Ready to spread their wings…

A new batch of IIMA grads is ready to spread its wings

For better English speaking skills, read, listen and talk a lot. It’s important to keep learning new forms of expression on a regular basis.

The phrase we discuss in this post is, “To spread wings”.

Imagine a bird spreading its wings. Can you describe the feeling?

Stretching out and flapping its wings, the bird will now soar high above the hills and rivers – see the big world, meet new challenges, cross new frontiers. It’s like going out there, doing something exciting, realizing your potential.

When used with humans, the phrase captures exactly the same spirit. It means starting something exciting, beginning to explore a new area in order to gain new experiences and realize your full potential.

Essentially, starting something new and exciting for the first time in your life would mean spreading your wings.

Let’s take some examples:

1. Mr Sharma seems to have begun spreading his wings after retirement. He has opened a restaurant, joined karate classes and works at a local NGO teaching slum kids every weekend.
2. When the kids start to spread their wings, parents have to deal with the bitter fact that they might be left alone.
3. Now that my kids have grown up, I feel its time to spread my wings and begin living life with new vigor.

Exploring new avenues, beginning on new exciting voyages and trying to do interesting things – that’s the meaning of spreading one’s wings.

Some more examples:

1. “I have seen enough action in my life. Time for you guys to spread your wings. Go boys. Conquer the world”, said the dying army officer to his sons.
2. With a new generation of gangsters beginning to spread their wings, the space for old fashioned mafia shrank. It was clear that their era was over and they could either quietly vacate the stage or be bumped off in some shootout.