The sea bay has nothing to do with it. From the bay-flounder means “to act unexpectedly, thoughtlessly.” The phraseological unit is formed from the verbs “thump” and “flounder” and is associated with the image of a person who accidentally fell into the water and is forced to splash helplessly in it. The situation is so-so, so try to act thoughtfully, and not from the start.
2. Procrustean bed
You wouldn't want to end up in it. Procrustes is a hero of ancient Greek myths and a robber who caught travelers and subjected them to a kind of torture. He put people on his bed and checked whether it was the right length for them. If a person turned out to be shorter, then Procrustes stretched his legs; if he was longer, he chopped off his legs. It is noteworthy that the box was not enough for the robber himself, for which he subsequently paid.
The expression " Procrustean bed"is used when they try to fit some phenomenon to given standards, deliberately distorting it.
3. The muslin young lady
It should be clear who the “young lady” is, and “muslin” means “dressed in a dress made of muslin, thin cotton fabric.” This elegant but impractical outfit was popular at the end of the 18th century, but then went out of fashion and turned into a symbol of inadequacy, affectation, effeminacy and even stupidity.
4. Enough of the irritation
Kondrashka is not a friendly neighbor, but a euphemism for a stroke or apoplexy. The expression means the same as “died suddenly.” It is believed that the disease was not called by its own name, so as not to accidentally inflict it on oneself: superstitious people believed that it worked. Sometimes Kondrashka is replaced with the more honorable Kondratiy.
5. On the zugunder
If someone threatens to take you on a zugunder, run. Because it means “to punish” or “to put on trial.” Phraseologism came from German language and dates back approximately to the 17th–19th centuries, when arrested soldiers were sentenced to one hundred blows with flexible whips, or spitzrutens. "Zu hundert" means "ko hundred" in German.
6. Tara-bars-rastabars
The expression has nothing to do with Rastafarian bars or the containers in which the products are packaged. It means "to chat in vain." The phraseological unit comes from the verbs “taratorit” and “tarabanit”, meaning “to chat, idle talk”, and is most often used in conjunction with the verb “to babble”. Create taras-bars-rastabars in the bar.
7. Saddle bag
The opportunists and chameleons of all Rus' were called that way. Initially, the phrase meant a bag hanging on an animal. To ensure that the load was distributed evenly, the bag was divided into two parts and thrown over the saddle. Subsequently, the word “shifty” acquired a negative meaning: this is what they said about a person without principles who occupies the most advantageous position.
8. Breed turuses on wheels
Cowards have nothing to do with it. Turusa on wheels is a wooden siege tower covered with skins. These were used by the ancient Romans. Warriors were planted inside it to move the structure to the enemy’s fortress wall. Contemporaries of Alexander Pushkin did not believe that such towers could exist, so they said about everything incredible “to breed turuses on wheels,” meaning “to talk nonsense.”
9. Sing Lazarus
A very undignified occupation. A flattering beggar is called Lazarus, and the expression itself means “to complain about one’s fate, to pretend to be unhappy.” It came from the Gospel parable about the rich man and the beggar Lazarus. According to it, Lazarus lay at the rich man’s gate while he feasted and led a riotous lifestyle. After death, the beggar went to heaven, and the rich man went to hell. The rich man was suffering in hell from the heat and wanted Lazarus to give him water. But God refused him, saying that the rich man had already enjoyed life enough.
10. Throwing pearls before swine
Sounds like interesting game, but no. This phraseology also came to us from the Gospel and is used in relation to a person who is unable or does not want to understand someone’s thoughts and feelings. The original text read: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces.” In other words, don't waste your resources on people who will never appreciate it.
11. Not a big deal
A very useful expression if you are a teacher or boss. It means “to know and understand nothing” and is translated from Tatar as “he does not know.” At first in Rus' they called an ignoramus an ignoramus, and then people noticed sound similarity between the words “demon” and “belmes” and began to use the latter to mean “not a damn thing” and “don’t understand a damn thing.”
12. Rest in the Bose
This expression means “to die, pass away,” but is now more often used with an ironic connotation, “to cease to exist.” It came from the Church Slavonic language and was used in funeral prayers. The expression “to rest in God” literally means “to fall asleep in God,” that is, to give one’s soul to God. But you can use it in relation, for example, to closed projects and companies.
The Russian language is rightfully considered the most perfect, beautiful and rich language in the world, which has absorbed, along with the authentic culture of more than 200 peoples of the Russian world, the best elements of Western and Eastern cultural traditions.
Our language is one of the basic elements of the entire Russian civilization, therefore, in order to be fully considered Russian, we must be able to use it well and master the entire wealth of concepts and expressions of the Russian language no worse than Pushkin, Gogol and Dostoevsky.
We present to your attention the first part of the TOP-50 most interesting phraseological units of the Russian language with their original and current meanings, as well as the history of origin:
1. Goal like a falcon
The expression means extreme poverty, need.
"Falcon"- this is a smoothly planed log of a battering ram, bound at the end with iron, which could be hand-held or wheeled and was used until the end of the 15th century to break holes in wooden palisades or fortress gates. The surface of this weapon was flat and smooth, i.e. "naked". The same term also denoted cylindrical tools: iron crowbar, pestle for grinding grain in a mortar, etc.
2. Arshin swallowed
An expression denoting a person standing at attention or adopting a majestic, arrogant pose with a straight back.
Arshin is an ancient Russian measure of length of 71 centimeters, widely used in sewing before the transition to the metric system of measures. Accordingly, craftsmen used wooden or metal yardsticks for measurements. If you swallow one, your posture will probably become phenomenal...
3. Scapegoat
This is the name given to a person who has been given all the blame for some kind of failure or failure.
An expression that goes back to the Bible. According to the ancient Jewish rite, on the day of remission of sins, the high priest placed his hands on the head of the goat and thereby placed on it the sins of the entire people of Israel. Then the goat was taken into the Judean desert and released so that it would forever bear the sins of the Jews.
4. Screams at the top of Ivanovo
The ensemble of Kremlin cathedrals in Moscow is decorated with the Ivan the Great Bell Tower, where all thirty bells were always rung on holidays. The ringing was extremely powerful and carried very far.
5. The Smoking Room is alive!
We remember this expression from the film “The meeting place cannot be changed” and it meant the joy of meeting a person who has gone through serious trials.
In fact, “smoking room” is an ancient children’s game in Rus'. The children sat in a circle and passed a burning torch to each other, saying: “The smoking room is alive, alive! The legs are thin, the soul is short.” The one in whose hands the torch went out left the circle. That is, a “smoking room” is a torch that burned weakly and “smoked” (smoke) in children’s hands.
In relation to a person, the expression was first used by the poet Alexander Pushkin in an epigram to the critic and journalist Mikhail Kachenovsky: “How! Is the Kurilka journalist still alive?..”
6. Clear out those Augean stables
Deal with an incredibly neglected mess of cyclopean proportions.
Goes back to the ancient Greek myths about Hercules. There lived in ancient Elis King Augeias, a passionate lover of horses, who kept three thousand horses in the stables, but did not clean the stalls for 30 years.
Hercules was sent to Augeas' service, to whom the king instructed to clean the stables for one day, which was impossible. The hero thought and directed the river waters into the gates of the stables, which carried out all the manure from there within a day. This act became the 6th labor of Hercules out of 12.
7. Bosom Friend
Now a positive expression denoting a long-time and trusted friend. Previously it was negative, because I meant drinking buddy.
The ancient expression “to pour on the Adam’s apple” meant “to get drunk”, “to drink alcohol.” This is where this phraseological unit was formed.
8. Get into trouble
Find yourself in an extremely uncomfortable or even dangerous position.
A prosak is a drum with teeth in a machine used to comb wool. If you got into a mess, you could easily get hurt and lose your arm.
9. Dirty place
And again, a biblical expression found in psalms and church prayers and denoting paradise, the heavenly kingdom. In secular usage, the word acquired a negative connotation - bars, strip clubs, etc. began to be called “hot spots.”
This refers to a place where cereals grow abundantly, from which the main food (bread) is prepared - a fertile field, the basis of prosperity.
10. Like Buridan's donkey
This means a person who is extremely indecisive.
Goes back to the famous example of the 14th century French philosopher Jean Buridan, who argued that people’s actions depend for the most part not on their own will, but on external circumstances. Illustrating his idea, he argued that a donkey, to the left and to the right of which two identical piles would be placed at equal distances, one of which would contain hay, and the other would have straw, would not be able to make a choice and would die of hunger.
11. Reach the handle
To completely descend, to lose human appearance and social skills.
In Ancient Rus', kalachi were baked not in round shapes, but in the shape of a castle with a round bow. Townspeople often bought kalachi and ate them right on the street, holding this bow like a hand. At the same time, for reasons of hygiene, the pen itself was not eaten, but was either given to the poor or thrown to the dogs. About those who did not disdain to eat it, they said: they got to the point.
12. Go easy on yourself
Find yourself in an uncomfortable and often shameful position.
In Rus', walking bareheaded in crowded places (excluding temples for men) was considered a disgrace. There was no greater shame for a person than having his hat torn off in a public place.
13. Shabby look
Untidy clothing, unshavenness and other signs of carelessness in appearance.
Under Tsar Peter I, the Yaroslavl linen manufactory of the merchant Zatrapeznikov began operating, producing silk and cloth that were in no way inferior in quality to the products of European workshops.
In addition, the manufactory also produced very cheap hemp striped fabric, which was nicknamed “shabby” after the merchant’s name. She went for mattresses, bloomers, sundresses, women's headscarves, work robes and shirts.
For rich people, a robe made from “trapeza” was home clothing, but for the poor, clothes made from this fabric were used “for going out.” A shabby appearance spoke of a short social status person.
14. Caliph for an hour
This is what they say about a person who accidentally and briefly finds himself in power.
The expression has Arabic roots. This is the name of the fairy tale from the collection “A Thousand and One Nights” - “A Daydream, or Caliph for an Hour.”
It tells how the young Baghdadian Abu-Ghassan, not knowing that the caliph Harun al-Rashid is in front of him, shares with him his cherished dream - to become a caliph at least for a day. Wanting to have fun, Harun al-Rashid pours sleeping pills into Abu Hassan's wine, orders the servants to take the young man to the palace and treat him like a caliph.
The joke succeeds. Waking up, Abu Hassan believes that he is the caliph, enjoys luxury and begins to give orders. In the evening, he again drinks wine with sleeping pills and wakes up at home.
15. Knock you down
Make you lose the thread of a conversation, forget about something.
In Greece there is Mount Pantelic, famous in ancient times, where marble was mined for a long time. Accordingly, there were many caves, grottoes and passages, and once there, one could easily get lost.
16. I figured it out
Those. understood what kind of person he was, noticed a deception or discovered a secret.
The expression came to us from those times when coins made of precious metals were in use. The authenticity of the coins was checked by tooth, because precious metals without impurities were soft. If there is a dent on the coin, then it is real, and if not, it is fake.
17. The voice of one crying in the wilderness
This is what they say about someone whose sound thoughts and warnings they stubbornly refuse to listen to.
A biblical expression with roots in the prophecy of Isaiah and the Gospel of John. The prophets who predicted the imminent coming of the Savior called on the Jews to prepare for this day: to monitor their lives and correct it, becoming pious, and to be attentive to the gospel preaching. But the Jews did not heed these calls and crucified the Lord.
18. Bury talent in the ground
This means not using and not developing God-given abilities.
And again a reference to the Bible. Talent was the name given to the largest weight and monetary unit in Ancient Greece, Babylon, Persia and other regions of Asia Minor.
In the Gospel parable, one of the servants received money from the master and buried it, being afraid to invest it in a business that could bring both profit and loss. Upon the master's return, the servant returned the talent and was punished for the lost time and the profit lost by the master.
19. Tightened the rigmarole
I started some very long task and began to hesitate.
Gimp is the thinnest wire made of precious metals, which acquired rather the properties of a thread and was used to decorate camisoles, uniforms and dresses with beautiful complex patterns. It was necessary to pull the gimp on ever-shrinking jewelry rollers in several passes, which was a long process. Sewing with gimp is even less fast.
20. Brought to white heat
Angered me to the point of fury, uncontrollable rage.
Goes back to blacksmithing. When metal is heated during forging, it glows differently depending on the temperature: first red, then yellow, and finally blinding white. At an even higher temperature, the metal will already melt and boil.
21. Soap Opera
This is what they call a television series with a trivial plot.
The fact is that in the 30s in America they began to produce multi-part (at that time still radio) programs for housewives with melodramatic plots. They were created with money from soap manufacturers and detergents, who advertised their products during breaks.
22. Good riddance!
Nowadays this is how they kick out an annoying guest or visitor. Previously, the meaning was the opposite - a wish for a good journey.
In one of Ivan Aksakov’s poems you can read about a road that is “straight as an arrow, with a wide surface that spreads like a tablecloth.” Knowing our spaces, people wanted an unhindered and easy path.
23. Egyptian plagues
Heavy punishments, disasters, torments that have fallen.
Biblical story from the book of Exodus. For Pharaoh’s refusal to release the Jews from captivity, the Lord subjected Egypt to terrible punishments - ten Egyptian plagues: blood instead of water, execution by frogs, an invasion of midges, dog flies, cattle pestilence, ulcers and boils, thunder, lightning and hail fire, an invasion of locusts, darkness and death. firstborn in Egyptian families.
24. Do your bit
Invest part of your labor, skills or money into creating something important, big.
There is a well-known biblical story about two mites of a poor widow, which she donated to the activities of the Jerusalem Temple. Mite is one of the most small coins of that time in the Roman Empire. Two mites were the widow’s only money, donating which she remained hungry until the evening. Therefore, her sacrifice turned out to be the largest of all.
25. Sing Lazarus
Beat people, beg, try to play on sympathy.
The parable of the rich man and Lazarus is told by the Savior in the Gospel. Lazarus was poor and lived at the gate of the rich man's house. Lazarus ate the rich man's leftover food along with the dogs and suffered all sorts of hardships, but after death he went to heaven, while the rich man ended up in hell.
Professional beggars in Russia often begged on the steps of churches, comparing themselves to the biblical Lazarus, although they often lived much better. That's why attempts to pity people are called that way.
Andrey Szegeda
Speech is a way of communication between people. To achieve complete mutual understanding and express your thoughts more clearly and figuratively, many lexical techniques are used, in particular, phraseological units (phraseological unit, idiom) - stable figures of speech that have independent meaning and are characteristic of a particular language. Often, to achieve some speech effect simple words sometimes it's not enough. Irony, bitterness, love, mockery, your own attitude to what is happening - all this can be expressed much more succinctly, more precisely, more emotionally. We often use phraseological units in everyday speech, sometimes without even noticing - after all, some of them are simple, familiar, and familiar from childhood. Many of the phraseological units came to us from other languages, eras, fairy tales, and legends.
The game is not worth the candle
You shouldn't do this. The game is clearly not worth the candle.
Meaning. The effort expended is not worth it.
Origin. The phraseological expression is based on a card term, which means that the stakes in the game are so insignificant that even the winnings will be less than the funds spent on candles to illuminate the card table.
To the head analysis
Well, brother, you've come late to the very basic analysis!
Meaning. Be late, show up when it’s all over.
Origin. The saying arose in those days when in our frosty country people, coming to church in warm clothes and knowing that it was forbidden to go inside with a hat, put their three hats and caps at the very entrance. At the end of the church service, when everyone left, they took them apart. Only those who were clearly in no hurry to go to church came to the “head-by-side analysis.”
How to get chickens into cabbage soup
And he ended up with this case like chickens in cabbage soup.
Meaning. Bad luck, unexpected misfortune.
Origin. A very common saying that we repeat all the time, sometimes without any idea of its true meaning. Let's start with the word "chicken". This word in old Russian means “rooster”. But “cabbage soup” was not in this proverb before, and it was pronounced correctly: “I got caught in the plucking like a chicken,” that is, I was plucked, “unlucky.” The word “plucking” was forgotten, and then people, willy-nilly, changed the expression “to plucking” to “into cabbage soup.” When she was born is not entirely clear: some think that even under Demetrius the Pretender, when she was “plucked”; the Polish conquerors fell; others - that in the Patriotic War of 1812, when the Russian people forced Napoleon's hordes to flee.
King for a day
I would not trust their generous promises, which they give out right and left: caliphs for an hour.
Meaning. About a man who accidentally found himself on short time endowed with power.
Origin. IN Arabian fairy tale“A Waking Dream, or Caliph for an Hour” (collection “A Thousand and One Nights”) tells how the young Baghdadian Abu-Shssan, not knowing that the caliph Grun-al-Rashid is in front of him, shares with him his cherished dream - at least for day to become caliph. Wanting to have fun, Harun al-Rashid pours sleeping pills into Abu Hassan's wine, orders the servants to take the young man to the palace and treat him like a caliph.
The joke succeeds. Waking up, Abu-1ksan believes that he is the caliph, enjoys luxury and begins to give orders. In the evening, he again drinks wine with sleeping pills and wakes up at home.
Scapegoat
I'm afraid that you will forever be their scapegoat.
Meaning. Responsible for someone else's fault, for the mistakes of others, because the true culprit cannot be found or wants to evade responsibility.
Origin. The phrase goes back to the text of the Bible, to the description of the ancient Hebrew ritual of transferring the sins of the people (community) onto a living goat. This ritual was performed in the event of desecration of the sanctuary where the Ark of the Ark was located by Jews. To atone for sins, a ram was burned and one goat was slaughtered “as a sin offering.” All the sins and iniquities of the Jewish people were transferred to the second goat: the priest laid his hands on it as a sign that all the sins of the community were transferred to him, after which the goat was expelled into the desert. All those present at the ceremony were considered purified.
sing Lazarus
Stop singing Lazarus, stop being poor.
Meaning. Beg, whine, complain exaggeratedly about fate, trying to evoke the sympathy of others.
Origin. In tsarist Russia, crowds of beggars, cripples, blind men with guides gathered everywhere in crowded places, begging, with all sorts of pathetic lamentations, alms from passers-by. The blind people especially often sang the song “About the Rich Man and Lazarus,” composed based on one gospel story. Lazarus was poor and his brother was rich. Lazarus ate the rich man's leftover food along with the dogs, but after death he went to heaven, while the rich man ended up in hell. This song was supposed to frighten and reassure those from whom beggars begged for money. Since not all beggars were actually so unhappy, their plaintive moans were often feigned.
Get into trouble
You promised to be careful, but you deliberately get into trouble!
Meaning. Undertaking something risky, running into trouble, doing something dangerous, doomed to failure.
Origin. Rozhon is a sharpened stake that was used in bear hunting. When hunting with a goad, daredevils held this sharp stake in front of them. The enraged beast got into trouble and died.
Disservice
Constant praise from your lips is a real disservice.
Meaning. Unsolicited help, a service that does more harm than good.
Origin. The primary source is I. A. Krylov’s fable “The Hermit and the Bear.” It tells how the Bear, wanting to help his friend the Hermit smack a fly that had landed on his forehead, killed the Hermit himself along with it. But this expression is not in the fable: it developed and entered folklore later.
Cast pearls before swine
In a letter to A. A. Bestuzhev (late January 1825), A. S. Pushkin writes: “The first sign smart person“Know at first glance who you are dealing with, and not throw pearls in front of the Repetilovs and the like.”
Meaning. Wasting words speaking to people who cannot understand you.
Origin. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus Christ says: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet and turn and tear you to pieces” (Gospel of Matthew, 7: b). In the Church Slavonic translation, the word “pearl” sounds like “beads”. It is in this version that this biblical expression entered the Russian language.
You can't ride a goat
He looks down on everyone, you can’t even approach him on a crooked goat.
Meaning. He is completely unapproachable, it is not clear how to contact him.
Origin. Amusing their high patrons, using harps and bells for their amusement, dressing up in goat and bear skins, and in the plumage of a crane, these “spinners” were sometimes able to do some pretty good things.
It is possible that their repertoire also included riding goats or pigs. Obviously, it was the buffoons who sometimes encountered such a bad mood from a high-ranking person that “even a goat had no effect on him.”
Unlucky man
Nothing went well with him, and in general he was a bad person.
Meaning. Frivolous, careless, dissolute.
Origin. In the old days in Rus', not only the road was called a path, but also various positions at the prince’s court. The falconer's path is in charge of princely hunting, the hunter's path is in charge of hound hunting, the stablemaster's path is in charge of carriages and horses. The boyars tried by hook or by crook to get a position from the prince. And those who did not succeed were spoken of with disdain: a good-for-nothing person.
Shelve
Now you’ll put it on the back burner, and then you’ll forget it completely.
Meaning. Give the case a long delay, delay its decision for a long time.
Origin. Perhaps this expression originated in Muscovite Rus', three hundred years ago. Tsar Alexei, the father of Peter I, ordered a long box to be installed in the village of Kolomenskoye in front of his palace, where anyone could drop their complaint. Complaints were received, but it was very difficult to wait for a solution: months and years passed. The people renamed this “long” box “long”.
It is possible that the expression, if not born, was fixed in speech later, in “presences” - institutions of the 19th century. The officials of that time, accepting various petitions, complaints and petitions, undoubtedly sorted them, putting them in different boxes. “Long” could be called the one where the most leisurely tasks were postponed. It is clear that the petitioners were afraid of such a box.
Retired goat drummer
I am no longer in office - a retired goat drummer.
Meaning. A person not needed by anyone, respected by anyone.
Origin. In the old days, trained bears were brought to fairs. They were accompanied by a dancing boy dressed as a goat, and a drummer accompanying his dance. This was the “goat drummer”. He was perceived as a worthless, frivolous person. What if the goat is also “retired”?
Bring it under the monastery
What have you done, what should I do now, you brought me under the monastery, and that’s all.
Meaning. Put in a difficult, unpleasant position, subject to punishment.
Origin. There are several versions of the origin of the turnover. Perhaps the turnover arose because people who had big troubles in life usually went to the monastery. According to another version, the expression is related to the fact that Russian guides led enemies under the walls of monasteries, which during the war turned into fortresses (bring a blind man under a monastery). Some believe that the expression is associated with the difficult life of women in Tsarist Russia. Only strong relatives could protect a woman from her husband’s beatings, having achieved protection from the patriarch and the authorities. In this case, the wife “brought her husband to the monastery” - he was sent to the monastery “in humility” for six months or a year.
Plant the pig
Well, he has a nasty character: he planted the pig and is satisfied!
Meaning. Secretly set up some nasty thing, do some mischief.
Origin. In all likelihood, this expression is due to the fact that some peoples do not eat pork for religious reasons. And if such a person was quietly put pork in his food, then his faith was desecrated.
Get into trouble
The guy got into such trouble that even the guard screamed.
Meaning. Find yourself in a difficult, dangerous or unpleasant situation.
Origin. In dialects, BINDING is a fish trap woven from branches. And, as in any trap, being in it is not a pleasant thing.
Professor of sour cabbage soup
He is always teaching everyone. Me too, professor of sour cabbage soup!
Meaning. Unlucky, bad master.
Origin. Sour cabbage soup is a simple peasant food: water and sauerkraut. Preparing them was not particularly difficult. And if someone was called a master of sour cabbage soup, it meant that he was not fit for anything worthwhile.
Beluga roar
For three days in a row she roared like a beluga.
Meaning. Scream or cry loudly.
Origin. “As dumb as a fish” - this has been known for a long time. And suddenly “beluga roar”? It turns out that we are not talking about the beluga, but about the beluga whale, which is the name of the polar dolphin. He really roars very loudly.
Breeding antimonies
That's it, the conversation is over. I have no time to create antimonies with you here.
Meaning. Chat, carry on empty conversations. Observe unnecessary ceremony in relationships.
Origin. From the Latin name for antimony (antimonium), which was used as a medicinal and cosmetic product by first grinding it and then dissolving it. Antimony does not dissolve well, so the process was very long and laborious. And while it was dissolving, the pharmacists carried on endless conversations.
On the side of the bake
Why should I go to them? Nobody called me. It's called arrived - on the side of the heat!
Meaning. Everything is random, extraneous, attached to something from the outside; superfluous, unnecessary
Origin. This expression is often distorted by saying “on the side.” In fact, it could be expressed with the words: “side bake.” For bakers, baked, or baked, are burnt pieces of dough that stick to the outside of bread products, that is, something unnecessary, superfluous.
Orphan Kazan
Why are you standing, rooted to the threshold like an orphan from Kazan.
Meaning. This is what they say about a person who pretends to be unhappy, offended, helpless in order to pity someone.
Origin. This phraseological unit arose after the conquest of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible. The Mirzas (Tatar princes), finding themselves subjects of the Russian Tsar, tried to beg all sorts of concessions from him, complaining about their orphanhood and bitter fate.
Grated kalach
As a grated kalach, I can give you practical advice.
Meaning. This is what they call an experienced person who is difficult to deceive.
Origin. There used to be such a type of bread - “grated kalach”. The dough for it was crushed, kneaded, “grated” for a very long time, which is why the kalach turned out to be unusually fluffy. And there was also a proverb - “do not grate, do not crush, there will be no kalach.” That is, trials and tribulations teach a person. The expression comes from a proverb, and not from the name of the bread.
Tip on your tongue
What are you saying? Thump your tongue!
Meaning. An expression of dissatisfaction with what was said, an unkind wish to someone who says something that is not meant to be said.
Origin. It is clear that this is a wish, and not a very friendly one. But what is its significance? Pip is a small horny tubercle on the tip of a bird's tongue that helps them peck food. The growth of such a tubercle may be a sign of illness. Hard pimples on the human tongue are called pimples by analogy with these bird bumps. According to superstitious beliefs, pip usually appears in deceitful people. Hence the bad wish, designed to punish liars and deceivers. From these observations and superstitions, an incantatory formula was born: “Tip on your tongue!” Its main meaning was: “You are a liar: let there be a pip on your tongue!” Now the meaning of this spell has changed somewhat. “Tip your tongue!” - an ironic wish to the one who expressed an unkind thought, predicted something unpleasant.
Sharpen the laces
Why are you sitting idle and sharpening your swords?
Meaning. Talking idle talk, engaging in useless chatter, gossiping.
Origin. Lyasy (balusters) are turned figured posts of the railing at the porch; could only make such beauty a real master. Probably, at first, “sharpening balusters” meant conducting an elegant, fancy, ornate (like balusters) conversation. And by our time, the number of people skilled in conducting such a conversation has become fewer and fewer. So this expression came to mean empty chatter. Another version elevates the expression to the meaning of the Russian word balyasy - tales, Ukrainian balyas - noise, which go back directly to the common Slavic “tell”.
Pull the gimp
Now they’re gone, he’ll keep dragging his feet until we give up on this idea ourselves.
Meaning. To procrastinate, to delay something, to speak monotonously and tediously.
Origin. Gimp is the finest gold, silver or copper thread, which was used to embroider braids, aiguillettes and other decorations on officer uniforms, as well as priests' vestments and simply rich costumes. It was made in a handicraft way, by heating the metal and carefully pulling out a thin wire with pliers. This process was extremely long, slow and painstaking, so that over time the expression “pull the gimp” began to refer to any protracted and monotonous business or conversation.
Hit face in the dirt
Don't let us down, don't lose face in front of the guests.
Meaning. To make a mistake, to disgrace oneself.
Origin. To hit the dirt with your face originally meant “to fall on the dirty ground.” Such a fall was considered especially shameful by the people in fist fights - wrestling competitions, when a weak opponent was thrown prone to the ground.
In the middle of nowhere
What, should we go see him? Yes, this is in the middle of nowhere.
Meaning. Very far away, somewhere in the wilderness.
Origin. Kulichiki is a distorted Finnish word “kuligi”, “kulizhki”, which has long been included in Russian speech. That's what they were called in the north forest clearings, meadows, swamps. Here, in the wooded part of the country, settlers of the distant past constantly cut down “kulizhki” in the forest - areas for plowing and mowing. In old charters the following formula is constantly found: “And all that land, as long as the ax walked and the scythe walked.” The farmer often had to go to his field in the wilderness, to the farthest “kulizhki”, worse developed than those close to him, where, according to the ideas of that time, goblins, devils, and all sorts of forest evil spirits lived in the swamps and windfalls. This is how ordinary words received their second, figurative meaning: very far away, at the edge of the world.
Fig leaf
She is a terrible pretender and lazy person, hiding behind her imaginary illness like a fig leaf.
Meaning. A plausible cover for unseemly deeds.
Origin. The expression goes back to the Old Testament myth about Adam and Eve, who, after the Fall, experienced shame and girded themselves with fig leaves (fig tree): “And their eyes were opened, and they knew that they were naked, and they sewed together fig leaves, and made themselves girdles "(Genesis 3:7). From XVI to late XVIII centuries, European artists and sculptors had to cover up the most revealing parts of their works human body fig leaf. This convention was a concession christian church, who considered the image of naked flesh sinful and obscene.
Filka's certificate
What kind of stupid letter is this, can’t you really express your thoughts?
Meaning. An ignorant, illiterate document.
Metropolitan Philip could not come to terms with the revelry of the guardsmen. In his numerous messages to the tsar - letters - he sought to convince Grozny to abandon his policy of terror and dissolve the oprichnina. Tsyuzny contemptuously called the disobedient Metropolitan Filka, and his letters - Filka letters.
For his bold denunciations of Ivan the Terrible and his guardsmen, Metropolitan Philip was imprisoned in the Tver Monastery, where he was strangled by Malyuta Skuratov.
Grab the stars from the sky
He is a man not without abilities, but there are not enough stars from heaven.
Meaning. Do not be distinguished by talents and outstanding abilities.
Origin. A phraseological expression associated, apparently, by association with the award stars of military and officials as insignia.
That's enough of a prickle
He was in great health, and suddenly he got sick.
Meaning. Someone died suddenly or was suddenly paralyzed.
Origin. According to the historian S. M. Solovyov, the expression is associated with the name of the leader of the Bulavin uprising on the Don in 1707, Ataman Kondraty Afanasyevich Bulavin (Kondrashka), who in a sudden raid destroyed the entire royal detachment led by the governor, Prince Dolgoruky.
Apple of discord
This ride is a real bone of contention, can’t you give in, let him go.
Meaning. What gives rise to conflict, serious contradictions.
Origin. Peleus and Thetis, the parents of the Trojan War hero Achilles, forgot to invite the goddess of discord Eris to their wedding. Eris was very offended and secretly threw a golden apple onto the table at which gods and mortals were feasting; on it was written: “To the most beautiful.” A dispute arose between three goddesses: Zeus's wife Hera, Athena the maiden, goddess of wisdom, and the beautiful goddess of love and beauty Aphrodite.
The young man Paris, the son of the Trojan king Priam, was chosen as a judge between them. Paris gave the apple to Aphrodite who bribed him; For this, Aphrodite made the wife of King Menelaus, the beautiful Helen, fall in love with the young man. Leaving her husband, Helen went to Troy, and in order to avenge such an insult, the Greeks began a long-term war with the Trojans. As you can see, the apple of Eris actually led to discord.
Pandora's Box
Well, now hold on, Pandora's box has opened.
Meaning. Everything that can serve as a source of disaster if you are careless.
Origin. When the great titan Prometheus stole the fire of the gods from Olympus and gave it to people, Zeus terribly punished the daredevil, but it was too late. Possessing the divine flame, people stopped obeying the celestials, learned various sciences, and came out of their pitiful state. A little more - and they would have won complete happiness.
Then Zeus decided to send punishment on them. The blacksmith god Hephaestus sculpted from earth and water beautiful woman Pandora. The rest of the gods gave her: some cunning, some courage, some extraordinary beauty. Then, handing her a mysterious box, Zeus sent her to earth, forbidding her to open the box. Curious Pandora, as soon as she came into the world, opened the lid. Immediately all human disasters flew out of there and scattered throughout the universe. Pandora, in fear, tried to slam the lid again, but in the box of all the misfortunes, only one deceptive hope remained.
This page presents phraseological units of various kinds, everything is described in detail and laid out on shelves so that everything is convenient. Otherwise they are called phraseological units. These are phrases that, in terms of the composition of their words, do not correspond true words, but at the same time they are unanimous in meaning. Proverbs and sayings don't count :-)
As you have already noticed, they are sorted into groups. The most popular of them relate to water, body parts (nose, tongue, etc.) and bread. And also about animals and food. So, let's go.
Phraseologisms with the word “water” and related ones
Storm in a teacup– strong excitement or irritability over trifles.
Written on the water with a pitchfork– purely theoretically; that is, it is unknown what will happen next.
Carry water in a sieve- waste time in vain, idle.
Take water into your mouth- remain silent, as if your mouth was really full of water.
Output to clean water
- to reveal the truth, expose, find out the true face.
Get away with it- go unpunished, without consequences.
Drive the wave– provoke aggression, make unnecessary noise.
Money is like water– they leak very quickly, and getting them back is not so easy.
Stay afloat– continue to develop despite difficulties and conduct business successfully.
Wait by the sea for weather- expect pleasant events that are unlikely to happen.
Life is in full swing– when life is full of bright events, does not stand still.
Like looking into the water– he predicted, as if he knew in advance. By analogy with fortune telling by water.
How he sank into the water- disappeared, disappeared without a trace.
Down in the mouth- about sadness, sadness.
Like water through your fingers- about what goes away quickly and unnoticed. Usually in pursuit.
Like two peas in a pod– very similar.
How to give something to drink– very simple; definitely, definitely.
Like water off a duck's back– it doesn’t matter. Similar to phraseology - Get away with it.
Out of the blue- about a sharply approaching event. Unexpectedly, suddenly, out of nowhere.
Sink into oblivion- disappear forever, fall into oblivion.
Swim in gold– about very rich people.
The ice has broken- about the beginning of a business.
Pouring water– show negativity, provoke.
Much water has passed under the bridge– a lot of time has passed.
Sea up to your knees– about a brave man who doesn’t care about anything.
Darker than a cloud- about excessive anger.
Muddy the waters- to confuse, confuse.
On top of the wave- be in favorable conditions.
Don't spill the water- about strong, inseparable friendship.
Pour from empty to empty
Go with the flow– act passively, submitting to the prevailing circumstances.
Pitfalls– about any hidden danger, trick, obstacle.
After the rain on Thursday- never, or not at all soon.
Last straw- about an event in which a person’s patience runs out.
Pass fire, water and copper pipes- go through difficult tests, difficult situations.
A dime a dozen- a lot, a lot.
Don't drink water from your face– to love a person not for his appearance, but for his inner qualities.
Get it from the bottom of the sea- solve any problem without looking at any difficulties.
Hide the ends in water- hide traces of the crime.
Quieter than water, below the grass- about quiet, modest behavior.
Pound water in a mortar- engage in useless work.
Wash your hands– to evade participation or responsibility in any matter.
Clean water- about something obvious, without any doubt.
Phraseologisms with the word “nose” and other parts of the body
Mutter under your breath– grumble, speak indistinctly.
hang your nose- to become despondent, to become upset.
Lead by the nose- to deceive, to tell a lie.
Keep your nose up!- a command not to be discouraged, not to be upset.
Turn up your nose- to put oneself above others, to put on airs, to imagine oneself to be in charge.
Hack on the nose- remember it completely.
Nodding off- doze off with your head hanging low.
Wrinkle your nose- reflect on a difficult task.
On the nose- about an event that should happen in the near future.
Can't see beyond your nose- limit yourself to yourself, not notice what is happening around you.
Nose to nose or Face to face– very close, on the contrary, very close.
Keep your nose to the wind– be aware of all events, make the right decision.
Stay with your nose or Leave with your nose- do without what you were counting on.
Right under your nose- very close.
With a gulkin nose- about a pigeon that has a small nose, that is, very little.
Poking your nose into none of your business- about excessive curiosity.
Poking your nose- that is, until you poke your nose, he won’t see it himself.
Wipe your nose– to prove one’s superiority, to defeat someone.
bury your nose- to become completely immersed in something.
Talk through your teeth- that is, speak indistinctly, barely opening your mouth.
Charm your teeth- divert attention from the essence of the conversation.
Know by heart- that is, to know deeply and firmly.
Bare your teeth or Show teeth- snap, get angry; mock.
Too tough- not possible.
Not even a kick- do nothing, know nothing.
Put your teeth on the shelf- to starve, to be bored, to lack something.
Grit your teeth- go into battle without despair. Restrain yourself without showing your weakness.
Keep your mouth shut- be silent, don’t say a word.
Long tongue- about a person who loves to talk a lot.
Bite your tongue- refrain from words.
Loosen your tongue- talk too much without refraining.
Tongue swallow- to remain silent, having no desire to speak.
Keep your ears open– be careful to avoid an emergency.
Keep your ears on top- be careful, careful, do not trust anyone.
For the eyes and ears- about giving too much time to do something.
You can't see your ears- about an item that will never be obtained.
Blush up to your ears- be very ashamed, embarrassed.
Hang your ears– listen with excessive enthusiasm, trust everything.
Eyes popped out of my head- about sincere surprise, amazement.
Eyes lit up- to passionately want something.
Shoot with eyes- look expressively, flirtatiously at someone.
Like an eyesore- to disturb someone, to bother someone.
Splurge- create a false, overly pleasant impression of yourself. Boast.
From the point of view– about someone’s opinion, judgment on a particular topic.
Look through your fingers– look attentively at the problem, do not be picky.
Ogle- to attract attention, to suck up.
You can't put it in your mouth– about food prepared tastelessly.
Lip is not a fool- about a person who knows how to choose something to his taste.
Pout lips- make a dissatisfied face, be offended.
Roll out your lip- want a lot with minimal opportunities.
With your mouth open– listen carefully; be surprised.
Out of my head- about forgetfulness, inattention.
Have a head on your shoulders- be smart, quick-witted.
Puzzle- think intensely, intensely, trying to understand something.
Fool your head- to deceive, fool, confuse.
From head to toe- completely, at full height.
Turn it upside down- give opposite meaning to distort something.
Headlong- very quickly.
Hit face in the dirt- to disgrace yourself, to disgrace yourself in front of someone.
Be at hand- about something accessible, close.
Keep yourself in control- maintain composure, be restrained.
As if taken off by hand– about quickly passing pain, illness.
Bite your elbows- regret what you did, with the impossibility of going back.
Working hard- perform work diligently, without interruptions.
Hand in hand– about a joint, agreed upon deal or friendship.
Just a stone's throw– about an object that is nearby, very close.
Grab with both hands- take on any task with pleasure.
Golden hands– about a talented person who skillfully copes with any job.
Get off on the wrong foot- wake up without a mood.
Wipe your feet (on someone)– to cause harm, to get on one’s nerves, to annoy.
Doing your feet- go, move.
Stepping on your toes- to catch up with someone or pursue someone, hanging on him.
Feet to hands- do something immediately.
The devil himself will break his leg- about disorder, chaos in business or anywhere.
Get knocked off your feet- to be very tired in some activity or path.
Phraseologisms with the word “bread”
There is bread for free- do not bring any benefit.
And then the bread- about having at least something rather than nothing at all.
On your own bread– live on your own salary, without the opportunity of anyone else.
Not by bread alone– about a person who lives not only materially, but also spiritually.
Beating bread– deprive the opportunity to earn money by taking away work.
Subsist from bread to kvass (to water)- live in poverty, starve.
Sit down on bread and water– eat the cheapest food, save on food.
Daily bread– about what is necessary for human life, his existence.
Bread and salt- a dear greeting to guests, an invitation to the table.
Bread and circuses!– a cry about presenting vital priorities.
Don't feed me bread– about a very busy or rich person who is not hungry.
Phraseologisms on the topic of cuisine and food
Free cheese- bait that lures into a trap.
Boil in your own juice- live your life. Or help yourself without the help of others.
Not worth a damn- about something that is insignificant and not worth any expense.
Donut hole- about something empty, without any content.
To slurp jelly seven miles away- to go somewhere without special need.
Brew the porridge- create a problem, they say, you started it yourself - solve it yourself.
And you can’t lure me with a roll- about someone who cannot be forced to change his mind.
Like chickens in cabbage soup- about getting into unexpected trouble. Kur is “rooster” in Old Russian.
Like clockwork– very simple, without difficulties.
Live like a lord– about a profitable, comfortable life.
You can't cook porridge- about joint action with someone with whom there will be no benefit.
Milk rivers, jelly banks– about a fabulous, fully prosperous life.
Not at ease- feel awkward. In an uncomfortable situation.
Slurping unsalted- not getting what they expected. To no avail.
Not for any reason- analogue of phraseological unit And you can’t lure me with a roll.
Neither fish nor fowl- about an ordinary person who does not have anything bright or expressive.
Cut off slice– about a person living independently, independent of others.
Professor of sour cabbage soup- about a person talking about things about which he himself does not really know.
Easier than steamed turnips– it couldn’t be simpler, or very simple.
Clearing up the mess- solve complex, neglected problems.
The fish rots from the head– if the government is bad, then the subordinates will become the same.
Hot on the side- about someone or something unnecessary, optional, secondary.
Seventh water on jelly– about distant relatives who are difficult to identify.
Eat the dog- about any business with a rich amount of experience.
Grated kalach– about a person with rich life experience who does not get lost in difficult situations.
Horseradish is not sweeter than radish- about an insignificant exchange for something that is not better.
Worse than bitter radish- about something completely unbearable, intolerable.
Nonsense on vegetable oil- about something that doesn’t deserve any attention. Absurdity.
After an hour, a teaspoon– about inactive, unproductive work.
Phraseologisms with animals
Chasing two birds with one stone- trying to do two things at the same time.
Making mountains out of molehills- greatly exaggerate.
Teasing the geese- to irritate someone, to cause anger.
No brainer (Goat knows)- about something very clear, obvious.
And the wolves are fed, and the sheep are safe- about a situation in which both here and there are good.
Look for tails– look for sources for cooperation in any enterprise.
Like a cat and a dog- living together with constant swearing.
Like a chicken paw- to do something carelessly, sloppily, crookedly.
Like chicken and egg- about any item that is difficult to part with.
Like a mouse on a grain- sulk, express dissatisfaction, resentment.
When the cancer on the mountain whistles- never, or not at all soon.
Cats scratch at my soul– about a sad, difficult state or mood.
Crocodile tears– crying for no reason, compassion for a non-existent sign.
Chickens laugh- stupid, ridiculous, absurd, funny.
Chickens don't peck- O large quantities some person's money.
The lion's share- a big advantage in favor of something. The biggest part.
Martyshkin's work- a useless process of work, wasted effort.
The bear stepped on my ear– about a person without an ear for music.
Bearish angle- provincial, remote, remote place. Far from civilization.
Disservice- help that brings more evil than good.
Cast pearls before swine- to conduct intelligent conversations in front of fools who have little understanding.
You can't get there on a crooked goat- about a person who is difficult to approach.
On a bird's license– not to care about something legal grounds, provisions.
Not for horse feed (oats)– about efforts that do not produce the expected results.
Don't sew the mare's tail– completely unnecessary, out of place.
I'll show you where crayfish spend the winter- prediction of revenge, undesirable position.
Let the red rooster go- commit arson, start a fire.
Bird's eye view– from a great height, giving an overview of a large space.
Put the pig down- to do a mischief, to do something unpleasant.
Watch the ram at the new gate- to look at something with a stupid expression.
Dog cold – extreme cold causing inconvenience.
Counting crows- yawn, be inattentive to something.
Dark horse- an incomprehensible, little-known person.
Pull the cat's tail– delay the matter, work very slowly.
Kill two birds with one stone- solve two problems at the same time.
Even if a wolf howls– about any situation without the possibility of changing it for the better.
The black cat ran- break off friendly relations, quarrel.
Phraseologisms with objects, other phraseological units
Lost hour- for a long time.
Beat your head- do simple, not so important things.
Abandon to fate– leave somewhere without helping or showing interest.
Put a spoke in wheel- to interfere, to deliberately disturb someone.
go around the mountain- to accomplish some great deed.
Keep in line- treat someone strictly, for the good of your will.
Keep your pocket wider– about too high and unrealistic hopes and expectations.
From rags to riches- suddenly and dramatically achieve amazing success.
Out of the ordinary– different from everything ordinary, special.
Reinvent the wheel– try to make something from an already proven, reliable means.
From time immemorial- a long time ago, a very long time ago.
A stone has fallen from my soul (from my heart)- a feeling of relief when getting rid of something oppressive.
Oil painting- everything came together well and beautifully.
Roll a barrel- behave aggressively towards someone.
Mom don't worry- about something extraordinary, going beyond the ordinary understanding of things.
Exchange an awl for soap It’s a pointless thing to exchange one useless thing for another.
Cover yourself with a copper basin– suddenly and abruptly disappear, deteriorate; die.
Found a scythe on a stone– faced with an irreconcilable contradiction of opinions and interests.
Doesn't light up– not so important, not urgent.
Not far off– nearby, not too distant in time or space.
I don't dare- not simple, not stupid.
Can't afford it– about the discrepancy between someone’s income and financial capabilities.
Put on the back burner- quit something for an indefinite period of time.
Go too far- to be overly zealous in something.
The song is sung- the end has come for someone or something.
On the shoulder- about the ability to cope with something.
Essentially– naturally, of course.
Add fuel to the fire– deliberately aggravate the conflict, provoke.
The train has left- time has passed to do something.
One, two - and I miscalculated- about something in small quantities that is easy to count.
Born in a shirt- about a very lucky man who miraculously escaped tragedy.
Make both ends meet- have difficulty coping with financial difficulties.
Move a mountain- a lot to do.
Sit on pins and needles- to be impatient, waiting, wanting to achieve something.
At least henna– about the indifference of a person who doesn’t care about someone else’s misfortune.
In the Russian language there are many set phrases and phrases, the meaning of which cannot be understood purely from a linguistic point of view. Russian phraseological units or catchphrases confuse foreigners, and a considerable part of modern youth. Meanwhile, they make speech brighter, more expressive, and incredibly expand the capabilities of the Russian language and the range of emotions of human communication. No less interesting is the history of their origin, both those that have become firmly established in our everyday life, and the most unusual and rare ones, thanks to which the Russian language, for all its complexity and richness, would be much poorer and more boring.
The origins of the phraseological unit lie in antiquity, when salt in Rus' was very expensive due to the difficulties of its delivery from the mining regions. In the absence of good roads and the considerable weight of the product, it was difficult to expect cheap supplies. When guests came to the house, the owner himself salted their food, paying more attention to the dear guests who sat at the table closer to him. It happened that food was even salted as a sign of special respect. Those who, due to their low social status, sat at the other end of the table, sometimes received little or no salt. This is where the expression “to leave somewhere unsalted” comes from, i.e. deprived, not receiving what was expected.
Play spillikins
The modern game “Tower” or “Jenga” had an ancient Russian analogue - a game in which the role of bricks was played by various small objects, which in the old days were called spillikins. The purpose of the fun was to alternately pull out spillikins from a common pile, one by one, until the entire structure collapsed. On turn of XIX-XX centuries the game was very popular and gradually began to personify a useless, empty activity, nonsense on which time is wasted instead of useful things. The expression still has this meaning today.
“He lies like a gray gelding”
The meaning of this phraseological unit is clear without explanation, but its origin has not been clearly defined. There are at least two versions of why this particular pet, and precisely the gray color, was awarded the title of harmless reputation as a liar. And it is not a fact that one of them is accurate, since both come down to a certain speech error in the memory of the Russian people. According to the first, voiced by linguist V. Dahl, the word “lies” originally sounded like “pret”. It is a well-known fact that geldings are distinguished by their special strength and endurance. But it is unlikely that the gray color somehow stands out among others with these qualities.
According to the second version, the catchphrase remained in memory of the Russian “Munchausen” - a great liar named Sivers-Mehring of the noble rank, who served in tsarist army about 150 years ago. All soldiers and officers knew about his tendency to invent fables, so the expression was often used when catching someone in a lie.
However, this version fails if we remember that the gray gelding (or mare) stable expression we are also mentioned for other reasons (bullshit, lazy or stupid, like a gray gelding, etc.). And researchers do not yet have an explanation for this interesting fact.
Roll a barrel (at someone)
In ancient times, fish was one of the main food products. Although they talked in Rus' about “cabbage soup and porridge,” meat cabbage soup was expensive, and you couldn’t do much work with empty cabbage soup. Therefore, they were often cooked on fish, and in another form it often appeared on the village table.
Fish often had to be transported from particularly rich fishing grounds - from the lower reaches of the Volga and other large bodies of water. They transported it in large barrels, which, when unloaded, rolled off the ladder and, if handled carelessly, could easily injure a person. Therefore, the first rule when unloading was not to roll the barrel when there is a person in its path. Interesting fact: this phraseological unit was actually born on social day society, and to this day is considered vulgar and unacceptable for use in cultural conversation, although its meaning does not carry vulgarity or vulgarity. “Roll a barrel” - attack a person, threaten him, accuse him of something with the implication that he actually did nothing wrong.
Breaking bad (let go)
In the old days, temple belfries (belltowers) usually contained many different bells, from small ringing bells to colossal colossus, the weight of which reached tens of tons. To strike such a bell, remarkable strength was needed, since its “tongue” weighed a lot. In church statutes they were called “serious”, i.e. in modern terms “heavy”.
They were beaten not only on major holidays, but also in case of emergencies, such as fires and other disasters. “Ring all the heavy” meant ringing all the heavy (loud) bells so that the sound would travel further and announce the importance of the event. In this case, the people had to give up everything, regardless of occupation, run to help or save themselves and act, no matter what and not taking into account anything subjective. The expression is still used today, retaining only part of the meaning - to perform actions that are not consistent with the usual rules. However, in this case we are no longer talking about help and salvation, but about revelry and debauchery.
Hot spot
Another phraseological phrase from ancient church vocabulary that has lost its meaning, and this time exactly the opposite. When we mention a cereal, we imagine a place where people indulge in drunkenness and debauchery, however, the original meaning of this expression was not figurative and referred to the place where cereals grow, i.e. bready, well-fed, and therefore cheerful. The request to rest in a “green and peaceful (calm) place” is contained in funeral prayers for the dead. The current meaning is due to the fact that in Rus', due to the lack of grapes, intoxicating drinks were made mainly from cereals. Therefore, the “hot” place in oral folklore turned into a “drunk” place.
"Silently"
The meaning of a phraseological unit is to do something unnoticed, secretly, to achieve what you want unnoticed by others, as a rule, something that they do not approve of and often comes to the detriment or detriment of others. For example, you can quietly achieve what you want from your superiors, regardless of corporate ethics. Or drag the most delicious food, while no one has yet sat down at the table. The modified word “sapa” comes from the Italian “zappa”, meaning something like our sapper shovel, i.e. small shovel for excavation work. It was convenient to carry out a tunnel or dig a secret passage.
Before getting into the Russian language, “tsappa” passed into French in the form of a modified borrowing “sap” (excavation work to create a hidden tunnel, undermining). By the way, everything came from him famous word"sapper". In our language, this word itself and the corresponding phrase “silent glander” acquired the same meaning. Make the approach to the enemy unnoticed, secret, approach on the sly.
Subsequently, the expression acquired wide semantic application and turned into a phraseological unit.
"Sit in a puddle"
Another option for phraseology is to sit in a galosh (overshoe). It means to disgrace yourself, to find yourself in an absurd position, to be defeated in an argument by putting forward easily refutable arguments. The origin of this unusual phraseological unit is associated with the ancient folk battles wall to wall, carried out as fun and games. The battles took place in the field, where there was often mud and puddles underfoot. If a person fell, then he not only lost, but also found himself in a very absurd position - lying in a puddle. And since in ancient times a puddle was called a little differently, kaluzha, from this name came the name of shoes for overcoming this obstacle - galosh (has equal spelling with the variant “galosh”, depending on the local dialect).
Therefore, another catchphrase has become entrenched in Russian folklore - “sit in a galosh.”
"The sand is falling"
The expression implies old age, a mocking indication of age, often inappropriate for behavior. According to one version, its roots go back to medieval Europe, where such a piece of clothing as a codpiece came into fashion, i.e. a bag that contained manhood. The detail was not just noticeable, it was decorated in every possible way and put on display. And in order to make the household look more respectable, men often put fake sandbags in the codpiece. Elderly womanizers were especially guilty of this in order to demonstrate that they were still “wow.” But due to long use or careless movement, the bags sometimes broke, and then a path of sand followed behind the owner of the luxurious codpiece, which caused laughter among the courtiers.
According to another version, the same bags and in the same place, but for a different purpose, had to be worn by Russian soldiers under Peter, who forced them to wear tight, as in Europe, and unusually uncomfortable pants that were terribly uncomfortable for them (to reduce pressure on the causal areas ). The bags quickly wore out, tore and spilled sand.
There is a third version, which explains why the phraseology is used with the same success in relation to women and why it became widespread so late. We are talking about stones and sand in the genitourinary system, which most often form with age and often come out spontaneously.
Put in a long box
The meaning of the expression is simple - to postpone something for a long or indefinite period, not to rush to resolve the issue. But it has an interesting origin. In the village of Kolomenskoye, during the reign of Alexei, who was the father of Peter the Great, a special box was installed for complaints to the sovereign, which anyone could put there. The people tried, wrote, waited, but they had to wait months, or even years, for consideration of issues. For this, the petitioners aptly nicknamed the box long or long. Subsequently, the expression was consolidated thanks to special boxes in “presences”, where complaints and petitions were put into different boxes by the officials themselves for sorting. Among them was one that was intended for unhurried tasks; it was called “long”.
"A disservice"
This is what they say about unsolicited help, which results in more negative consequences than benefits. The origin is connected with the fable “The Hermit and the Bear” by the famous fabulist Krylov. In it, the Bear, with good intentions, swatted a fly on the forehead of the Wanderer, with whom he had become friends. But he miscalculated the force and killed him. Winged expression There is no fable in the text; it was formed later on its basis and became firmly entrenched in Russian folklore.
“If we don’t wash, we just roll”
Phraseologism, the meaning of which comes down to excessive persistence, a person’s desire to achieve what he wants in any way and to find other ways to achieve it if previous attempts have failed. The origin of the expression refers to the old way ironing clothes by rolling using two wooden blocks. Linen was wrapped around one of them, while the other rolled the resulting bundle on a flat surface. When washing clothes, women knew that the results of a not very high-quality wash could be visually improved if the item was carefully ironed.
"7 Fridays a week"
Phraseologism is more relevant than ever nowadays. Friday was the day of execution of trade obligations. If money was not given immediately for goods on market day, then the payment deadline was the following Friday. People who missed payment deadlines, and especially those who reminded debtors too often about their debts, were told that every day was Friday for them. The expression is attached to those who change their decisions too often. In addition, this day in Rus' was considered a day off, a market day. Subsequently, they began to talk about idlers, who had a day off every day, like Friday.
"Japanese policeman!"
When pronouncing this phrase, many simply mask the obscene expression that is ready to escape from their lips. In fact we're talking about about a small scandal that took place during Tsarevich Nicholas’s trip to Japan. The youth laughed loudly and had fun, which did not please the prim guardian of order, who, without thinking twice and without wasting words, simply hit the future emperor on the head with a saber. Fortunately, it was sheathed, and the incident had no physical consequences, however, it received a serious resonance in Russia. Outrage was caused by the fact that instead of establishing proper order, a Japanese policeman rushes at unarmed young people just because they laugh loudly. The expression has taken root well as a euphemism - a shy replacement of an indecent word with a completely cultural expression.