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2Likes- 20-Oct-2011, 03:57 #1
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Drive the wolf from the door. What is the meaning of this phrase?
Is it something like, trying to deal with extreme poverty?
In case you are wondering, here is some context:
'Twas Christmas time, and her parents poor
Could hardly drive the wolf from the door,
Striving with poverty's patient pain
Only to live till summer again.
- 20-Oct-2011, 04:33 #2
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Re: Drive the wolf from the door. See: Wolf - definition of Wolf by the Free Online Dictionary, Thesaurus and Encyclopedia.
In AME it appears to relate specifically to keeping creditors at bay, whereas in BrE it relates more to warding off starvation or privation (albeit most probably caused by poverty).
Hope this helps
R21
- 20-Oct-2011, 04:52 #3
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Threadstarter / Original Poster Re: Drive the wolf from the door. Thanks, now it's clear.
Last edited by pizza; 20-Oct-2011 at 13:36.
- 20-Oct-2011, 07:38 #4
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Teacher Re: Drive the wolf from the door. @R21. Nice to see you back in the 'Ask a Teacher' forum.
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