stubborn donkey

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "stubborn donkey" is correct and can be used in written English.
It is typically used to describe someone or something as being uncooperative, obstinate, or unwilling to change their behavior. Example: After countless attempts to get the stubborn donkey to move, the farmer gave up and went to find a more cooperative animal.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Evidence of casual sadism is everywhere: a frustrated chimney sweep mercilessly whips his stubborn donkey.

The Guardian - Film

His misadventures included contracting malaria and trying to train a stubborn donkey to be his traveling companion.

Forbes

The comedy of the story is furnished by little Eva's Aunt Ophelia, a queer old lawyer named Marx, and his stubborn donkey, to say nothing of Topsy, a wicked little colored girl, who Aunt Ophelia tries hard to convert".

Wikipedia

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Once, Mr. Soriano lost his patience, trying to coax his stubborn donkeys to cross a stream.

The New York Times

The sport turns on the donkeys' stubborn nature, a quality that is encouraged by the referees.

The New York Times - Sports

Tomorrow the people of Blackpool will discover whether their footballing ambitions — lofty as the town's tower, passionate as a holiday romance and stubborn as the donkeys that traverse the sandy shoreline — will once again find fulfilment.

The Guardian - Sport

Another, more credible story claims Miyamoto looked in a Japanese-English dictionary for something that would mean "stubborn gorilla", or that "Donkey" was meant to convey "silly" or "stubborn"; "Kong" was common Japanese slang for "gorilla".

Wikipedia

An elephant is apt to grow panicky at the sight of a mouse; a donkey is too stubborn & ornery.

The New Yorker

For all their surprising virtues, donkeys can be a little stubborn.

The New York Times

Miyamoto jumped at the chance, drawing the game's characters on square paper, each block representing a single pixel on the screen, calling the resulting game Donkey Kong: "Donkey", as a synonym for "stubborn" and "Kong" for gorilla.

The Guardian - Tech

("Donkey" was the word Miyamoto found in a Japanese-English dictionary for "stubborn" or "goofy". "Kong" was a word for gorilla).

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "stubborn donkey" when you want to emphasize the animalistic, unthinking nature of the stubbornness.

Common error

Avoid using "stubborn donkey" in formal writing or professional settings where a more neutral or professional tone is expected. Opt for terms like "uncooperative", "resistant", or "inflexible" instead.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "stubborn donkey" functions as a descriptive expression, combining an adjective ("stubborn") with a noun ("donkey") to characterize someone or something as being obstinate or uncooperative. Ludwig AI confirms this, citing examples where the phrase is used to illustrate resistance to change or persuasion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Wiki

25%

Science

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "stubborn donkey" is a descriptive term used to characterize someone or something as obstinate and uncooperative. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness, though it is relatively rare and primarily found in informal contexts like news articles and general discussions. When writing, consider the level of formality required and opt for more neutral terms like "inflexible" or "resistant" in professional settings. While semantically related alternatives like ""obstinate mule"" exist, "stubborn donkey" carries a distinctly informal and sometimes humorous connotation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

obstinate mule

Replaces "donkey" with "mule", another animal known for its stubbornness; emphasizes the animal's obstinacy.

pigheaded ass

Substitutes "stubborn" with "pigheaded" and "donkey" with "ass", creating a more forceful and negative connotation.

unyielding jackass

Replaces "stubborn" with "unyielding" and "donkey" with "jackass", intensifying the sense of inflexibility and foolishness.

mulish character

Employs "mulish" as an adjective to describe a character's nature, emphasizing stubbornness as a core trait.

obdurate and uncooperative

Replaces the animal metaphor with a description of behavior, highlighting resistance to cooperation.

difficult to manage

Shifts the focus to the challenge of dealing with stubbornness, rather than directly labeling it.

willfully disobedient

Highlights the intentional nature of the resistance, emphasizing the donkey's conscious decision to disobey.

intractably resistant

Focuses on the difficulty in overcoming the resistance, using more formal language.

unpersuadable creature

Emphasizes the inability to change the donkey's mind through persuasion.

set in its ways

This idiom shifts the focus from stubbornness as a character trait to the inflexibility or the habit of the animal.

FAQs

How can I use "stubborn donkey" in a sentence?

You can use "stubborn donkey" to describe someone or something that is being uncooperative or obstinate. For example: "Trying to convince him was like arguing with a "stubborn donkey"."

What are some alternatives to "stubborn donkey"?

Some alternatives include phrases like "obstinate mule", "pigheaded ass", or simply using adjectives like "uncooperative" or "obstinate".

Is it appropriate to use "stubborn donkey" in formal writing?

No, "stubborn donkey" is generally considered informal and is best suited for casual conversation or informal writing. In formal contexts, use more professional terms like "inflexible" or "resistant".

What does it mean when someone is described as a "stubborn donkey"?

It implies that the person is being unreasonably resistant to change or suggestions, much like how a donkey is perceived as being difficult to move or control.