Meaning
"The Grass Is Greener On The Other Side"とは、他の人の状況や所有物が自分のものよりも良く見えることを指す英語の表現です。この表現は、他者の状態や環境が魅力的に見えるが、実際には必ずしもそうではない可能性があるということを意味します。
このフレーズは、時に私たちが他人の生活や仕事、持ち物を羨ましく思うときに使われます。しかし、「The Grass Is Greener On The Other Side」は、外見だけで判断するのではなく、実際にその立場や状況に立ってみなければ本当の良し悪しはわからないという教訓を含んでいます。
例えば、隣の庭が自分の庭よりも美しく見えることからこの表現が生まれましたが、実際にはその庭を維持するための手間やコストは見えていないかもしれません。したがって、他人のものが良く見える場合でも、自分の状況の良さを見失わないように心がけることが重要です。
この表現は、日常生活の中で他の選択肢や状況に魅力を感じたときに、自分の選択や位置を再評価するきっかけとしても使われます。
Example
We had a beautiful marriage but I guess he wanted to explore if the grass was greener on the other side.
I thought I loved studying literature but I needed to know if the grass was greener on the other side. After graduation, I started my career in music and have won numerous awards.
It seems like his high paying job wasn't enough. I guess greed made him think that the grass would be greener on the other side by stealing other peoples' money.
I moved away from my city in hopes that the grass would be greener on the other side.
Quiz
What is an Idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that usually presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase. Idioms are not just used in conversations – they're also very common in literature, movies, and music. We utilize them to convey a message in a concise and effective manner, and often have deep cultural or historical significance. They help to create a vivid and memorable image in the minds of the audience.
Idioms are difficult because they do not mean what they literally state. Communication challenges emerge when you translate an idiom in your language; it will not make sense or if it does make sense you may miss the intended meaning.
How to Study Idioms
- Read them. Read books, newspapers, magazine articles, online articles for exposure in written material.
- Watch them. Watch TV shows and movies in English! There are so many streaming services available for you to choose from. Listen attentively and try to understand the context in which they are used.
- Use them. Talk to native speakers and try to incorporate common idioms into your conversations. Try using them during conversations with friends, family, coworkers, or through text.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. Remember that you can't learn all of them! So start with a few that you understand and build your library of idioms from there!
