English Lexicon

Old Man and the Sea

/ˌoʊld ˈmæn ənd ðə ˈsiː/
nounCEFR B2 (Upper)Top #8500 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A symbol or reference representing perseverance, resilience against insurmountable odds, and human dignity in defeat.

    "His lifelong struggle to build the business felt like an Old Man and the Sea journey."
  2. 2

    The famous novella depicting an aging Cuban fisherman's heroic battle with a giant marlin far out in the Gulf Stream.

    "We studied The Old Man and the Sea in literature class to understand themes of existential triumph."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from Ernest Hemingway's 1952 Pulitzer Prize-winning novella 'The Old Man and the Sea', referring to the protagonist Santiago. In Chinese, it is translated as 'hǎi de lǎorén' or more commonly 'lǎorén yǔ hǎi', capturing the iconic imagery of an aging fisherman's epic struggle against a giant marlin.

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