widow's cruse
Very lowFormal, literary, academic
Definition
Meaning
A source of something that never runs out despite continuous use.
An apparently limited resource that proves to be inexhaustible; often used metaphorically in economics to describe a supply that replenishes itself.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a fixed idiom based on a biblical story; it functions exclusively as a noun phrase. The phrase carries a metaphorical meaning and is not used literally to refer to an actual widow or jar.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. It is equally rare and formal in both varieties.
Connotations
Literary, biblical, economic theory.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech; occasionally appears in academic writing on economics, theology, or literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [resource/entity] is a widow's cruse.They treated the fund as a widow's cruse.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The widow's cruse of oil”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in economic theory to describe a self-replenishing asset or money supply.
Academic
Appears in theological, literary, and economic texts referencing the biblical story of Elijah and the widow.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Occasionally used in economics to critique theories of perpetual growth or sustainable yields.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The story tells of a widow's cruse of oil that never ran out.
- Some economists argue that technological innovation acts as a widow's cruse for economic growth.
- The policy was founded on the erroneous belief that natural resources constituted a widow's cruse, leading to unsustainable exploitation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a WIDOW who has a magical CRUISE ship fuel tank that never empties, no matter how far she sails.
Conceptual Metaphor
A CONTAINER WITH BOTTOMLESS CONTENTS.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not translate 'cruse' as 'cruise' (круиз). A 'cruse' is an old word for a small pot or jar (кувшин, горшок).
- The phrase is a set idiom; translating it word-for-word ('вдовий кувшин') will not convey the metaphorical meaning of inexhaustibility.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'widow's cruise'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'to widow's cruse').
- Using it in a literal, non-metaphorical sense.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary meaning of 'widow's cruse'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It originates from the Bible (1 Kings 17:8-16), where the prophet Elijah tells a widow that her jar (cruse) of oil will not run out during a famine.
No, it is a very rare and literary phrase, mostly confined to academic or rhetorical contexts, particularly in economics or theology.
No, it is exclusively a noun phrase (a compound noun). There is no verb form derived from it.
The most common mistake is spelling 'cruse' as 'cruise' (as in a sea voyage), which changes the meaning entirely.