bird of passage，候鸟，漂泊不定的人

跟单词 bird 有关的短语很多，例如：a little bird told me，birds of a feather flock together 和 a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush 等等，还有今天的 bird of passage，字面意思是”候鸟“，可以意为”过客，漂泊不定的人“，寓意：

a transient

短暂的

one who is here today and gone tomorrow

今天在这里明天就走的人

staying for a short duration of time at some place

在某个地方短时间停留

a person who is constantly travelling

经常旅行的人

constant change of state

状态的不断变化

seasonally migrating birds

季节性候鸟

例如：

She moves out nearly every year; she's a true bird of passage.

她几乎每年都搬出去，真是个漂泊不定的人。

At present the organization has to rely on young, inexperienced graduates who are usually birds of passage.

目前，该组织不得不依靠漂泊不定的、年轻的、没有经验的毕业生。

解析：关系代词 who 引导的定语从句，修饰先行词 graduates.

Interns are usually not reliable for any organization as they are birds of passage and very few of them remain with the company in the long run.

实习生通常对任何组织都不可靠，因为他们是漂泊不定的人，很少有人能长期留在公司。

Bed and Breakfast resorts are home to many birds of passage going to their planned destinations.

住宿和早餐度假村是许多过客前往其计划目的地的家园。

解析：现在分词 going to their planned destinations 作定语，修饰 birds of passage，相当于一个定语从句 birds of passage who are going to their planned destinations.

A gradual rise in the American economy has made many birds of passage to permanently settle down.

美国经济的逐渐崛起使许多漂泊不定的人永久定居下来。

解析：settle down 除了可以意为”定居下来，过安定的生活“，还可以意为”舒适地坐下或躺下“，例如：

Come on, have a cup of tea and settle down.

来吧，喝杯茶，坐下来休息一下。

学英语只靠学是永远不够的，还需要找规律并进行定期的总结，形成记忆群，就像记忆单词要形成记忆链条一样。