Often they can say about someone that he, for example, lives "on bird's rights." We are so used to this phrase that we mention it without thinking about its origin and original meaning. Let's look at what kind of bird rights in question.
Where is this expression used?
When bird rights are mentioned, as a rule, we are talking about any real estate in which a person lives, without legal grounds, and risks losing his 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 support. Thus, for example, one can express oneself about working outside the state, about being present in any institution in passing, without any officially confirmed status.
Why birds?
Let’s try to dig a little deeper and understand what “on bird’s rights” means and what history this simple idiom has. Why are we talking specifically about birds, and not about mouse voles, frogs, or steppe gophers?
There is no consensus on what this phrase may mean, but there is one most common explanation for the origin of this expression. The basic version of what “bird rights” means is a comparison of the disenfranchised human position with the nests in which the birds live - constantly open, fragile and unstable, as well as the situation of people who live without any confidence in tomorrow.
Let's think a little
Since there is no consensus on where this expression came from, you can allow yourself to analyze what else it can mean.
For example, you can draw an analogy with the chicks, which parents at some point are thrown out of the 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 completely and completely use their bird rights to receive food and shelter.
You can draw many analogies with birds, but something remains unchanged - these winged creatures are associated with ease, speed, and change of places. A symbol of freedom, lack of attachment to any one place. Apparently, people who are said to live “on bird’s rights” evoke such associations.
If you try to escape 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 sky: they neither sow, nor reap, nor gather in the granaries; and your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren't you much better than them? ”
The meaning of this phrase is not to worry too much about tomorrow's well-being, it is better to entrust the concern about your concerns to God, expressing your full trust in him. Could this phrase come from this bright thought, embodying the notion of a sufficiently carefree creature that does not rely on material wealth and does not think about what awaits him tomorrow? If this is so, then instead of the original meaning, the expression has acquired a somewhat negative connotation.
Finally
So, we examined a rather interesting phraseology “On Bird Rights”, tried to understand its meaning and think about what hidden subtext can be hidden in a seemingly simple phrase.