Name: English Tutor Nick P Idioms (245) Like a Moth to a Flame
Uploaded: 2019-05-28T14:41:58.000Z
Duration: 4 min 44 s
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Hi this Tutor Nick P and this is Idioms 245. The idiom today is like a moth

to a flame. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If someone goes to something

Basic passive voice

or takes to something or is attracted to something like a moth to a flame

they do it in a way that is dangerous and they cannot resist. They can't stop

themselves. It's uncontrollable. So all right.  A couple of things to note here.

First we might use several different verbs with like,  like a moth to a flame,

So we could say somebody could go to something. Somebody could take to

something. Somebody could be attracted to something like a moth to a flame. So we

have several different verb phrases we would use with it. And then of course we

mean in a way that's dangerous. Yeah. So like of course , you know,  the real

moths if they go close to a flame they,  they can get burned , So it is dangerous

and they cannot resist. Yeah. It's like ,what's wrong with them ? Why don't

they know that the fire is dangerous ? So,  so anyway this with their but they they

can't control themselves. So if you can't resist something, you can't control your

feelings or your emotions. All right. So let's continue here. This phrase actually

comes from the fact that moths are attracted to light and fire.The idiom

has existed since the sixteenth century.  Yeah. So it's been around for a very,  very

long time. Obviously people noticed that way back when,  that for some reason

moths are attracted to to a flame or to light that would be you know lit at

night. Well in the sixteenth century it  probably  would just be flames. It probably was

mostly torches at that time. All right.  Let's continue. Let's look at several

examples we have here. Once he tried that recreational drug ... Yeah most recreational

drugs are probably illegal. Drugs you know,  I don't know marijuana,  cocaine

heroin,  something bad like that. So once he tried that recreational drug,  he took

to it like a moth to a flame. So this would probably mean that he got

addicted immediately. He couldn't resist.  So again , something dangerous

and something that was very hard to stay away from. Something that somebody

couldn't resist. Okay,  good. Let's look at  number two here. He is attracted to

extreme sports... remember extreme sports.  That's like you know bungee jumping,

skydiving , mountain climbing,  sports like this. That you know,  are very very

exciting but there is definitely some danger involved in them. And you know

some people also kind of get a little addicted to it. They get addicted to that

high or the excitement of doing this extreme sport. So he is attracted to

extreme sports like a moth to a flame.  So again that's another one that we

could use. And let's look at the third one here.  Have you ever seen an insect

fly directly into a bug zapper ? Yeah. In the US . we mostly call it those like

the bug zappers where they bugs fly in (electrifying sounds) then they get electrocuted.

Some of them might even burst into a flame. Like a moth probably would because

they're larger they are literally attracted to the light like a moth to a

flame. Yeah it's not just for moths though. Even though moths do seem to be

even more attractive than even you know some of the other insects,  but probably

people put him up mostly for mosquitoes or any other bugs. You know,  similar to

that. So we say they are attracted to it like a moth to a flame.

and if you ever seen them all fly into it. He might burst into flames himself . I

remember a long time ago they they had that animated movie . I think it was "A

Bug's Life " Or one of those movies where they they made a funny scene from this.

They had the moth flying toward one of those bug zappers. And you know , people...

like you know,  the other bugs would tell them stay away from the light.  Stay away

from the light and this is a little bit of a joke kind of for anybody that had

like a near-death experience. Sometimes if they go to the light you know,  that

means they're probably dead and they won't be able to return back. So stay

away from the land then the moth was like I can't help it.  I can't

resist. It's too beautiful . You know, it was like he was just too attracted to it. He was

mesmerised by it,  flying right into it. So the animated cartoon even made

fun of this. So we say like a moth to a flame. Anyway,  I hope you got it. I hope it's

clear. Thank you for your time.  Bye bye.