What is the meaning of the phrase “as free as a bird”?
Completely free from constraints, responsibilities, obligations, limitations, or worries.
What is the origin of the phrase “as free as a bird”?
According to the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) the phrase “as free as a bird” may have emerged as early as the 17th century. The OED also says that variations such as “as free as air” and “as free as the wind”) were also popular around that time.
The idea is derived from the observation of bird’s ability to fly and move freely in the sky, completely unhindered and unburdened by the earthly limitation of gravity. This makes birds seem utterly carefree and independent.
Interestingly, birds as symbols of freedom appear across many cultures. For example, Persian poetry uses birds to represent the soul’s ascent toward God, while in Chinese culture, the crane (a bird) symbolizes freedom and immortality. Similarly, in African-American spirituals, flight and birds often signify escape from slavery, both literally and metaphorically.
What type of phrase is “as free as a bird”?
The phrase “as free as a bird” is a metaphor and idiom. It can also be classed as a simile, because it compares two things and features the word “as”. (A metaphor can also be described as a simile when two things are compared using the word “like”.) Some people may consider the phrase “as free as a bird” to be a cliche on the basis that some see it as an overused phrase.
How do you use the phrase “as free as a bird”?
The phrase “as free as a bird” can be used in any circumstance where someone feels free. For example, when children are play in an open field enjoying free time together, or someone who has just finished exams before a free summer. Or perhaps, when someone leaves a job for retirement or to go travelling. Or even simply changing their role, for one with less responsibility.
What are some other ways of saying “as free as a bird”?
There are many words and phrases that can often be used synonymously, in place of “as free as a bird”. Here are some examples:
- Carefree / worry-free
- Lighthearted
- Footloose and fancy-free
- Unburdened
- Liberated
- Free spirited
- Unconstrained
- As free as the wind
- As free as the air
- Independent
- Autonomous
How do you say the opposite of the phrase “as free as a bird”?
Similarly, there are also many words and phrases to describe the opposite. Here are some examples:
- Constrained
- Restricted
- Under control
- Confined
- Imprisoned
- Detained
- Under lock and key
- Under restraint
What are some notable uses of the phrase “as free as a bird”?
Literature
In Mark Twain’s classic novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, published in1884, the protagonist says: “We was always naked, day and night, whenever the mosquitoes would let us. The river was a comfortable place to be, and we was always free—free as a bird.” This is one of the earliest recorded direct uses of the simile in American literature. Huck’s comparison underscores his escape from society’s constraints, such as school and manners, and symbolises a yearning for an unmediated life.
Maya Angelou’s famous biography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, published in 1969, plays with the inverse of the simile, highlighting how someone can be as happy as a singing bird even in the strict confinement of a cage.
Film
In a key scene of the film Forrest Gump, released in 1994, the character Jenny runs from her traumatic home life and throws stones at her childhood house. Afterward, Forrest reflects: “Jenny was like a bird. She always wanted to fly away.” This line is not a direct use of the idiom, but the metaphor closely mirrors it. Jenny’s desire to be “free as a bird” conveys her yearning to escape trauma, control, and violence, which is tragic because Jenny never fully achieves the liberation she seeks.
In the film The Shawshank Redemption, released in 1994, an elderly inmate releases a pet bird before he leaves prison. This simple act symbolizes freedom in the literal and spiritual sense. Later, the character Red reflects on his own freedom by comparing his post-prison self to a bird finally freed from a cage. This caged bird/free bird dynamic emphasises and contrasts the pain of confinement and the yearning for bird-like freedom.
Music
The Beatles released the song “Free as a Bird” in 1995 in what was perhaps the most globally iconic usage of the phrase. It was originally written by John Lennon and completed by the remaining band members.
