the lion and the unicorn
/ðə ˌlaɪən ən ðə ˈjuːnɪkɔːn/
/ðə ˌlaɪən ən ðə ˈjuːnɪkɔːrn/
- two animals that appear on the British royal arms (= a special royal symbol). The lion represents England, and the unicorn, an imaginary animal like a horse with a long horn on its forehead, represents Scotland. There is a traditional children's nursery rhyme about the lion and the unicorn, which may have its origin in old conflicts between the two countries: “The lion and the unicornWere fighting for the crown;The lion beat the unicornAll round about the town.”
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the lion and the unicorn