorekeeper, 2023
