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单词 to send owls to athens
释义

> as lemmas

to send (also carry, etc.) owls to Athens
c. to send (also carry, etc.) owls to Athens [after ancient Greek γλαῦκ' Ἀθήναζε ἄγειν (Aristophanes Birds 301); the owl being the emblem of Pallas Athene, the patron goddess of Athens, and represented on Athenian coins, etc.] : to take something to a place where it is already in good supply; to do what is superfluous. Cf. to carry coals to Newcastle at coal n. Phrases 7.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > harm or detriment > disadvantage > uselessness > uselessness, vanity, or futility > be of no avail [verb (intransitive)] > expend effort on something futile
to shoe the goose14..
to send (also carry, etc.) owls to Athens1548
to break, crush, a fly upon the wheel1606
to carry coals to Newcastlea1614
to bang (also run, bash, etc.) one's head against a brick wall1689
to preach to the converted1857
to be on a hiding to nothing1905
to chase one's tail1963
1548 T. Cooper Bibliotheca Eliotæ (rev. ed.) at Noctua Owles to Athens, a prouerbe, where one sendeth to a man any thynge, whereof he that receyueth it hath plentie.
1567 J. Maplet Greene Forest f. 97 To sende ouer Owles to Athens. In Tropicall sense, ment of such as bestow largely vpon them that haue no neede.
1590 H. Swinburne Briefe Treat. Test. & Willes Pref. I may be thought to powre water into the Sea, to carrie owles to Athens, and to trouble the reader with a matter altogether needlesse and superfluous.
1612 H. Peacham in A. Standish Commons Complaint (new ed.) Vpon Author For me thy paines and subiect to commend..Were Candle-light vnto the Sunne to lend, Send Owles to Athens, paint the Phoenix brest.
1679 J. Josselyn Acct. Two Voy. New-Eng. 97 What does this man to bring Owls to Athens?
1824 H. F. Cary tr. Aristophanes Birds i. iv. 31 Who to Athens brings owls?
1896 E. Clodd in Folk-Lore 7 54 Although it is bringing ‘owls to Athens’ to enlarge on the matter in your presence, it may refresh some impaired memory to hear what Dr. Tylor says.
1987 Times (Nexis) 4 July The Portuguese could give Spain some sherry..and..the rest could club together to send owls to Athens.
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更新时间:2024/12/23 20:11:51