Grasshopper

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Grasshopper

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

GRAHSS-hop-uh  /ˈɡrɑːshɒpə/

Definition

A plant-eating insect of the order Orthoptera with long hind legs adapted for jumping, typically found in grasslands and fields, producing a characteristic chirping sound by rubbing its legs against its wings.

Plain meaning

A grasshopper is the jumping insect found in fields and grass — with powerful back legs for leaping and the chirping sound made by rubbing legs against wings. It is related to crickets and locusts.

Register

Neutral and widely understood. Grasshopper is everyday vocabulary. The Aesop fable has made grasshopper a cultural shorthand for improvident, present-focused behaviour versus prudent, future-focused behaviour. Young grasshopper is a term of affectionate instruction from master to student, from the television series Kung Fu.