Early bird
Meaning: Someone who wakes/arrives early; a person who acts before others.
The 'early bird' arrives first or wakes early—getting advantages others miss. 'Early bird gets the worm' emphasises the rewards of early action. 'Early bird special' offers discounts for early diners.
Examples
- I'm an early bird—love mornings. 我是个早起的人——喜欢早晨。Soy madrugador — me encantan las mañanas.私は早起き派—朝が好き。나는 아침형 인간이야—아침이 좋아.
- The early bird gets the worm. 早起的鸟儿有虫吃。Al que madruga, Dios le ayuda.早起きは三文の徳。일찍 일어나는 새가 벌레를 잡는다.
- Book now for early bird pricing. 现在预订享受早鸟价。Reserva ahora con precio de madrugador.早期割引価格で今すぐ予約を。얼리버드 할인 가격으로 지금 예약하세요.
Pronunciation
/ˈɜːli bɜːd/
Usage Guide
Context: punctuality, mornings, offers
Tone: admiring, encouraging
✓ Do Say
- Early bird早起的人madrugador/a早起きの人아침형 인간.
- Early bird gets the worm早起的鸟儿有虫吃al que madruga, Dios le ayuda早起きは三文の徳나는 아침형이야.
- Early bird special早鸟优惠oferta de madrugador早期割引얼리버드 특가.
Common Mistakes
- Can describe person OR promotional pricing
Origin & History
The proverb 'the early bird catches the worm' dates from the 17th century. Birds that hunt early get the worms before competition. The phrase extended to any early action.
Etymology: From proverb: early bird catches the worm
First recorded: 17th century
Cultural Context
Era: 17th century onwards
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
Pop culture: Marketing; Universal proverb
Regional notes: English-language universal.
Variations
More From This Topic
More from Animal Expressions
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free