hewers of wood and drawers of water: Idiom Meaning and Origin
What does ‘hewers of wood and drawers of water’ mean?
The idiom "hewers of wood and drawers of water" refers to people who perform menial or manual labor, often without any recognition or opportunity for advancement.
Idiom Explorer
The idiom "plumber's helper" refers to a person or thing that assists a plumber in their work. It implies that the individual has a subordinate or supporting role in the plumbing profession.
The idiom "leather working" refers to the process of creating items from leather. It can also be used metaphorically to describe someone who is skillful or proficient in their craft.
The idiom "hurler on the ditch" refers to someone who offers criticism or advice from a position of safety or inaction, without actively participating or taking any risks themselves.
The idiom "heavy lifting" refers to the difficult or hard work needed to accomplish a task or achieve a goal.
The idiom "hard done by" refers to feeling unfairly treated or disadvantaged in a situation. It implies a sense of experiencing hardship or being poorly treated in comparison to others.
The idiom "hard done by" is a commonly used expression in English to describe someone who has been treated unfairly or has experienced hardship or adversity. It originated in the UK or possibly Australia in the mid-19th century. The exact origin of the idiom, however, remains uncertain.
The idiom "hand-to-mouth" means living in a state of poverty or scarcity, barely being able to meet one's basic needs for survival.
In English, the idiom "hand-to-mouth" describes a situation where someone's income or resources barely meet their immediate needs. The idiom likely originated from hand-to-mouth feeding, which refers to eating only enough to satisfy immediate hunger.
The idiom "hand to mouth" means living in poverty or a state of financial insecurity, where one is barely able to meet their basic needs.
The idiom "grunt work" refers to menial or tedious tasks that require little skill or effort. It is often used to describe work that is necessary but not enjoyable or fulfilling.
The idiom "grunt level" refers to the lowest level or position in a hierarchy or organization. It is often used to describe individuals who perform basic, manual labor or tasks that require little skill or expertise.
The idiom "give someone wood" is a slang phrase that is used to describe a feeling of sexual attraction or arousal towards someone.
Menial to Symbolic Transformation
The idiom "hewers of wood and drawers of water" has its origins in the Bible. In Joshua 9:21-27, the story goes that the Israelites made a treaty with the Gibeonites, a group of people who lived in the land they were conquering. The Gibeonites deceived the Israelites by pretending to be from a distant land, and the Israelites made a treaty with them without consulting God. When their deception was discovered, the Israelites couldn't break the treaty because they had sworn before God.
As punishment, God decreed that the Gibeonites would become slaves to the Israelites and serve them as "hewers of wood and drawers of water" for the tabernacle of the Lord. This phrase means that the Gibeonites were assigned to laborious tasks as a way to symbolize their lowly status.
The idiom "hewers of wood and drawers of water" is often used to describe those who perform menial and unskilled labor. It is a way to refer to individuals or groups who have a subservient or inferior position, doing grunt work for others.
Interestingly, the idiom has been used in various cultural and literary references throughout history. It has appeared in works by notable writers such as John Milton, Sir Walter Scott, and Mark Twain. The idiom has also been used in political speeches and debates to illustrate social or economic inequality.
Today, the idiom is still in use, often in a figurative sense, to highlight social or economic disparities or to describe the exploitation of certain groups. It serves as a reminder of the historical context in which it originated and the power dynamics it represents.
The idiom "hewers of wood and drawers of water" represents individuals or groups who are assigned menial and laborious tasks, symbolizing their lowly status. It is often used to describe individuals or groups who perform unskilled and subservient work for others.
Another related idiom is "dead wood." This idiom refers to people or things that are no longer useful or productive. It is often used to describe individuals who are no longer contributing to a team or organization and are holding back progress.
Similarly, the term "donkey work" is used to describe tasks that are repetitive, boring, or laborious. It refers to work that is often delegated to someone who is considered to be in a lower position or less skilled.
The phrase "plumber's helper" is used to describe someone who assists a plumber with various tasks such as fetching tools, cutting pipes, or cleaning up. This term is often used to describe someone who performs menial tasks or provides assistance in a subservient role.
Lastly, "grunt work" is a term often used to describe tasks that are repetitive, menial, or unskilled. It originated from the military, where soldiers would be assigned to perform basic tasks such as digging trenches or carrying heavy supplies. In a broader context, it is used to describe any kind of work that is considered to be tedious or unimportant.
Example usage
Examples of how the idiom "hewers of wood and drawers of water" can be used in a sentence:
- After being caught stealing from the company, he was demoted to the lowest position and became a mere hewer of wood and drawer of water.
- The once proud kingdom was conquered by a powerful empire, reducing its people to the status of hewers of wood and drawers of water.
- She was tired of being treated as a servant and wanted to break free from the role of being a hewer of wood and drawer of water.
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