Cows, which are adult female cattle, exist in large parts of the earth. They are domestic animals and are reared for milk as well as for meat. For mythological and other reasons cows occupy a special place in Indian political and social lives. The word “cow” or “cows” has a place in the English language. There are many phrases and idioms that we come across in English literature. This article is meant to give an overview.

Cows that are not literally “cows”

Any project or asset in an organization that generates continuous financial returns is called a CASH COW. Cash Cows generally are characterized by a high market share and low growth rate. An example of this is Apple’s iPhone. Another example often cited is KLEENEX tissues. A feature of such products is that they need no additional investment to deliver continuous turnover. During the early years of Maruti Udyog, the  Maruti 800 car was its cash cow. The continuous cash flow from this model enabled the company to invest in the development of newer models in due course.

Do you enjoy a position of great importance in your company? Are you always above any sort of criticism? Then you can call yourself a SACRED COW. The phrase is meaningful for institutions and also objects. Some of the synonyms of this phrase are HERO, OBJECT OF WORSHIP, IDOL,  PROTECTED INTEREST, and SENSITIVE ISSUE. A synonymous phrase is GOLDEN CALF. There was a time in India when it was taboo to criticize Sachin Tendulkar. He was the “sacred cow” in those days.

In India, the cows are considered to be truly holy, especially by the Hindus. But otherwise, the phrase HOLY COW has nothing to do with this exalted position. The phrase is just an inert filler to express surprise and astonishment.  This phrase is relatively recent, being in vogue for just over one hundred years, and was first used by a baseball commentator. This is used in place of commonly preferred indecent phrases.

We see two animals in the figure above which are not cows. The SEA COW is a large aquatic animal. It is herbivorous having paddle-shaped tail flipper-like forelimbs.  BUSH COW is a synonym for a large West African buffalo called Zamouse.

COWS AT  DIFFERENT  STAGES  REPRODUCTIVE  CYCLE

Cows that are reared for milk are known as MILK (MILCH) COWS and those that are reared for meat are called BEEF COWS.  A cow that is about to deliver is called a SPRINGING COW. Before calving, when milk production stops, the cows are called DRY COWS.  The cows that do not produce calves are called EMPTY COWS. A cow that has reached the end of breeding is called OPEN COW. After calving and during the initial stages of lactation a cow is referred to as FRESH COW.

“COW” AS A QUALIFIER

Cow’s excreta is useful in many forms. Hindus use cow dung for cleaning the exteriors of houses, particularly in rural areas. It is a good manure too. It is also a fuel when used in the form of dried cakes. In its various avatars, the excreta of cow is known as COW DUNG, COW PAT,  COW CAKE, COW CHIP, COW MANURE, etc.

Many trees, shrubs, and plants have names in which the word “cow” appears. For example, we have COW PARSNIP, COW PARLEY, COW LILY, COW OAK, COW TRESS, and so on.  COW HITCH is a type of knot.

Here are two interesting “cow phrases”. The first is COW CORNER. This is associated with the game of cricket and is a fielding position between the deep mid-wicket and deep long-on. In the earlier days of cricket, shots were rarely hit in this region and cows could graze happily without any risk of being hit. In recent times, however, the game has evolved considerably and batters cover the complete 360 degrees of the field. Another curious phrase is COW PILOT. It has nothing to do with an aircraft. It is a synonym of “Sergeant-Major”. Sergeant-Major, however, is not an army rank but a small damselfish.

TAILPIECE: “TO HAVE A COW” is an idiom for losing a temper or becoming angry. When you lose your cool, someone may ask you to calm down by saying “Don’t have a cow”