Brexit Metaphor No 130
Brexit is the proverbial "bird in the bush" - not worth as much as the "bird in the hand", also known as EU membership.
There are linguistic studies on this proverb. Interestingly, it turns out that in more stable Europe, the ratio is 2:1 birds in the bush vs birds in the hand. However, in more unstable regions such as Latin America, the ratio goes up: a a bird in the hand is worth many more birds in the bush (or birds in the sky). In volatile Colombia, the proverb goes: "Más vale pájaro en mano, que ciento volando." (A bird in the hand is worth more than 100 in flight.)
Brexit is a recursive phenomenon: it is a promise for a brighter future ("bird in the bush") which ironically is creating more instability and is thus decreasing the value of the "bird in the bush". Promises and political talk are getting cheaper with the increase in the supply of birds fluttering in the bush which never actually get caught in the hand. Luckily, at least the bird in the hand is still in the hand until March 29, with the possibility of holding on to it for longer if Article 50 is delayed or cancelled.
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| Birds in the sky (Source: Wikipedia) |
Notes:
1. Timeline: This article is part of a series of original #BrexitMetaphors published daily. A total of 130 have been posted so far and another 31 Brexit Metaphors will be published every day until the planned Brexit date of March 29, 2019.
2. Disclosure: The author has a master's degree in European Integration. He also thinks he knows a bit about business, economics, entrepreneurship, China, history, geography, nature, science and Rubik Cubes.
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