I can’t think of anything positive
to say about humans today, so lets stick with animals for
now.
But let’s at least involve humans in some way.
We have many sayings and idioms that have
their origins in animals, or our perception of animals.
So lets see where we are right and where
we are completely off the mark.
Food
for Thought I know at last what distinguishes
man from animals: Financial worries.
1. You Can't Teach
an Old Dog New Tricks
This one is probably truer for humans
than it is for dogs.
In fact, with approximately 15 minutes of training
every day for two weeks straight, even the most stubborn
dog can usually learn how to sit, stay, fetch, roll
over or whatever your heart desires, regardless of
age. VERDICT: FALSE
2. Blind as Bat
A bat’s eyes, while small and
sometimes poorly developed but completely functional.
Man’s assumption that bats are blind is probably
because they use a form of sonar to navigate through
dark areas. VERDICT: FALSE
3. Crocodile Tears
The phrase that implies expressing fake
emotion actually comes from an ancient fable that crocodiles
weep while both luring and killing their prey. In reality,
crocodiles can't chew, so they are forced to rip their food
into chunks and swallow them whole. As luck would have it,
the glands that keep their eyes moist are right near their
throats, so their eating habits actually force tears into
their eyes.
He is definitely not crying because he is eating you VERDICT: TRUE
10. Memory
of an Elephant
The elephant has the biggest brain of all land animals
— and apparently, the bigger the mass, the better
the memory. Elephants are able to retain a mental map
of their entire home range — we're talking around
3000 km2! Elephants also travel in packs and when the
group gets too big, the eldest daughter breaks off to
start her own contingent, yet she never forgets her
roots. One researcher witnessed a mother and daughter
elephant recognizing each other after 23 years of separation.
VERDICT: TRUE
