Sow sow

One of the joys (!?!?) of English is the fact that some words can have the same exact spelling and completely different meanings. Add this to the fact that these homonyms might also have a different pronunciation, and it's tons [BrEng tonnes] of fun!

Today we're going to look at the homonym 'sow', which is found in two common idiomatic expressions.

The verb sow means to put seeds in or on the ground so that plants will grow. This word is pronounced the same as 'so'.

The expression to sow your wild oats is used especially of young men to describe the period when they are very active and not a little irresponsible, especially when it comes to sex and relationships.

What advice would you give the young man who asks: 'Should I dump my girlfriend so I can "sow my wild oats"?'

Another expression using sow has biblical origins, possibly Job 4:8: As ye sow, so shall ye reap*, worded in more modern language as You reap what you sow. The idea is simple: how you treat others will affect how others treat you.

The noun sow means a female pig. This word rhymes with 'cow'.

The expression 'You can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear' means you can't take something bad and make it into something good.

Do you agree that the PC industry shows you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear?

*reap means harvest or cut and collect grain