sheep-run
Definition
- Noun:
- A large tract of land used for grazing sheep: "sheep-run" refers to an extensive area of grassland, typically in Australia, where sheep are raised and allowed to roam and feed. This term is primarily used in Australian English to describe a sheep station or ranch.
Usage Examples
- (A large sheep-grazing property in a remote area.)
- (The grazing land became insufficient due to dry conditions.)
Advanced Usage
"to work a sheep-run": to manage or operate a sheep-grazing property.
- He learned to work a sheep-run from his grandfather, who was a pioneer in the region. (He gained experience in running a sheep station.)
"to sell the sheep-run": to dispose of the grazing property.
- With rising costs, they decided to sell the sheep-run and move to the city. (They sold the sheep station.)
Variants and Related Words
Sheep (n): a domesticated ruminant animal kept for wool and meat.
- The sheep were grazing peacefully in the field. (The animals on the run.)
Run (n): in Australian English, a large area of land used for grazing livestock.
- The cattle run was adjacent to the sheep-run. (A similar grazing property for cattle.)
Synonyms
- Sheep station: a large farm or ranch where sheep are raised, common in Australia and New Zealand.
- Pasture: land covered with grass for grazing animals, though typically smaller than a sheep-run.
Related Idioms
- "to separate the sheep from the goats": to distinguish good from bad or capable from incapable.
- The final exam will separate the sheep from the goats among the students. (It will identify the best performers.)
Note: This idiom does not directly involve "sheep-run," but it uses "sheep" as a thematic connection.
Phrasal Verbs
Run off: to drive away or cause to flee.
- The dogs ran the sheep off the run. (They chased the sheep away from the grazing land.)
Run out: to exhaust a supply or resource.
- The sheep-run ran out of water during the heatwave. (The land's water supply was depleted.)