proverb · Words worth keeping
Cherries are bitter to the glutted blackbird.
Cherries are bitter to the glutted blackbird.
Understand the thought
Meaning in plain English
Something desirable can seem unpleasant when a person has already had too much. The full blackbird’s response to cherries illustrates how satisfaction changes appetite.
Example
After several long celebrations, a friend prefers a quiet evening to another elaborate party.
Deeper explanation and when to use it
Cherries that once attracted the bird now taste bitter because the bird is glutted. The image shifts attention from the object to the condition of the recipient. An offer can lose its appeal through excess, repetition or bad timing without becoming worthless in itself. The saying can encourage someone to pause before adding more of what was previously welcome. It also helps distinguish a temporary reaction from a lasting judgement. People’s preferences have many causes, however, and declining an offer does not prove that they have been indulged or are ungrateful.
When to use it
Use it when excess changes the appeal of something enjoyable.
Keep in mind
A refusal may have reasons other than overindulgence.
An interpretation of the words, not a claim about their earliest origin.
Attribution & collection notes
- Author or tradition
- Traditional (French-language collection)
Attribution: traditional - Country attributed
- Not established
A country attribution does not establish the earliest origin. - Historical period
- Date unknown