mocking-bird
Definition
- Noun:
- A mocking-bird is a type of songbird (family Mimidae, especially the northern mockingbird, Mimus polyglottos) known for its ability to mimic the sounds of other birds, animals, and even mechanical noises. The name comes from its habit of "mocking" or imitating other creatures.
Usage Examples
- (The bird imitated the songs of different species.)
- (The bird reproduced a mechanical sound.)
- (A literary reference to the bird's gentle nature.)
Advanced Usage
- "Mocking-bird" as a symbol: In American literature and culture, the mocking-bird often represents innocence, peace, and the idea of causing no harm. The phrase "to kill a mockingbird" is a metaphor for destroying something pure and good.
- The character Atticus Finch teaches his children that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird. (The bird is a symbol of goodness.)
Variants and Related Words
Mockingbird (n): a common alternative spelling (without the hyphen). The hyphenated "mocking-bird" is less common in modern usage but appears in older texts.
- The mockingbird is the state bird of several U.S. states. (The bird is officially recognized.)
Mimic (v): to imitate or copy. The mocking-bird's name is derived from its ability to mimic sounds.
- The bird can mimic the songs of up to 200 different species. (It can copy a wide range of sounds.)
Synonyms
- Mimic thrush: an older, less common term for the mocking-bird, referring to its thrush-like appearance and mimicking ability.
- Mimus polyglottos: the scientific name for the northern mockingbird, meaning "many-tongued mimic."
Related Idioms
To kill a mockingbird: a phrase popularized by Harper Lee's novel, meaning to destroy something innocent or good.
- Betraying a friend's trust is like killing a mockingbird. (It harms something pure.)
Mocking-bird's song: used metaphorically to describe a pleasant but imitative or derivative quality.
- His speech was a mocking-bird's song, full of borrowed phrases. (His words were imitative, not original.)