scarecrow
C1Informal, Literary, Agricultural
Definition
Meaning
A model of a human figure dressed in old clothes, set up in a field to scare birds away from crops.
A person, especially a child, who is very thin and untidily dressed, giving a ragged appearance.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a concrete noun referring to an object. The extended meaning describing a person is now somewhat dated or literary. Not typically used metaphorically for something that is frightening but harmless (that sense is more 'bogeyman').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The object is common in agricultural settings in both regions.
Connotations
Neutral for the object; slightly pejorative/archaic when describing a person.
Frequency
Similar frequency. The agricultural term is understood universally; the 'ragged person' sense is rare in modern speech in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[verb] a scarecrowa scarecrow [verb] [prep] [place]a scarecrow made of [material]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “scarecrow in a suit (derogatory: someone poorly dressed for a formal occasion)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Almost never used.
Academic
Rare, possibly in agricultural studies or literary analysis (e.g., 'The Scarecrow' in The Wizard of Oz).
Everyday
Understood, but most common in rural contexts or when discussing farms, Halloween, or gardens.
Technical
Specific to agriculture/horticulture as a pest-deterrent method.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- He had a scarecrow look about him, all skin and bones in that oversized coat.
American English
- The scarecrow figure stood silent vigil over the pumpkin patch.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The farmer put a scarecrow in the field.
- The scarecrow has a hat.
- We built a scarecrow from old clothes and straw to protect the vegetable garden.
- The birds weren't frightened by the scarecrow anymore.
- The tattered scarecrow stood sentinel in the rain, a forlorn guardian of the empty cornfield.
- He was thin as a scarecrow after his long illness.
- The novel's protagonist was a metaphorical scarecrow, a hollow man propped up by societal expectations.
- Modern bird-scaring devices have largely rendered the traditional scarecrow obsolete.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CROW getting a SCARE from a figure in a field. SCARE + CROW = SCARECROW.
Conceptual Metaphor
APPEARANCE IS A DISGUISE / IMPOTENT THREAT (looks threatening but is motionless and harmless).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'пугало' (which is correct) and 'пугач' (which is a revolver or a horn). The extended 'ragged person' meaning does not map directly to a single common Russian word.
Common Mistakes
- Spelling: 'scarecrow' not 'scarecrow'. Using it as a verb ('to scarecrow the birds' is incorrect; use 'scare away').
Practice
Quiz
In a literary context, calling someone a 'scarecrow' most likely criticizes their:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'scarecrow' is not standardly used as a verb. Use phrases like 'scare away birds' or 'act as a scarecrow'.
A scarecrow is a physical object meant to scare birds. A bogeyman is an imaginary monster used to frighten children. A scarecrow is not typically used to scare people.
Rarely. It is neutral for the object but often negative or pitiful when describing a person, implying raggedness and helplessness.
Yes, as a concept and word it is very common and understood, though the physical object is less common in modern industrial farming.
Explore