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UKbring / carry owls to athens
/bɹˈɪŋ kˈaɹi ˈaʊlz tʊ ˈaθɪnz/
/bɹˈɪŋ kˈæɹi ˈaʊlz tʊ ˈæθɪnz/to bring / carry owls to athens
[PHRASE]
![to [bring|carry] owls to Athens definition and meaning](https://cdn.langeek.co/photo/41158/original/ "to [bring|carry] owls to Athens definition and meaning")
What is the origin of the idiom "bring owls to Athens" and when to use it?
The origin of the idiom "bring owls to Athens" goes back to ancient Greece, where Athens was known for its large population of owls and for being a center of learning and knowledge. Bringing owls to Athens would be unnecessary since there were already plenty of owls there. Today, the idiom is commonly used to describe a situation where someone is doing something that is redundant or unnecessary, such as bringing something to a place where it is already abundant or adding something that is not needed. The idiom implies that the person's actions are pointless and a waste of time and resources.
Examples
1. Trying to impress a group of musicians with your musical talent is like bringing owls to Athens - they already have plenty of talented musicians.
2. Offering to teach someone how to use a computer program they are already skilled in is like bringing owls to Athens - it's unnecessary and redundant.
3. Introducing a new fashion trend to a city that is already known for its fashion sense is like carrying owls to Athens - it's unnecessary and redundant.
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