Hi this Tutor Nick P and this is Idioms 245. The idiom today is like a moth
to a flame. Okay. Let's take a look at the note here. If someone goes to something
or takes to something or is attracted to something like a moth to a flame
they do it in a way that is dangerous and they cannot resist. They can't stop
themselves. It's uncontrollable. So all right. A couple of things to note here.
First we might use several different verbs with like, like a moth to a flame,
So we could say somebody could go to something. Somebody could take to
something. Somebody could be attracted to something like a moth to a flame. So we
have several different verb phrases we would use with it. And then of course we
mean in a way that's dangerous. Yeah. So like of course , you know, the real
moths if they go close to a flame they, they can get burned , So it is dangerous
and they cannot resist. Yeah. It's like ,what's wrong with them ? Why don't
they know that the fire is dangerous ? So, so anyway this with their but they they
can't control themselves. So if you can't resist something, you can't control your
feelings or your emotions. All right. So let's continue here. This phrase actually
comes from the fact that moths are attracted to light and fire.The idiom
has existed since the sixteenth century. Yeah. So it's been around for a very, very
long time. Obviously people noticed that way back when, that for some reason
moths are attracted to to a flame or to light that would be you know lit at
night. Well in the sixteenth century it probably would just be flames. It probably was
mostly torches at that time. All right. Let's continue. Let's look at several
examples we have here. Once he tried that recreational drug ... Yeah most recreational
drugs are probably illegal. Drugs you know, I don't know marijuana, cocaine
heroin, something bad like that. So once he tried that recreational drug, he took
to it like a moth to a flame. So this would probably mean that he got
addicted immediately. He couldn't resist. So again , something dangerous
and something that was very hard to stay away from. Something that somebody
couldn't resist. Okay, good. Let's look at number two here. He is attracted to
extreme sports... remember extreme sports. That's like you know bungee jumping,
skydiving , mountain climbing, sports like this. That you know, are very very
exciting but there is definitely some danger involved in them. And you know
some people also kind of get a little addicted to it. They get addicted to that
high or the excitement of doing this extreme sport. So he is attracted to
extreme sports like a moth to a flame. So again that's another one that we
could use. And let's look at the third one here. Have you ever seen an insect
fly directly into a bug zapper ? Yeah. In the US . we mostly call it those like
the bug zappers where they bugs fly in (electrifying sounds) then they get electrocuted.
Some of them might even burst into a flame. Like a moth probably would because
they're larger they are literally attracted to the light like a moth to a
flame. Yeah it's not just for moths though. Even though moths do seem to be
even more attractive than even you know some of the other insects, but probably
people put him up mostly for mosquitoes or any other bugs. You know, similar to
that. So we say they are attracted to it like a moth to a flame.
and if you ever seen them all fly into it. He might burst into flames himself . I
remember a long time ago they they had that animated movie . I think it was "A
Bug's Life " Or one of those movies where they they made a funny scene from this.
They had the moth flying toward one of those bug zappers. And you know , people...
like you know, the other bugs would tell them stay away from the light. Stay away
from the light and this is a little bit of a joke kind of for anybody that had
like a near-death experience. Sometimes if they go to the light you know, that
means they're probably dead and they won't be able to return back. So stay
away from the land then the moth was like I can't help it. I can't
resist. It's too beautiful . You know, it was like he was just too attracted to it. He was
mesmerised by it, flying right into it. So the animated cartoon even made
fun of this. So we say like a moth to a flame. Anyway, I hope you got it. I hope it's
clear. Thank you for your time. Bye bye.