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# found under a cabbage leaf

phrase (verb phrase: was found under a cabbage leaf; also «the stork brought you»; old-fashioned)

«found under a cabbage leaf» in the English dictionary: in the primary school — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## In the primary school

Source: Mova's pupils' dictionary. Licence: [Elamur Cosmic License](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/docs/LICENSE/). Reviewed: the dictionary the pupils of Mova's primary school read; its examples quote the lessons and public-domain tales. Ships with Mova.

### Meaning

1. (euphemism, said to small children) a made-up answer to «where do babies come from?», avoiding the real explanation of birth.
2. (humorous) used to joke about where someone came from.

### In the lessons

An old nursery story told to young children, especially in Europe and the UK, to avoid talking about pregnancy and birth; old-fashioned and humorous now. Families today usually give simple true answers instead.

### Examples

- When I asked where babies come from, Grandpa said I was found under a cabbage leaf.
- In the old story, girls were found under a cabbage leaf and boys in the garden.
- "Were you really found under a cabbage leaf?" laughed my sister.
- The picture book shows a baby found under a cabbage leaf.
- Our teacher explained that "found under a cabbage leaf" was a story people told instead of the truth.
- Now we know babies grow inside their mothers, not under a cabbage leaf.
- My uncle jokes that my cousin was found under a cabbage leaf because he loves vegetables.
- It's a sweet old saying, but not how babies arrive.

### Note

Trap: it is not true; babies grow inside the mother's body (in the womb) and are born. Science lessons give the real answer. Plain meaning: «I don't want to explain how babies are born».