Comprehension

[jiang]

Dear teachers,

Please read the following sentence:

If the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, it is time for your to fertilize your lawn.

Could you please tell me if the sentence a proverb? If it isn't then could you please explain the meaning of it? The problem with me is I don't understand the meaning of the clause.

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

 

[Shakespeare's brother]

'The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.' Without the bit about fertilizer (where did that come from?), this is a proverb. The person that believes this proverb is someone who sees other people's lives as better or more attractive than their own.

The caveat to the proverb is that in fact things are probably just as green on both sides of the fence!

 

[jiang]

:-D
You have a very interesting name. You must be a scholar specializing in Literature.

The sentence is from my textbook.

According to your explanation if the part with 'fertilizer' is added to the proverb does it mean "When a person sees other people's lives are better they try to do something so that they can live the same lives"?

Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thank you in advance.

Jiang

'The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.' Without the bit about fertilizer (where did that come from?), this is a proverb. The person that believes this proverb is someone who sees other people's lives as better or more attractive than their own.

The caveat to the proverb is that in fact things are probably just as green on both sides of the fence!

 

[Shakespeare's brother]

Jiang, please do not be fooled! Although I love linguistics I am not in the same scholary class as my 'brother'!

And yes, if you really wanted to add the bit about fertilizer, it would make perfect sense.

 

[jiang]

:-D
Thank you very much for your reply. I hope my textbook doesn't add 'fertilizer'.

Have a nice weekend.

Jiang

Jiang, please do not be fooled! Although I love linguistics I am not in the same scholary class as my 'brother'!

And yes, if you really wanted to add the bit about fertilizer, it would make perfect sense.