The light is dim under the lamp.

Understanding the meaning of the Korean idiom "The light is dim under the lamp"

Have you ever heard the idiom 'The light is dim under the lamp'?

'Lamp' refers to a small vessel that held a lamp in the past when there was no electricity.

'Lamp' can mean anything that illuminates a dark place by lighting a fire.

This includes candles, oil, etc.

In other words, a lamp and a lamp can be called a fluorescent lamp today.

So what does 'The light is dim under the lamp' mean?

When you light a lamp, the area around it becomes bright.

However, the lamp's shadow makes the area directly under the lamp darker.

If there was a needle or thread under the lamp, it would be difficult to find.

It becomes something you can't find even though it's close by.

Therefore, the idiom 'The light is dim under the lamp' is used when you can't find something even though it's close by,

or when you don't know the intentions of someone who is close to you.

The story behind the Korean idiom 'The light is dim under the lamp'

I am not the type to lose things easily, but I have experienced acting 'The light is dim under the lamp.'

I did it recently.

I went to a convenience store to buy coffee while talking on the phone with a friend.

After buying the coffee, I walked to the bus stop for a while, but my phone was gone!

So I told my friend, "I think I left my phone at the convenience store."

The friend who was on the phone said, "Go back to the convenience store quickly!"

While I was running back to the convenience store, a thought suddenly came to my mind.

'What am I talking on right now?'

That's right. I was looking for my phone while holding my phone.

I told my friend on the phone

"Hey, I'm talking on the phone right now!" and we laughed for a while.

Actually, there are many other instances like this.

I put my phone in my back pocket and then look for my phone.

I put my glasses on my head and then look for my glasses.

Am I the only one who does this?

The phrase to say at such times!

"The light is dim under the lamp."

Applying the Korean idiom 'The light is dim under the lamp'

- I couldn't see the key even though it was right in front of me. It was really dark under the lamp!

- I was so busy I didn't even know what was happening to my dad. The light was dim under the lamp.

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