Often it can be said about someone that he, for example, lives "on bird's rights". We are so accustomed to this phrase that we mention it without thinking about its origin and original meaning. Let's see what kind of bird rights we are talking about.
Where is this expression used?
When bird rights are mentioned, as a rule, we are talking about some kind of real estate in which a person lives without legal grounds, and risks losing the roof over his head at any moment. They can also talk about other areas of life in which a person does not have any solid support or provision. This can be expressed, for example, about working outside the state, about being in an institution "in passing", without any officially confirmed status.
Why birds?
Let's try to dig a little deeper and understand what "on the bird's rights" means and what kind of history this simple phraseological unit has. Why are we talking about birds, and not about voles, frogs or steppe gophers?
Onethere is no opinion on what this phrase can mean, but there is one most common explanation for the origin of this expression. The main version of what "bird rights" means is a comparison of a disenfranchised human condition with the nests in which birds live - constantly open, fragile and unstable, like the situation of people who live without any confidence in the future.
Let's think a little
Since there is no single confirmed opinion about where this expression came from, you can afford to analyze what else it can mean.
For example, you can draw an analogy with the chicks, which parents at some point throw out of their nests to teach adult life. Developing this topic, it is also appropriate to recall the cuckoos, throwing their chicks into other people's nests, where they use their bird rights in full to get food and shelter.
We can draw many analogies with birds, but something remains the same - we associate these winged creatures with lightness, speed, change of place. A symbol of freedom, lack of attachment to any one place. Apparently, people who are said to live "on bird's rights" evoke similar associations.
If you try to digress from everyday concepts and ask more philosophical questions, you can pay attention to the possibility of the existence of an interesting biblical reference. In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says:
“Look at the birds of the air:they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; and your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you much better than them?”
The meaning contained in this phrase - do not worry too much about the well-being of tomorrow, it is better to entrust your worries to God, expressing your full trust in him. Is it not from this bright thought that a phrase could come that contains the idea of a being quite carefree, not relying on material goods and not thinking about what awaits him tomorrow? If so, then instead of the original meaning, the expression has acquired a somewhat negative connotation.
In closing
So, we have considered a rather interesting phraseological unit "On Bird's Rights", tried to understand its meaning and think about what hidden subtext can be hidden in a seemingly simple phrase.
