👉 Okay, let’s tackle this wonderfully prickly phrase – "hoary throated." Now, immediately upon saying that out loud, you probably feel a bit like a startled badger, right? That’s because the sound of it itself already has a delightfully antiquated, almost ridiculously grand quality. Let's unpack what exactly we mean.
Essentially, a "hoary throated" thing... (lean in closely for this, I’m about to nerd out just a little)… essentially describes something that is: 1. Grey and Old(Maybe Very, Very Old): The word, originally referring to the throat of certain wading waterfowl—think herons and bitternes—has devolved into describing anything with a mottled, grizzled grey, like the very, very old, of something. It isn't just grey, mind you; it’s a dignified, somewhat mournful grey. There is a texture to that age. 2. A Bit Imposing (But Not Necessarily Friendly): Because they are often long, lean and wading in the muck, older waterfowl have what we might describe as "imposing" features. They look like they’ve seen a great deal of the world, which, frankly, is probably a little unnerving to be around. 3. A Hint of Something Slightly...Wound-Up: There's that lingering feeling that something once was very alert and aware but now
