Even a monkey can fall from a tree.

[keannu]

I thought "Even a monkey can fall from a tree.", a Korean saying, exists in English. Don't you ever have this kind of expression? The following seems to mean "Even a great poet, Homer, sometimes admits his mistake.", right?

ip113
ex)Even good Homer sometimes nods.

 

[keannu]

I found the meaning of "nod", which is "doze off". So even a great person can make a mistake.
But for the monkey example, a Japanese saying, is it also common?

 

[5jj]

"Even Homer nods" exists, and is doubtless still used and understood in certain circles. I do not think that the average native speaker uses it much, and I would guess that quite a few wouldn't understand it.

 

[Barb_D]

I have never heard that one either and would wonder why it was odd that Homer sometimes agreed with people.

 

[charliedeut]

I have never heard that one either and would wonder why it was odd that Homer sometimes agreed with people.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Continuity_(fiction) Scroll down to "Homeric Nod". I don't know whether it's the same meaning, but to me it suggests that even great geniuses can err.

charliedeut

 

[Barb_D]

I'm simply telling you my reaction to hearing this.

 

[charliedeut]

I'm simply telling you my reaction to hearing this.

Yes, I understood that. I had never ever heard it myself, let alone use it! Just wanted to make sure it referred to narrative, not to anything more general.

Sorry if I failed to make myself properly understood

charliedeut

 

[Barb_D]

Did you see that the guy from the Wall Street Journal uses it as the heading for his "Oops" column?