8 November 2007
Port Louis — Hello and welcome once more to the English Language Clinic. I am here to answer your questions regarding the English language, whether they concern the meaning of words or phrases, the origins of expressions or the ways in which language changes over time, I will do my best to help.
This week I have been guided by recent events to answer this query: "What does 'burying your head in the sand' mean?" This idiomatic expression is commonly used to describe the cowardly behaviour of an individual who hides from or ignores pro-blems or dangers, in the hope that they will disappear. The origins of this expression can be traced back to the Roman historian Pliny the Elder who recorded that he had observed ostriches burying their heads in the sand when they felt threatened. The presumed logic of this behaviour was that the ostrich (the brain of which is the size of a small nut) believed that if it could not see the danger then the danger ceased to exist or, at least, was no longer able to see the ostrich.
Charming as this theory is, no ostrich has ever been known to display such behaviour. When faced with danger they simply run away (ostriches can reach speeds of 65kph, making them the second fastest land animal and the fastest two legged animal in the world!). Ostrich meat is very low in cholesterol, calories and fat. To hard boil a fresh ostrich egg takes about one and a half hours.
Please send your comments, queries and questions to me, "Dr Danny" by emailing the following address p.etienne@lexpress.mu
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