peacock

Everyday

1. A peacock is a large male bird with a long, brilliant blue-green tail with «eye» patterns, which it spreads out in a huge fan to attract females. tree →
2. Strictly, the peacock is the male; the female is a peahen, and both are peafowl. tree →
3. A person who is vain and shows off how they look can be called a peacock. tree →
4. A peacock butterfly is a butterfly with eye spots on its wings. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons the peacock is a famous example of how males show off colourful features to attract a mate, while the plain brown peahen is camouflaged on her nest. Peacocks are the national bird of India. In stories «proud as a peacock» describes someone very pleased with themselves. Phrases: proud as a peacock, peacock feathers, peacock blue, strut like a peacock.

Examples

• The peacock spread its tail in a huge shimmering fan. tree →
• A peacock's tail feathers have spots that look like eyes. tree →
• The peacock screeched loudly in the park. tree →
• The peahen is brown, but the peacock is blue and green. tree →
• He strutted around in his new trainers like a peacock. tree →
• She was as proud as a peacock of her painting. tree →
• We saw a peacock butterfly on the buddleia. tree →
• The peacock is the national bird of India. tree →
• There stood beneath the tree two handsome peacocks. tree →

Note

Countable: a peacock, peacocks. Male = peacock, female = peahen, babies = peachicks, all of them = peafowl. Trap: people often call any peafowl a peacock. «Peacock blue» is a bright blue-green colour.

In Jewish tradition

A bird brought on King Solomon's ships from far lands, a sign of his great wealth.

Interpretation. The tradition reads Solomon's imported treasures as a sign of his wisdom and wealth, as God had promised.

Examples

• For the king had ships that went to Tarshish with the servants of Huram; once every three years came the ships of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (Writings 2CH.9.21, JPS 1917) tree →
• For the king had at sea a navy of Tarshish with the navy of Hiram; once every three years came the navy of Tarshish, bringing gold, and silver, ivory, and apes, and peacocks. (Prophets 1KI.10.22, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable: a peacock, peacocks. Male = peacock, female = peahen, babies = peachicks, all of them = peafowl. Trap: people often call any peafowl a peacock. «Peacock blue» is a bright blue-green colour.