In the following English idiom question, you must select the option that best expresses the meaning of the phrase "wear the green willow", which is used in literary and poetic contexts to refer to the pain of unreturned or lost love.

Difficulty: Easy

Correct Answer: Suffer unrequited love

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
"Wear the green willow" is an idiomatic and somewhat literary expression in English. It draws on traditional symbolism where the willow tree, especially its drooping branches, is associated with sadness, mourning, and particularly disappointed or unreturned love. This question tests your knowledge of more poetic idioms, which are often seen in literature based examinations and advanced English tests.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The idiom given is "wear the green willow".
  • You must choose the option that gives its closest meaning.
  • The context is emotional and romantic rather than practical or physical.
  • No specific sentence is given, so you rely on symbolic associations.


Concept / Approach:
In many traditions, the willow tree symbolises sorrow, especially sorrow over love. To "wear the willow" or "wear the green willow" historically meant to show outward signs of being rejected in love or remaining faithful to someone who has left. Figuratively, someone who "wears the green willow" is suffering from unrequited love, broken engagement, or a lost romantic relationship. When answering, think about the emotional colour of the phrase and its association with sadness, not kindness, fear, or celebration.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that willow trees and their branches have long been associated with mourning and romantic sorrow in stories and poems. Step 2: Understand that "wearing" something symbolically means showing an emotional state, such as grief or devotion. Step 3: Match this with the options and look for a choice involving sadness because of love. Step 4: Option B, "Suffer unrequited love", directly describes the feeling of loving someone who does not return that love. Step 5: Confirm that the other options talk about unrelated ideas such as kindness, fear, or feasting, which do not fit the image of willow and sorrow.


Verification / Alternative check:
Imagine a sentence like "After her fiance broke off the engagement, she wore the green willow for years." Substituting "wore the green willow" with "suffered unrequited or lost love" preserves the meaning and emotional tone. Replacing it with "prepared a lavish feast" or "frightened people" would completely break the sense of the sentence. This mental substitution confirms that Option B is the correct interpretation of the idiom.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:

  • Option A, "To do something for someone as an act of kindness", suggests generosity and help, which is unrelated to romantic sorrow.
  • Option C, "Cause someone to be very frightened", describes creating fear, not suffering emotionally yourself.
  • Option D, "Producing a lavish celebrating feast", describes joyful celebration, the opposite emotional direction of mourning and lost love.


Common Pitfalls:
Because the idiom is less commonly used in everyday speech, students may try to guess from individual words like "green" or "willow" without knowing their symbolic meaning. Some may associate "green" with jealousy or inexperience rather than with the living branches of a tree used as a sign of grief. To improve performance on such items, it is helpful to read literary texts and note how nature symbols like flowers and trees are used to express human emotions.


Final Answer:
The idiom "wear the green willow" describes a person suffering because of unreturned or lost love, so the correct option is Suffer unrequited love.

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