early bird

E

early bird

Meaning

  • an early rising person
  • a person who gets up early in the morning
  • someone who acts before the expected time
  • somebody who arrives early before others/competitors
  • night owl (antonym)

Example Sentences

  1. If you are an early bird, you know that watching the sunrise is how breathtaking.
  2. The university announced early bird registration to avoid congestion.
  3. She is always an early bird in college.
  4. I’ve always been an early-bird-gets-the-worm kind of guy. So, I always reach first.
  5. I want to take advantage of early-bird pricing in this restaurant.
  6. Exeter University revealed that people who are “early birds” have greater levels of happiness.
  7. It is no use calling him before 9:30 in the morning. He’s not exactly an early bird, you know.

Origin

“Early bird” is a shortened form of the original adage “the early bird catches the worm.” It is a very interesting but quite ancient English proverb, which never gets old. The earliest printed record of the proverb was found in a collection of proverbs published in 1636 titled “Remaines Concerning Britaine” by William Camden. The 1636 edition was posthumous because Camden had died in 1623.

English historian William Camden published “Remaines Concerning Britaine” in the 17th century, and this saying appeared in the 5th edition in 1636. The excerpt from the book:

Thoughts be free from toll.
Trust is the Mother of deceit.
The gray Mare is the better horse.
The lame tongue gets nothing.
The early bird catcheth the worme.

Later, in 1732 “Gnomologia: Adagies and Proverbs; Wise Sentences and Witty Sayings” composed by Thomas Fuller included the following numbered sayings:

5117 ‘Tis the Abilities of a Horse, that Occasions his Slavery.
5118 ‘Tis the early Bird, that catcheth the Worm.
5119 ‘Tis the Horse that stumbles, and not the Saddle.
5120 ‘Tis the last Feather, that breaks the Horse’s Back.

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