Basic Details
Word: Cuckoo
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: A type of bird known for its distinctive call and behaviour, often laying its eggs in the nests of other birds.
Synonyms: Cuckoo bird, common cuckoo
Antonyms: N/A
Idioms and Phrases
- As mad as a cuckoo: Used to describe someone who is acting very strangely or foolishly. Example: "He started wearing a cape and dancing in the street, looking as mad as a cuckoo."
- Cuckoo in the nest: Refers to an unwanted person or thing that takes advantage of a situation. Example: "She felt like the cuckoo in the nest when her friends started playing without her."
Usage Examples
Example 1: The cuckoo's call is often heard in springtime, signalling the arrival of warmer weather.
Example 2: In our garden, we spotted a cuckoo perched high on a branch, singing its beautiful song.
Example 3: The tradition of cuckoo clocks reminds many of the cheerful sound of the cuckoo as it pops out to chime the hour.
Famous Quote
Did you know that the cuckoo bird is famous for its brood parasitism? This means that instead of building its own nest, it lays its eggs in the nests of other birds, tricking them into raising its young!
Famous Quote
"The cuckoo is a cuckoo as far as human reckoning goes." John Clare
Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
1. What does "cuckoo" mean?
a) A tree
b) A type of bird
c) A flower
d) A kind of fish
Answer: b) A type of bird
2. Which of these is a synonym of "cuckoo"?
a) Sparrow
b) Cuckoo bird
c) Eagle
d) Penguin
Answer: b) Cuckoo bird
3. Which sentence uses "cuckoo" correctly?
a) The cuckoo made a beautiful painting.
b) The cuckoo sang beautifully in the morning.
c) The cuckoo can swim very well.
d) The cuckoo jumped over the fence.
Answer: b) The cuckoo sang beautifully in the morning.
4. Which idiom means acting strangely?
a) Cuckoo in the nest
b) As mad as a cuckoo
c) A bird in the hand
d) A stitch in time
Answer: b) As mad as a cuckoo
5. What is the opposite of "cuckoo"?
a) N/A
b) Squirrel
c) Owl
d) Parrot
Answer: a) N/A
