In haste the meaning of phraseology. Meaning of the word "fast"

Journey to the country of phraseological units.

There were two bows and a rod in the workshop, which were used both together and separately. But one day the worker took them, turned on the apparatus and welded them into one necessary new part in the form of the letter F.

We see the same thing in the life of words. Words-details live and live, they are used separately or in the form of temporary combinations, but at some point, when the need arises, the words merge into indivisible combinations - phraseological units.

There are words: water, not, spill and phraseologism you will not spill with water; how to, fail, earth, through - how to fail through the earth. This is how most phraseological units are born from words.

Words lose their former meanings, becoming phraseological units.

Hands of Gold - Nothing here is made of gold.

Hanging by a thread - no one is hanging, and the hair is not visible.

Phraseologisms can express emotions, feelings, properties and qualities of a person's character and characterize phenomena and various life situations.

Phraseologisms are mostly unambiguous, for example, the phraseological phrase spruce head has the meaning "stupid, stupid person"

But there are polysemantic phraseological units that have not one, but two or more meanings. So the phraseologism "wag the tail" has two meanings: 1) evade something, 2) fawn, cunning.

Phraseology is one of the most striking means of language expressiveness. It is characterized by expressiveness, metaphor, emotionality.

Expressiveness or expressiveness, determined a high degree symptom manifestation. Where Makar did not drive calves means "very far to the most remote places"; phraseological unit even gouge out your eye - you can’t see anything at all, about complete darkness, gloom.

A very important feature of phraseology, leading to expressiveness, is metaphor and figurativeness. For example, the phraseological unit to reel in fishing rods (meaning to gradually leave, move away) was formed in the language on the basis of the metaphorical transfer of the phrase reel in the meaning of "collect fishing tackle, leaving fishing"

Emotionality is the ability of a phraseological unit not only to name the subject of a phenomenon, but also to express a certain feeling of the speaker or writer. To be in the seventh heaven means complete happiness, the fulfillment of all desires. To bite your elbows means to regret the irreparable, lost, missed.

Phraseologisms, like individual words, form synonymous antonymic series. Phraseological combinations that coincide in meaning can act as synonyms, for example,

The trail caught a cold - only they saw him - remember his name; rolling up his sleeves - in the sweat of his face - tirelessly; without a hitch, without a hitch - the mosquito will not undermine the nose. Phraseological units and individual words are also synonymous, for example, immediately, right now; quickly - in a hurry; submit - bow your head.

Examples of antonymic phraseological units: after the sleeves - rolling up the sleeves; brew porridge - disentangle porridge; lose heart - cheer up.

The Russian language is very rich in phraseological units. These include proverbs, sayings, well-aimed vivid expressions that have become winged.

The sources of phraseological units are different. Some of them arose on the basis of human observations of social and natural phenomena (“A lot of snow - a lot of bread”); others are connected with mythology and real historical events(“empty, as if Mamai had passed”); the third came out of songs, fairy tales, riddles, literary works (“there is no beast worse than a cat”).

Phraseological turns decorate speech, make it expressive, figurative. The richer the vocabulary, the more interesting, brighter a person expresses his thoughts.

From ancient mythology and biblical traditions

Babel

According to biblical tradition, the inhabitants of Babylon set out to get to heaven and for this purpose began to build a high tower. The angry god mixed their languages ​​so that they no longer understood each other, and chaos ensued.

The expression is used in the meaning: turmoil, stupidity, disorder, disorganization ...

global flood

Sometimes people who forget to turn off the tap and flood the bathroom or kitchen floor are said to have caused a global flood. Meanwhile, this expression came to us from the Bible.

In the legends of many peoples, there is mention of a grandiose catastrophe that once befell the whole world.

God, offended by the human race, planned to punish all people with death, except for the righteous pious elder Noah. And he considered that the surest way to do this was to fill the whole earth with water and destroy all life. But before that, he ordered "Noah to build an ark - something like a huge chest - and place a family there, as well as different animals, each creature in pairs. For forty days and nights it rained without ceasing and flooded the whole earth. Only the inhabitants of the floating ark were saved .

From Noah, new people were born after the flood, and from the surviving representatives of the animal world, new animals.

So, we sometimes use the expression "global flood" when it comes to flooding (not only apartments, but also floods), heavy and prolonged heavy rain, etc.

The expression "every creature in pairs" is sometimes applied to a motley and noisy society, to a motley company. By the way, the expression "Noah's Ark" is also sometimes used, characterizing a crowded room where all sorts of random people. And the expression "antediluvian times" is usually used when they want to say that it was a long time ago.

Massacre of the innocents

Once, the magi came to the Jewish king Herod and announced the birth of a baby in Bethlehem, who was destined to become the Jewish king. Angry Herod ordered to exterminate all the babies in Bethlehem. The expression "baby beating" (originally beating meant "murder", "murder") is used to characterize child abuse, as well as jokingly talking about too strict measures applied to someone.

Scapegoat

According to biblical tradition, the ancient Jews had a ritual: on a special day of absolution, the high priest laid his hands on the head of a living goat, thereby transferring the sins of his people to it. After that, the goat was driven into the wilderness.

Thus, the phraseologism “scapegoat” was established in our speech, which is used in the sense: a person who is always blamed for someone else’s fault, responsibility for someone else’s misdeeds, someone else’s duties, etc.

Laurel wreath. Laurels to reap

That's how many different expressions owe their existence to a modest tree, the leaves of which the housewives calmly put in a saucepan "for taste."

The Greeks had a myth: not wanting to become the wife of the god Apollo, the nymph Daphne, running away from him, turned into a laurel tree. Since then, the evergreen has become the tree of Apollo, patron of poetry and the arts. Laurel branches and laurel wreaths began to crown the winners, first at poetic, musical, and then at sports competitions. Then the same honors began to be given for military exploits.

"Reap the laurels" began to mean: enjoy the fruits of success.

panic fear

When the god of nature Pan, the patron saint of forests and their inhabitants, was born, even the mother was horrified by his ugly appearance: the child was born horned, with hooves, with a flattened nose and a goatee .. As soon as he was born, he immediately began to jump and laugh, the more frightened his mother. But after all, the child was a small god, and the gods on Olympus met him with joy: Pan turned out to be a good-natured, cheerful deity, he invented the flute and played it excellently.

Where did the expression "panic fear" come from?

When a shepherd or a hunter heard wild sounds in the wilds, a vague noise, someone's laughter and whistling, they were sure that it was Pan. The poor people were frightened, experienced panic fear, among them

panic ensued. By the way, if you want to know how Pan seemed to the ancients, look at the famous painting by the artist Vrubel: it is called “Pan”.

Cornucopia

The ancient Greek myth tells that the cruel god Kron did not want to have children, as he was afraid that they would take away his power. Therefore, his wife gave birth to Zeus in secret, instructing the nymphs to look after him. Zeus was fed with the milk of the divine goat Amalthea. Once she, clinging to a tree, broke off her horn. The nymph filled it with fruits and gave it to Zeus. Zeus gave the horn to the nymphs who raised him, promising that whatever they wished would come out of it.

So the expression "cornucopia" became a symbol of prosperity, wealth.

Tantalum flour

This expression comes from an ancient Greek legend. The gods drank wonderful drinks - ambrosia and nectar. These drinks helped to keep eternal youth, strength and health. Tantalus wanted to steal these drinks from the table of the gods and bring them to the earth to people. The gods severely punished Tantalus. He was thrown into Tartarus (hell) and there subjected to terrible torments. In the middle of a luxurious garden, standing up to his neck in water, he was dying of hunger and thirst. As soon as he opened his mouth to drink, the water disappeared; only stretched out his hand to the fruits - the branch moved away from him.

It is often said about a person who has endured hardships and torments: "He has endured the tantalum torments."

Apple of discord

According to ancient Greek myth, once the goddess of discord, Eris, was not invited to a feast. Holding a grudge, Eris decided to take revenge on the gods. She took a golden apple, on which was written "the most beautiful", and imperceptibly threw it between the goddesses Hera, Athena and Aphrodite. The goddesses argued over which of them should own it. Each considered herself the most beautiful. The son of the Trojan king Paris, who was invited to be a judge, gave the apple to Aphrodite, and in gratitude she helped him kidnap the wife of the Spartan king Helen. Because of this, the Trojan War broke out.

The expression "apple of discord" has turned into a phraseological unit denoting the cause of a quarrel, enmity.

Through the pages of Russian history

We judge the past periods of history by the cultural monuments that have survived to this day, including manuscripts and various inscriptions on monuments, clay shards that served instead of paper. The language reflected many phenomena of people's lives. We use words and expressions that have been generated by customs long gone. They are living witnesses of the past, their knowledge enriches our mind, makes it possible to better comprehend the language, to use it more consciously.

Beat the thumbs

To beat the buckets - to mess around. What are bucks? Surely this word must have its own meaning?

Yes, sure. When in Russia they slurped cabbage soup and ate porridge with wooden spoons, tens of thousands of handicraftsmen beat baklushi, that is, they pricked linden wood blocks as blanks for the spoon master. This work was considered trifling, it was usually performed by an apprentice. Therefore, she became a model not of deeds, but of idleness.

Of course, everything is known in comparison, and this work seemed easy, only in comparison with the hard labor of the peasants.

And not everyone will be able to beat their thumbs well now!

It is written with a pitchfork on the water

This expression means the following: everything is very doubtful, unclear. The original meaning of the word pitchfork is "circles", not a type of agricultural implement (think of "cabbage forks"). The word fell into disuse, but the expression, nevertheless, remained. It means something inaccurate, unclear, momentary, disappearing as quickly as circles on the water.

Time is up

Why do we say so? But listen.

Over 2.5 thousand years ago in Babylon, and later in Greece and Rome, a water clock appeared. They were a tall narrow vessel with a hole in the bottom. Time was measured by water flowing out of the vessel, that is, time flowed.

From this came expressions such as “how much water has flowed under the bridge since then” (how long ago it was), “current year”, etc.

Like water off a duck's back

"He's like water off a duck's back!" This expression is often found, but not everyone knows its origin.

This is not a simple saying, but part of an ancient incantation formula. It used to be that healers, pouring “slanderous water” over sick children, and caring parents, bathing their child in a bath, sentenced; , “Like water off a duck, from our Kolenka (or Katenka, etc.) - thinness (that is, a disease).” And they innocently believed that all sorts of misfortunes would run away from their son or daughter as quickly as water runs off the goose plumage.

It is from the goose? No, not necessarily: from the feathers of any waterfowl, since their plumage is covered with a special grease secreted by a gland on the back at the root of the tail. Water does not wet feathers, rolls over fat ...

But to say: “Like water from a chicken” is impossible. Have you seen a wet chicken? Pitiful sight. It is not for nothing that they say about people unadapted to life, frightened, confused: "Like a wet chicken."

And the expression "like water off a duck's back" means: he (she) does not care.

From board to board

This expression is related to the book. The bindings of old books were massive. They were made from a whole piece of wood and covered with leather. Books were of great value, after reading they were locked with fasteners.

The heat is raked by someone else's hands

This phraseological unit means: to use the results of someone else's work. And what a heat in question?

Heat is burning coals. And, by the way, raking them out of the oven was not at all an easy task for the hostess: it would be easier and easier for her to do it “by someone else's hands”.

Nick down

"To chop on the nose" means to remember firmly, once and for all.

It seems to many that this was said not without cruelty: it is not very pleasant if you are offered to make a notch on your own face. Useless fear. The word nose here does not mean the organ of smell at all, but just a commemorative plaque, a tag for records. In ancient times, illiterate people always carried such boards with them and made all kinds of notes on them with notches, cuts. These tags were called noses.

Know by heart

What meaning is put into these words - children know no worse than adults. To know by heart means, for example, to learn a poem perfectly, to solidify a role, and in general to understand something perfectly.

And there was a time when knowing by heart, checking by heart was understood almost literally. This saying arose from the custom of checking the authenticity of gold coins, rings and other precious metal products by tooth. You bite the coin with your teeth, and if there is no dent left on it, then it is genuine, not fake. Otherwise, you could get a fake one: inside it is hollow or filled with cheap metal.

The same custom brought to life another vivid figurative expression “to bite a person”, which means: to thoroughly know his merits, shortcomings, intentions.

All over Ivanovskaya

Throughout Ivanovskaya you can shout loudly, snore, wail, etc.

And this expression is connected with the Moscow Kremlin. The square in the Kremlin, where the bell tower of Ivan the Great stands, was called Ivanovskaya. On this square, special people-clerks announced decrees, orders and other documents relating to the inhabitants of Moscow and all the peoples of Russia. So that everyone could hear well, the clerk read very loudly, shouted all over Ivanovskaya.

Porridge to brew

Nowadays, porridge is just a type of food. And earlier this word had another meaning: a wedding feast, a wedding.

“To make a mess” meant to start a troublesome and complicated business (sometimes even very unpleasant), and “to clear up the mess” meant to unravel this troublesome and complicated business.

“He made the porridge himself, and sort it out himself”: he himself started something troublesome, and get out yourself.

So, at first the word porridge was used in the meaning of "a dinner party, a feast on the occasion of christening, a wedding," and then in the meaning of "mess, turmoil, turmoil, confusion."

By the way, the words kashevar and classmate appeared as derivatives of the phrases cook porridge and one porridge, where porridge acts in the meaning of “artel, family”, which is very common in Russian dialects of the 19th century.

Red thread

When any one thought or one mood permeates the speaker's speech or literary work, they say: "This thought runs through him like a red thread." Why red and not yellow or green?

This expression came into the speech of several peoples from English sailors. Since 1776, factories began to weave a red thread into all the ropes of the English navy in their entire length. This was done to prevent theft. Now, no matter how small a piece of the rope is cut off, you can always find out: it is naval

Red line

Books in Russia began to be printed a little more than four centuries ago, and before that they were copied by hand.

At first, the text was written entirely, not divided into words and sentences. The chronicler opened the beginning of the story with a large red, intricately painted, beautiful letter, which was written out with a slight indent from the left edge of the page. You sometimes see such letters in books even now. The red letter (and the word red used to mean "beautiful") gave life to the expression "write from the red line." The word red was used to designate the color later.

Chickens for laughter

Since time immemorial, the chicken has been the subject of playful ridicule among people. She does not fly, although she has wings, does not build a nest, is afraid of water, does not see in the dark, is shy, stupid. No wonder they say that cancer is not a fish, and a chicken is not a bird. Hence the expressions: “chickens laugh” (even stupid chickens laugh); "wet chicken" (about a person who looks miserable); “scribbled like a chicken with a paw” (about illegible handwriting); "chicken memory" (about a forgetful person); “cackled like a chicken” (about a talkative person); "roam like chickens" (about idle onlookers, stupidly wandering back and forth)

Lyka does not knit. Not a bastard. Woe bast

Old Russia could not do without bast - linden bark. Boxes, tueski and the main footwear of Russian peasants - bast shoes - were woven from the bast. Each peasant had to be able, if not to weave, then at least to repair them. To say about a person that he does not knit a bast meant that he was either out of his mind or drunk to the limit. Exactly at last sense and this expression is preserved.

But at the same time, bast shoes, bast shoes were a sure sign of poverty, of peasant origin. That is why “not a bastard” used to mean: he is not one of the simple ones, - and then it began to mean: he is not such a simpleton, he is on his own mind. The expressions “woe bast” or “woe, girded with a bast” were a symbol of miserable poverty.

It's written on his forehead

Sometimes an innocent combination of words that constantly comes across in our speech tells us, if we find out its origin, about such terrible things that it becomes somehow uncomfortable. When they say: “it’s written on his forehead,” they mean: everything is clear from the expression on his face. And this combination of words comes from the brutal custom of branding the face or forehead of criminals with red-hot iron, leaving indelible ugly marks. Thus, these unfortunate and in fact always had their bitter past written on their foreheads.

Wash the bones

Phraseological turnover "wash the bones" is a synonym for the verbs gossip, slander, gossip about someone.

And what's with the bones? If you're not afraid, then listen.

It turns out that this turnover is associated with the rite of the so-called secondary burial that existed among the Slavs in ancient times. A few years after the funeral of the deceased, in order to cleanse him of sins and remove the spell, his remains (that is, bones) were dug up and washed. This ceremony was accompanied by memories of the deceased, assessments of his character, deeds, deeds, etc.

Thus, the expression "wash the bones" originally had the most direct meaning and only over time was figuratively rethought.

How to drink to give

According to the custom of the ancient Slavs, no one had the right to refuse a person water. Since then, the expression “how to give a drink” has gone in the meaning: exactly, undoubtedly.

Break a leg

This “wish on the contrary” came to us from the fishermen. Beware of the forest spirits that protect the inhabitants of the forests from hunters, people invented a verbal formula that “neutralizes from the evil eye”. Unkind words spoken aloud were supposed to lull the vigilance of the spirits and accompany success. And the meaning of the disguised wish was as follows: "to bring you more fluff and feathers", in other words: "good luck to you when hunting birds and beasts."

Since we are talking about fluff, we certainly want to tell you quite interesting story this short word. Compare the word fluff with such onomatopoeia as "pf-f" or "puff-puff" - they also represent a breath.

They began to call the smallest feathers or hairs fluff, probably alluding to their ability to move from the lightest stream of air.

Cut into walnut

Meaning: scold, criticize - arose from this turnover on the basis of an older one - to do (something) very thoroughly and well.

In its original meaning, phraseology was born in the professional speech of carpenters and cabinetmakers. The manufacture of walnut furniture from other types of wood required a lot of work and good knowledge of the matter.

From the speech of carpenters and cabinetmakers, the expression "butcher under the nut" and penetrated into Russian literary language. From there came the turns "clumsy work" (originally about the work of carpenters) and "without a hitch" (literally: without any flaws).

Where do crayfish hibernate

It turns out that the expression is closely connected with the history of our people.

Many landowners liked to eat fresh crayfish, and in winter it is very difficult to catch them: crayfish hide under snags, dig holes in the banks of a lake or river, and winter there. Guilty peasants were sent to catch crayfish in winter, who were supposed to get crayfish from ice water. A lot of time passed before the peasant caught the crayfish. He will freeze in shabby clothes, his hands will get cold. And often after that the person was seriously ill. From here it went: if they want to punish someone seriously, they say: "I'll show you where the crayfish hibernate."

Seven Fridays in a week

This is a figurative expression of human impermanence. So they say about someone who often changes his mind, constantly backtracks from his word, does not keep his promises, that is, about a person who cannot be relied upon and who cannot be trusted.

Why was Friday chosen out of the seven days of the week?

Most likely, in our opinion, the following explanation.

The fact is that once Friday was (and not only among the Slavs) a market day, and then a day for the fulfillment of various trade obligations. On Friday, receiving money, they gave their word of honor to bring the ordered goods next week. On Friday, receiving the goods, they promised to give the money due for it the next Friday. It was said (hyperbolically) about those who break these promises that they have seven Fridays in the week.

Perhaps this designation of human inconstancy in decisions was also fixed in the expression as a result of the convergence of the words Friday and backing away (retreat from your word, back down).

About salt. Salt. Leave unsalted slurping

In Russia in the old days, salt was an expensive product. It had to be transported from afar, and the roads were bad, the salt tax was high.

Now, when we cook food, we salt it. But that's not how they did it in the old days. Then they cooked, baked without salt, and salted food already at the table. Often the owner salted the food with his hand. Sometimes he tried so hard to show his respect to some guest that he overdid it. And the one sitting at the far end of the table sometimes did not get any salt at all. This means that one was oversalted, and the other left without salty slurping.

“To oversalt”, in addition to its direct meaning, means to overdo it, “go over the limit in something”.

“To leave without salty slurping” - to remain dissatisfied, to be disappointed, not to get what you counted on.