![]() Calling someone a shark in the English speaking world implies they are dishonest and rapacious, but in Persian it refers to a man with little or no beard. In the West owls are wise, but in India they represent foolishness. This shorthand varies across cultures and languages. Calling someone a cow or toad speaks to their physical rather than psychological characteristics. Calling someone a sheep implies they are conformist, whereas calling them a chicken or mouse suggests fearfulness and timidity. Other animal metaphors are more neutral, offering a sort of zoological shorthand for the full range of human attributes. People identify with the totemic animals of their football clubs. Valued animals symbolise desirable human traits: brave people are lion-hearted and perceptive ones eagle-eyed. Cute, diminutive animals provide pet names for children or lovers. People draw animal comparisons using countless expressions, many of which convey positive sentiments. ![]() When we do liken people to other creatures – when sports fans use racial slurs or Donald Trump calls Syrian President Bashar al-Assad an “animal” – fur often flies. We are animals, but animals who like to believe we are not merely animals. ![]() Comparing humans to animals is vexed but irresistible.
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