Birds in Their Little Nests Agree Meaning
Definition: Those who live in the same house should make an attempt to live peaceably with each other.
Birds living together in the small confines of a nest learn to live well together; if they do not, and they are rambunctious or angry, one might fall out of the nest.
This is a metaphor that teaches people, no matter how tight the living space, that they should take care of each other and try to get along.
Origin of Birds in Their Little Nests Agree
The phrase began as part of a poem written by Isaac Watts in 1715, in his Divine Songs Attempted in the Easy Language of Children:
- Birds in their little nest agree; and ‘tis a shameful sight, when children of one family fall out, and chide, and fight.
Essentially, the poem says that birds in the same nest can live without strife; it stands to reason, then, that siblings too can try to interact peacefully.
Examples of Birds in Their Little Nests Agree
In the modern day, it is rare to hear or read this expression.
A possible conversation between parents and children might go something like this,
Son: Daddy! She made fun of me!
Daughter: No I didn’t! He’s lying!
Father: Children, calm down. Birds in their little nests agree. Let’s not argue about this.
Mother: Your father is right, kids. Let’s all try to get along.
More Examples
The phrase is rarely seen outside its poetic form, and very infrequently appears in modern press.
Summary
In the broadest sense, this idiom means that in order to be happy and protected, people must live together in harmony.
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