Argus at home, but a mole abroad.
Argus at home, but a mole abroad.
Meaning in plain English
The saying contrasts an Argus-like watcher at home with a mole abroad. It pictures someone sharply observant in familiar surroundings but much less perceptive elsewhere.
Example
Someone who readily notices small changes at home overlooks an unfamiliar arrangement while travelling and asks for guidance.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
The checked dictionary associates Argus with watchfulness, while the mole supplies the contrasting image in the proverb. A useful application asks whether attention or understanding changes with the setting. It need not suggest that travel itself makes someone foolish or that home is always easier to understand. The contrast concerns uneven perception rather than a verified description of an animal’s sight.
When to use it
Use it to discuss perception that depends on familiarity with a setting.
Keep in mind
The comparison does not establish animal biology, a proverb origin or a judgment of every traveller.
Edsverb editorial interpretation · agent reviewed · 2026-10-05. This explains the saying; it does not establish its historical origin.
- Source
- A Dictionary of English Proverbs and Proverbial Phrases
Entry 39 · Argus
Read the original context ↗ - Attribution confidence
- traditional · historical anthology
Preserved as printed; independently unverified. - Historical coordinate
- Undated
No reliable date supplied by the collection. - Rights & edition
- Public domain (United States)
Translations and rights may differ elsewhere.
Provenance and licences ↗