Can anybody tell me the meaning of this?

[aquarian_8]

What does the phrase 'If you are what i eat, then i will be you tomorrow?' mean?

[Quizmonster]

(I assume you are not using the word 'eat' in its vulgar sense.) The original quote, from the Frenchman, Jean Brillat-Savarin, in the early 19th century was: "Tell me what you eat and I will tell you what you are." This has been modernised into: "You are what you eat." This may imply that if, say, you eat lots of red meat you are likely to be macho - the hunter-type - and readily prone to anger (ie seeing 'red').

So, to answer your question specifically...if the 'you' referred to is wild and outgoing, that's what the eater of that 'you' will become and if the 'you' is timid and retiring, then that's the eater's fate, too. I imagine one would need to study a cannibal tribe to prove the theory's truth or otherwise!

[sylvday]

The words written by aquarian_8 are just nonsense. To make sense, the sentence should read "If you are what you eat, and I eat you, then I will be you tomorrow". It should be noted that the word "you" in the first clause of that sentence is used in its sense of "one" or "a person".

[Quizmonster]

The words are not nonsense if - as I suggested earlier - we are considering a cannibalistic situation. They do still exist, actually! Try the remote areas of New Guinea, for example. Indeed, the habit of consuming enemies one has defeated was/is done specifically with the purpose of somehow acquiring their properties of strength, bravery etc. Hence, Aquarian's words mean: "If I eat you - powerful and courageous warrior that you are - then tomorrow I, too, will be more powerful and courageous."

Of course, we do not just speak to other human beings, do we? If our dog does something we don't approve of, we shout: "You bad boy!" do we not? So who is to say that the 'you' refers to a human being at all? It might be a pet rabbit which - if done in a nice casserole with bacon and cider - might make the speaker both timid and insanely lustful...just as rabbits are!

[Janetex]

Assuming that you are an eight year old Aquarian, if you concentrate on your school work then, by the time you mature, you'll be able to appreciate the humour in the play on words. Good luck.

[melandraf]

Maybe it's a 'circle of life' thing... Because tomorrow "you" may be dead and fertilising the earth, causing plants to grow, which are eaten by "I".....? just a thought....