Who is a Dunduk?

At the academy of sciences
Sits Prince Dunduk.

So Alexander Pushkin reacted to the appointment of Mikhail Dondukov-Korsakov as vice-president of the Academy of Sciences. In those days, Dunduk was called a clumsy, stupid person in some places in Russia. But after this epigrammatic phrase, in which Prince Dondukov turned into a “dunduk,” this latter began to mean high-ranking ignoramuses. So easily and naturally, having seen the typical in the individual, the genius of Russian literature turned his own name into a figurative common name.

Galimatia. Background

In the Dahl dictionary, the word nonsense is explained as follows: "stupidity, nonsense, nonsense, incoherence, nonsense." But how did this intricate word appear in Russian? There are several versions, but we will announce the most interesting.

The doctor Gally Mathieu lived in Paris, a resourceful and witty man. He diluted his medical advice with a joke, a piquant joke, which markedly raised the mood of patients. The “laugh treatment” turned out to be both useful and enjoyable. Having become a fashionable doctor and not having the opportunity to visit everyone who was waiting for his help, Mathieu began to send out leaflets to his patients, where his name was put on top, then followed by a prescription, and even lower - puns and pangs, which by the name of Dr. Gally Mathieu began to be called nonsense.

Black and white

Until the middle of the XIV century, books in Russia were written on parchment, which was made from the skin of young lambs, calves and kids. The skin during the treatment acquired a white color. From the 12th century, a mixture of ferrous sulfate and ink nut was used as ink. A solution of such ink dried on the surface with a clearly visible layer. The time-consuming process of production and the high spiritual significance of books at that time created a high exclusive authority for everything that is written in black and white.

This is a weird “mockery”

The mute from the Latin "surdus" is "deaf", a small device that allows musicians to muffle, weaken the sound of an instrument. The expression “speak to the mute” means to speak quietly, as if in stealth, so that no one hears.

By the way, the well-known word "absurdity" is actually "ab surdus" ("from deafness"). Obviously, this is a synonym for such a thing as misunderstanding, when someone disobeyed someone, and then betrayed some kind of stupidity.

Dance "to that steppe"

In the operetta “The Wedding in the Robin”, one of the heroes jokingly distorted the name of the dance “tustep”, calling it “To that steppe”. This expression went to the people, but as it often happens has changed somewhat. “To the wrong steppe” we are now talking about the “trip in the wrong direction” and the “out of place answer”.

The useless work of medieval monks

The expression "crush water in a mortar", which means engaging in a worthless business, has a very ancient origin - it was also used by ancient authors, for example, Lucian. But in medieval monasteries, it had a literal character: guilty monks were forced to crush water as a punishment.

a fool

The character of the European medieval theater, the buffoon wore a striped suit, a hat with donkey ears, and in his hand held a rattle - a wand with a bull bubble tied to it, filled with peas. (By the way, the phrase “buffooned buffoon” recorded in Dahl’s dictionary came from the two-tone suit mentioned.)

The jester's public appearances always began with the sound of this rattle, and during the performance he even pounded other characters and spectators. Returning to the pea: the Russian buffoons decorated themselves with pea straw, and the straw clown of the pea was driven to Shrovetide in the streets.

Screaming all over Ivanovo

In the old days, the Kremlin square, on which the bell tower of Ivan the Great stands, was called Ivanovskaya. On this square, the clerks announced decrees, orders and other documents relating to residents of Moscow and all peoples of Russia. So that everyone could hear it well, the clerk read very loudly, shouting at all Ivanovskaya.

Good riddance

In one of Ivan Aksakov’s poems you can read about the road, which “is straight, like an arrow, with a wide smooth surface that laid the tablecloth”. So in Russia they escorted to a long journey, and did not invest any bad sense in them. This initial meaning of phraseology is present in the Explanatory Dictionary of Ozhegov. But it also says that in modern language the expression has the opposite meaning: “Expression of indifference to someone’s departure, departure, as well as the desire to get out, anywhere.” A great example of how ironically reinterpreted in the language of stable etiquette forms!

Hot spot

The expression "vicious place" is found in the Orthodox prayer of the dead ("... in the place of evil, in the place of rest ..."). So in the texts in the Church Slavonic language called paradise.

Ironically reinterpreted the meaning of this expression of the heterodox democratic intelligentsia of the time of Alexander Pushkin. The language game consisted in the fact that our climate does not allow us to grow grapes, so in Russia hop drinks were made mainly from cereals (beer, vodka). In other words, vicious means a drunk place.

Bite a person

The expression to bite a person came to us from those times when precious metal coins were used. They were checked for authenticity by a tooth: if there is no dent, the coin is real.

Pull gimp

What is a gimp and why should it be pulled? This is a copper, silver or gold thread used in gold embroidery for embroidery patterns on clothes and carpets. Such a thin thread was made by pulling - repeated rolling and pulling through ever smaller holes. Pulling the gimp was a very painstaking task, requiring a lot of time and patience. In our language, the expression “pull the gimp” is fixed in its figurative meaning - to do something long, tedious, the result of which is not immediately visible.

To stun

“It overwhelmed me,” we say today about something that greatly surprised, literally hit us. The etymology of this expression should be sought in antiquity, in times when warriors fought in heavy armor. If the warrior was hit hard on the helmet (helmet), he lost consciousness, fell and could not fight, and sometimes received serious injuries. Here they are "stunned" so "stunned"!

Dance from the stove

To dance from the stove means to act according to the once and for all approved plan, without using any of your knowledge and ingenuity. This expression became known thanks to the Russian writer of the XIX century Vasily Sleptsov and his book “Good Man”. This is the story of Sergei Terebenev, who returned to Russia after a long absence. The return aroused childhood memories in him, the most striking of which was dance lessons.

Here, he stands by the stove, his legs in third position. Parents, yard servants are nearby and watch his progress. The teacher gives the command: "One, two, three." Serezha begins to do the first “pa”, but suddenly he stumbles with a beat, his legs are braided.

Oh, what are you, brother! - Father says reproachfully. “Well, go about five to the stove, start over.”

Googol

Everyone knows the surname of Nikolai Gogol, but they did not think much about what the word "gogol" means. Gogol is actually a specific breed of wild duck. And, as is often the case with birds of the family of ducks, the nogs are important, a tumbler, with protruding breasts and "proudly" thrown back. This "gallant gait" and gave the name to a gait full of dignity.

Chopped chunk

The whole proverb goes like this: "Cut the chunk back you can’t stick." A daughter issued to foreign lands; a son separated and healed by his home; a recruit that has a shaved forehead - all these are cut off slices, it’s no wonder to see each other, but you won’t heal with one family.

There is one more important point: in the old days bread, which personified a prosperous life, was by no means cut, but only broken by hands (hence the word “slice” arose). So the phrase "cut chunk" is a real historical oxymoron.

And the old woman is a slammer

Original Russian folk expression. In some areas of Russia, they call an “annoying mistake” an unfortunate mistake, a mistake, and this saying confirms that even the most experienced and skillful person may have oversights.

Ivan does not remember kinship

The fugitives from the royal penal servitude, serfs who fled from the landowner, soldiers who could not bear the burden of recruits, sectarians and other "passportless vagabonds", falling into the hands of the police, carefully concealed their name and origin. They answered all questions that they called them "Ivan", and they do not remember their "kinship" (that is, their origin).

Sealed book

The story begins with the Bible. In the New Testament, in the Revelation of St. John the Evangelist it is said: “And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written inside and on the back, sealed with seven seals. And I saw a strong angel proclaiming in a loud voice: who is worthy to open this book and remove its seals? And no one could, neither in heaven, nor on earth, nor under the earth, open this book, nor look into it. ”

Like a zyuza drunk

We find this expression in Alexander Pushkin’s novel in the poems “Eugene Onegin” when it comes to Lensky’s neighbor, Zaretsky:

Falling off the Kalmyk horse
Like a zyuza drunk, and the French
Captured ...

The fact is that in the Pskov region, where Pushkin has been in exile for a long time, “zyuzey” is called a pig. In general, "as a zyuzya drunk" is an analogue of the vernacular expression "drunk as a pig."

Share the skin of an unkilled bear

It is noteworthy that as early as the 30s of the XX century in Russia it was customary to say: "Sell the skin of an unkilled bear." This version of the expression seems closer to the original source, and more logical, because there is no benefit from the "divided" skin, it is appreciated only when it remains intact. The original source is the fable "The Bear and Two Companions" of the French poet and fabulist Jean Lafontaine (1621-1695).

They carry water on the offended

There are several versions of the origin of this saying, but the most plausible seems to be the one related to the history of St. Petersburg water carriers. The price of imported water in the 19th century was about 7 kopecks per year of silver, and of course there were always greedy merchants who overstated the price in order to cash in. For this illegal act such horsemen were taken away from such unfortunate entrepreneurs and forced to carry barrels in a cart on themselves.

Dusty past

In the 16th century, during fisticuffs, dishonest fighters took sandbags with them, and at the decisive moment of the fight, they threw him into the eyes of rivals. In 1726, this technique was banned by special decree. Currently, the pretext “splurge” is used to mean “create a false impression of one’s capabilities”.

Shabby look

This expression appeared under Peter I and was associated with the name of the merchant Zatrapeznov, whose Yaroslavl linen manufactory produced both silk and wool, in no way inferior in quality to the products of foreign factories. In addition, a very, very cheap hemp striped fabric was made at the manufactory - motley, "shabby" (rough to the touch), which went on mattresses, harem pants, sundresses, women's head scarves, work robes and shirts.

And if for rich people such a dressing gown was home clothes, then for the poor things from shabbiness were considered clothes “on the way out”. The shabby appearance spoke of the low social status of a person.

Pull the wool over someone's eyes

The expression appeared in the 16th century. Currently, it is used in the meaning of "create a false impression of their capabilities." However, the initial meaning is different: during fisticuffs, dishonest fighters took sandbags with them, which they threw into the eyes of rivals. In 1726, this technique was banned by special decree. So, dusting your eyes is forbidden!

With Pantaliku get lost

We are talking about Mount Pantelik, located in Greece. Marble was mined at Pantelic. As a result, many caves and labyrinths formed in which it was easy to get lost.

Written on the forehead

If they say about a person that he has written on his forehead, then it is usually understood that nothing good can be written there. This expression appeared under Elizaveta Petrovna, who in 1746 ordered that criminals be branded so that they would "be different from other kind and suspicious people." From here the origin of the expression stigmatize and the scorched criminal

Ooh

It came from the "Volokh" (shepherd). So if they called it “the shepherd of the king of heaven”, it’s even a compliment. So called those who are simple and unpretentious. It is a pity, but over time, these features began to be negative.

Proverbs and sayings are common and viable genres of oral folk art. They have the most

close, direct connection with the language, being figurative speech expressions used in oral and written speech.

The earliest information about the creation and use of certain proverbs and sayings is found in the annals.

Here are some examples from The Tale of Bygone Years 1.

At the beginning of the story, telling about oppression by the images of dulebs and the death of the invaders, the chronicler wrote: "And there is a saying in Russia to this day:" They died like cliffs " <"Погибоша аки обрт">, - they are neither a tribe nor offspring. "(P. 31).

In the year 6370 (862): "Our earth is great and plentiful, and the order in itnot".(S. 37).

In the year 6453 (945): "The Drevlyans, having heard what is going on,<Игорь> Again, they held advice with their prince Mal: "If a wolf dwells on a sheep,he will bear the whole herd until they kill him. "(S. 69).

In the year 6479 (971): “We have nowhere to go now, whether we want or don’t want to, we must fight. lie here with the bonesfor the dead do not accept shame.If we run, shame will be on us. "(P. 85).

In the year 6488 (980). Prince Vladimir entered Kiev and besieged Yaropolk in Rodn. "And there was a cruel famine, so the saying goes to our days: "Trouble as in Rodn". "(S.93). (In the Dahl collection: Trouble thatin Rodn).

In the year 6492 (984). "Vladimir went on radimichy. He had the voivode Wolf Tail." Wolf Tail defeated the Radimichi on the Pishchan River. "Therefore, it is said in the annals, and the Russians tease with radimichi, saying: "The wolf-tail food is running around."(S. 99). (A version of this proverb is given in the Dahl collection: Radimichi - wolf tail run, -with an explanation: "Voivode Wolf Tail beat Radimichi").

In the year 6494 (986). Prince Vladimir, after hearing the Bulgarians of the Mohammedan faith, said: "Russia is a joy to drink, we cannot be without it."(S. 99). And he did not agree to convert to Islam.

Undoubtedly, that part of the folk sayings that reflected pagan beliefs and mythological representations belongs to the ancients: Mother-cheese land - you cannot speak(faith in the mysterious forces of the "living" earth); A prophetic dream will not deceive;

Cuckoo cuckoo: sorrow broadcasts; Screaming like a goblin; Turnoverit rushes across the road; It’s like the Danube took it.

Some proverbs and sayings capture the rules of serfdom: The body is sovereign, the soul of God, the back of the lord; The husband is strong in wife, and the wife is strong in husband; By the husband of the slave, byslave serf(about free marriages with serfs). The man is wrongpoppy - knows when Yuriev lives.

On Yuryev’s day (autumn, November 26, according to the article), peasants were allowed to move from one landowner to another. In 1581, Tsar Ivan IV temporarily prohibited the passage, and Boris Godunov completely prohibited it - the peasants were enslaved. All this is reflected in the proverb: Here to you, grandmother, and St. George's Day!

A number of sayings arose among the people, in which the events of the liberation struggle with external invaders were captured: Empty as if Mamai had passed; Cossacks came from don yesdrove Poles to the house(the liberation of Moscow from the Poles in 1612); He died (disappeared), like a Swede near Poltava(1709). Especially many proverbs arose about the Patriotic War of 1812: Goose fliesto holy Russia(about Napoleon); Kutuzov came to beat the French;The hungry Frenchman and the crow are glad; On the Frenchman and pitchfork - a gun;Gone (disappeared), like a Frenchman in Moscow.

The bulk of the proverbs and sayings found artistic expression on all aspects of work and relationships between people: love and friendship, enmity and hatred, attitude to science, knowledge, nature; they comprehensively characterize the moral and moral qualities of man. The proverbs and sayings reflected the love of the Russian people for their homeland and their readiness to defend it from the invaders: Own land and a handfulsweetheart; A man without a homeland is like a nightingale without a song; From the native land- die don't go(see in the anthology: "Russia-Homeland. Alien").

The proverbs and sayings capture the courage, courage and heroism of the Russian people: Russian with neither a sword nor Kalachjokes; Cheek brings success; Happiness helps the brave; Oxfear not to go to the forest.

In the popular sayings, labor, the industriousness of man is glorified, and laziness is scourged: To live without work- smoke only the sky;Without labor there is no fruit; Labor feeds, and laziness spoils.)

At the same time, in the proverbial repertoire there are sayings that arose as a response to forced labor: Would beneck, and there is a collar; It’s not a wolf - it won’t run away into the forest; Horses die from work; From the works of the righteous do not acquire chambersvariables.

Proverbs and sayings arose that reflected social and material inequality (One with a bipod,and seven with a spoon; The rich - as you want, and the poor - assmeared; The rich poor do not understand)bribery of judges and officials (Every clerk loves kalach hot; Earth lovesdung, horse oats, and governor(option: judge) - bringing),clergy greed (I’m assuming that sheaf, that stack is all one(all is not enough); The priest will buy money and deceive God).

In proverbs and sayings condemned flattery, arrogance, bigotry, bigotry. (See in the Chrestomathy: "Savagery. Hypocrisy.") They express hope for the triumph of truth, justice: Everything is gone, one truth will remain; Truth itselfcleanse himself; The truth will take its toll.

Even in conditions of material and social inequality, the working people did not leave a high sense of honor: Goal, yes notthief; Not a penny, but fame is good; Poor, but honest.

Proverbs and sayings arose among various classes and social groups, among people of various professions and occupations.

The most numerous is a group of proverbs and sayings that arose among the peasant community. Most of them are directly related to agricultural labor: Springfeeds the whole year; Good seed is good and seedling; For the time beingtime does not sow seed; Arable land is plowed - they don’t wave their handsetc.

Sayings were created and used among the peasants, which reflected the belief that many natural phenomena depend on God, that everything is done according to a predestination from above: God is not. give birth - the earth will not give.(See also in the Reader: “God. Faith.”) Along with them there were proverbs and sayings in which it was expressed confidence that only hard work can achieve success: God is God, do not be bad yourself; Carrydung don't be lazy and don’t pray to Godetc.

A significant number of proverbs and sayings arose among artisans: No ax- not a carpenter, without a needle - notlorta; The craft of drinking and eating does not ask, but feeds itself; With craftscrap and crippled bread will be obtained; Every master takes training, but not everybody completes- etc.

A certain part of the proverbs and sayings arose among the barge haulers: Need will teach Kalachi to eat(i.e. drive to work in low

calls of the Volga, where they eat wheat bread); Captivity goes down, bondage up; Pull the strap until you dig a hole!Among gold prospectors: My gold, but we howl with your voice.Among the merchants: On thehandy to trade handy; Do not lie, and do not sell;Without income, the lady does not live.Proverbs and sayings were created among all population groups involved in certain activities, leading their own way of life. Some of them went into the national repertoire.

In proverbs and sayings there are geographical names. They may be local in nature. To the proverb Thoughfor a beggar, yes in KonishchevoV. I. Dahl made the following explanation: "The village is two miles from Ryazan, that is, to give the girl in the neighborhood." This proverb was clear only to residents of the Ryazan lips. And here is the Kostroma proverb: Kineshma yes Reshma cuts yesmuddies, and Sologda pays losses(Sologda - a village in the middle of these cities). At the same time, geographical names are found in proverbs of wide significance and distribution. For example: Language will bring to Kiev; Peter is getting married, Moscow is getting married; Glorysturgeons to Astrakhan, Siberia - sables; Beat the brow on Tula,look for in Moscow!Allegorical sayings were created in the spirit of such proverbs - usually of an ironic nature: Ofthe village of Pomelova, from the village of Venikova; Everyman Golodalkina inlost, the village of Obnishchukhina.

Proverbs and sayings arise not only as a result of direct observations of life - they pour into colloquial speech from folk poetry and literary works. So sayings A hut on chicken legs; Beatenunbeaten lucky; Where a horse with a hoof, there is cancer with a claw; At the tat, the hat is on, and the tat is grabbing for itand others. - went into colloquial speech from fairy tales, fables, jokes, etc. 1. In addition, foreign proverbs and sayings are included in the oral repertoire of the Russian people. Some of them were borrowed as a result of the contacts of peoples, others from written sources. (See in the Reader of Studies: V. P. Anikin, “Folklore Typology.”)

New proverbs and sayings also arise as a result of changes in old, pre-existing, which are filled with new content.

For example, a proverb The chicken that wore diedtatars golden eggsturned into another: That chicken died

carriedbars golden eggs.In the first case, it was about external invaders, and in the second, about internal oppressors. One more example. Famous old proverb Alone in the field is not a warriorduring the Great Patriotic War served as a model for the proverb, which spoke of the courage of Soviet soldiers: And one warrior in the field, if he is a Soviet warrior.Then the proverb C the world by string - a beggar shirthas undergone a satirical alteration ridiculing the enemy: C the worldthread - Hitler's rope.

Many old proverbs and sayings are perceived and used as new, although not a single word has changed in them. A certain persistence of the poetic form of proverbs, which is filled with time with a different content, is their feature.

For example: The artel ataman is strong.This proverb is used in the sense: the team is strong leader. During the years of Soviet rule, it was applied to collective farms. The proverb refers to the workers' artel (hacks, lumberjacks, etc.). The old meaning of the word "artel" was rethought, as a result of which the proverb acquired a new meaning.

Similar processes are called rethinking. There are a lot of rethought proverbs and sayings.

An important source of replenishment of the proverbial repertoire of the people is the work of fiction. Many sayings of writers began to be used in colloquial speech along with proverbs and sayings.

So, for example, from the fables of I. A. Krylov, aphorisms entered oral speech: And Vaska listens and eats; And nothing has changed; And the casket just opened; Demyanov's ear; A helpful fool is more dangerous than an enemy; Pig under the oakand etc.

From the comedy by A. S. Griboedov "Woe from Wit": Happy hours are not observed; And the smoke of the fatherland is sweet and pleasant to us; The distance is huge; From the ship to the ball; Signed, so off the shoulders; How not to please a dear little man; To serve would be glad, to be fed sick; And who are the judges? -and etc.

From the works of A. S. Pushkin: Open a window to Europe; Atrebuke from above, given to us; Another last tale; Love is allthe rastas are submissive; We all look at Napoleons; Have a broken trough; Without further ado -and etc.

Thus, proverbs and sayings, which arose as a genre of folk poetry in ancient times, live an active life for many centuries: some - without changes, others - gradually changing and reinterpreting; obsolete are forgotten, their place is occupied by the newly created.

At the moment, it is very difficult to say from what exact times in ancient Russia the very first proverbs appeared, which are short and accurate sayings compiled on any subject. In the same way, it is not known, and the specific time when sayings first arose in Russia, in the role of which are well-meaning speeches, capable of expressing quite expressively, as well as characterizing and describing any occurring phenomenon very accurately.

Only one fact remains undeniable: sayings, and all proverbs, could arise in ancient times, and since then they began to be folk companions throughout history. This type of genre has become even after a long time, namely, centuries, the most necessary and lasting in our everyday life. A proverb is not a simple saying. First of all, its essence expresses the unified opinion of the people, which has been preserved over the centuries, and remained completely unchanged. It was in the proverbs when popular assessments of life phenomena were long ago concluded, accompanied by observation by the people.

But, here it is also necessary to pay attention to the fact that not every spoken or expressed saying could become a proverb in the future. A saying could become a proverb, which was fully consistent and consistent with a specific lifestyle, including the thoughts of a large number of people. It is these sayings that continued to exist for a long time, over the centuries. It is worth noting that behind each folk proverb there can be a certain authority of the centuries-old generations that created them. For this reason, no proverb so far has anyone dared to challenge or prove the opposite. It turns out that all that is said in the proverb is a solid and undeniable truth.

Those people who once created proverbs were completely illiterate, and they simply did not have any other way to preserve their specific observations or life experiences. If you try to take all the existing and well-known folk proverbs by their totality, you can see that they undoubtedly fully reflect the mentality of our people. The proverb continues to this day to preserve certain moral standards, and contradictions that were immortalized in the oral form and verbal content many centuries ago. We can say with confidence that it is a proverb, as a traditional folk genre, that represents the finest manifestation of creativity that has ever been present in the whole world.

A lot of proverbs were created at the time when peasants and secular feudal lords lived in Russia, from the great princes to the influence of monasteries. Such proverbs reflected the connection between peasant labor and nature, with all its vagaries, with the strength of the patriarchal way of life in every peasant family. When serfdom was introduced, people could not express their thoughts directly. Therefore, a large number of proverbs appeared that contained specific information about serf unjust orders. Proverbs always conveyed the sincere connection that existed between the peasant and his native land. And this feeling of kinship was exacerbated when the invasion of the Tatar-Mongol invaders took place on Russian lands. Thus, in a kind of folk art, the battle for the native land, recognition and popular disappointment were fully reflected.

The proverbs not only found a large world in which certain important events or social relations constantly took place. It reflected family relationships, home life, and much more. Today, many literary expressions that have been directly taken from fiction continue to become proverbs and proverbs, only of the present day.

If we talk about how exactly proverbs and sayings affect the development of children, then it is worth remembering each of us their own life experiences. We all heard proverbs from childhood, we got used to them. But none of us memorized them specifically. Due to its easy word form and special rhythm in pronunciation, this kind of genre was automatically put off in our head and remembered. If you tell proverbs and sayings to your children, this will contribute to the development of logic and abstract thinking. Your children will be able to broaden their horizons, look at many things in a different way, and form literary and artistic skills of their own speech.

Who carried the water in Russia and why do the French feel at ease?

Proverbs and sayings are an integral part of our language. In communicating with each other, people often use similar verbal expressions, but they do not always understand their meaning, and, moreover, do not know the history of their origin. Let's deal with some of them.

For the first time, they began to speak like that in the 16th century, during the reign of Ivan IV. Metropolitan of Moscow Philip, disagreeing with the bloody reforms of the sovereign, wrote and distributed revelatory letters against the tsar. Subsequently, Ivan the Terrible ordered to catch him and close him in the monastery, where the metropolitan was soon killed. As a result, they began to call a worthless document a fake letter, a fake.

Here the word “nose” should be used in another meaning - burden, bear. The expression refers to a person giving an offering or a bribe. And, if the so-called gift was not accepted, then it was already impossible to agree. Therefore, the man left with a burden, an unaccepted bribe, and did not agree.

3. They carry water on the offended.

The phrase began to be used since the time of Peter I. At that time, the profession of a water carrier was a popular occupation - the person who supplied the city with water. He was a lackey of a special wagon in the form of a barrel. To make more money, particularly entrepreneurial water carriers began to raise the price of their services, although by law this could not be done. To punish the miser, Peter I gave a special instruction - instead of horses, to harness greedy water carriers into the cart. Naturally, they were greatly offended, but forced to carry out the punishment. Hence the expression went.

The history of the turnaround is connected with a certain misunderstanding - the incorrect translation of the word “assiete” from the French language, in which there is the expression “etre dans son assiette”, meaning “to be in an unenviable position”. However, "assiete" has the homonym "plate", and apparently, some "wise guy" made the wrong translation. Which served as the creation of the winged expression.

Let us return again to Peter I, during whose time the merchant Zatrapeznikov lived, who was known for producing poor quality fabric in his factory. Having a shabby appearance means dressing tasteless and sloppy. As you can see, there is nothing to do with the meal in this expression.

The phrase began to be used in the XVIII century. To distinguish the criminal from other people, the Russian empress Elizaveta Petrovna issued a decree - to stamp on the forehead of the offender. It should be noted that this was done in a very barbaric way: an ugly sign was burned on the face with red-hot iron, which remained for life.

Now this expression refers to a person who has a huge experience in something. Previously, the saying had a different meaning. This phrase was used differently: "He ate the dog, and choked on his tail," - so they said about who, having done the hard work, was mistaken because of a trifle.

Even the ancient Slavs believed that if a person asks for water, then in no case should he be refused. It is a sin. Since that time, the expression means "exactly", "undoubtedly."

The expression "Balzac age" arose after the release of Balzac’s novel "Thirty Years Old Woman" and is valid for women not older than 40 years. The expression "In a healthy body - a healthy mind" was originally taken from the satire of the Roman writer Juvenal and read: "We must pray to the gods so that a healthy mind is in a healthy body." It is believed that this line is based on the proverb known in Ancient Rome: "A healthy mind is a rare occurrence in a healthy body." Buffet Swedes themselves call a snack bar or a sandwich. The term for the Swedish wall in Swedish translates as "frame with crossbeams." They do not know anything about this Swedish family in this country either - the opinion that Swedes more often than other nations practice cohabiting two or more married couples is a misconception. The phrase "Chinese letter" corresponds to the English idiom ‘It is Greek to me’. Similar expressions exist in other languages, often with other standards of difficulty. For example, the German expression appeals to the Spanish language, Romanian to Turkish, Turkish to French, and Chinese to bird language. The phrase “Elementary, Watson!”, Which we used to associate with Sherlock Holmes, is never found in the original books of Conan Doyle. Tsarina Elizaveta Petrovna in 1746 ordered that the criminals be branded. Many winged expressions come from here: “it is written on the forehead”, “brand with shame” and “scorched criminal”. A pivot is a diminutive of the dialect aug ("hit, hit") the name of the exact hit with an ax in the same place during carpentry. Today, to designate high precision, the expression "tyutelka to tyutelka" is used. The most experienced and strong barge hauler, going in the strap first, was called a bump. This went into the expression “big shot” to mean an important person. Previously, Friday was free from work during the day, and, as a result, bazaar. On Friday, receiving the goods, they promised the next market day to pay the money that was due for it. Since then, to designate people who do not fulfill promises, they say: "He has seven Fridays in a week." Previously, in addition to part of the face, the nose was used to name a tag that was carried with you and on which nicks were taken to account for work, debts, etc. Thanks to this, the expression "hack on the nose." In another meaning, the nose was called a bribe, an offering. The expression "stay with your nose" meant to leave with an unacceptable offering, without agreeing. The possessive adjective “sharashkina” was formed from the dialect sharan (“trash, bastard, swindler”). The expression "sharashkin office" at first literally meant "institution, organization of crooks, deceivers," and today it is used to refer to a simply not solid office. After the doctors discovered the antiquity of nerves in the human body, they named them by the similarity with the strings of musical instruments by the same word - nervus. Hence the expression for annoying actions - "play on the nerves." In French, “asiet” is a plate, and mood, condition. Allegedly, the erroneous translation of the French expression caused the phraseologism to appear “out of place”. According to Christian tradition, a priest confessed, communed and burned incense with a man who did not have long to live. As a result, to designate a sick person or barely working device, the expression "breathes in the air" has become fixed. According to some peoples, every unrepentant sinner, if cursed by him, leaves the grave after death in the form of a ghoul, vampire, ghoul and destroys people. To remove the spell, you need to dig out the remains of the deceased and wash the remaining bones with clean water. Today, the expression "to wash the bones" refers to the analysis of the nature of man. According to the gospel legend, Pontius Pilate, forced to agree to the execution of Jesus, washed his hands in front of the crowd and said: "I am innocent in the blood of this righteous man." From here came the expression for relieving myself of the responsibility "I wash my hands." According to the Hebrew rite, on the day of the remission of sins, the high priest laid his hands on the head of the goat and thereby laid on him the sins of the whole people. From here came the expression "scapegoat." Once a young doctor, invited to a hopelessly ill Russian boy, allowed him to eat whatever he wants. The boy ate pork and cabbage and, to the surprise of others, began to recover. After this incident, the doctor prescribed pork and cabbage to a sick German boy, but he, having eaten, died the next day. According to one version, it is this story that underlies the appearance of the expression "what is good for the Russian, then the German is death." A small horny tubercle at the tip of the tongue in birds, which helps them peck their food, is called tipun. The growth of such a tubercle can be a sign of illness. Hard pimples in human language are called pips by analogy with these bird tubercles. According to superstitious notions, a tip usually appears in lying people. Hence the unfortunate wish “a tip in your tongue” .. When the son of the Roman emperor Vespasian rebuked him for imposing a tax on public restrooms, the emperor showed him the money received from this tax and asked if they smell. After receiving a negative answer, Vespasian said: “But they are from urine.” Hence the expression "money does not smell." When they told the Apostle Thomas about the resurrection of the crucified Christ, he declared: "... if I do not see His wounds from nails in His hands, and I do not put my finger in His wounds, and I do not put my hands in His ribs, I will not believe." Today, any person who is difficult to convince of anything is called "Thomas an unbeliever." The opening of the nail-like Eiffel Tower was timed to coincide with the 1889 world exhibition in Paris, which caused a sensation. Since then, the expression “highlight of the program” has entered the language. Khrushchev’s famous phrase “I'll show you Kuzkin’s mother!” literally translated “Kuzma’s mother” at the UN assembly. The meaning of the phrase was completely incomprehensible and from this the threat acquired a completely ominous character. Subsequently, the expression "Kuzkin’s mother" was also used to refer to the atomic bombs of the USSR. The expression "after the rain on Thursday" arose due to distrust of Perun, the Slavic god of thunder and lightning, the day of which was Thursday. Prayers to him often did not reach the goal, so they began to say about the unrealizable that this would happen after a rain on Thursday. The expression "Whoever comes into us with a sword will die by the sword" does not belong to Alexander Nevsky. Its author is the screenwriter of the film of the same name Pavlenko, who remade a phrase from the Gospel "Those who take the sword will perish with the sword." The expression “the game is not worth the candle” came from the speech of gamblers who spoke of a very small gain that does not pay for the value of the candles burned during the game. During the exaltation of the Principality of Moscow, other cities paid a large tribute. Cities sent petitioners to Moscow complaining about injustice. The king sometimes severely punished the complainants to intimidate others. From here, according to one version, the expression "Moscow does not believe in tears." In the 1924 Koltsov feuilleton, a large scam was disclosed when a concession for oil exploitation in California was transferred. The scam involved the most senior US officials. Here, for the first time, the expression “the case smells of kerosene” was used. In the old days it was believed that the human soul is placed in a depression between the collarbones and a dimple in the neck. In the same place on the chest was the custom of storing money. Therefore, they say about the poor man that he has "nothing for his soul." In the old days chunks chipped from logs - blanks for wooden utensils - called bacluses. Their manufacture was considered easy, not requiring effort and skill. Now we use the expression “beat the buck” to denote idleness. In the old days, rural women, after washing, “rolled” the laundry using a special rolling pin. Well-rolled linen turned out to be squeezed out, ironed and clean, even if the washing was not very high quality. Today, to indicate the achievement of a goal in any way, the expression "not by washing, so by skating." In the old days, messengers delivering mail sewed very important papers, or “deeds,” under the lining of hats or hats, so as not to attract the attention of robbers. From here comes the expression "business in the hat." In medieval French comedy, a wealthy cloth-maker sues a shepherd who has pulled sheep from him. During the meeting, the cloth-maker forgets about the shepherd and showers reproaches of his lawyer, who did not pay him for six cubits of cloth. The judge interrupts the speech with the words: “Back to our sheep,” which became winged. In ancient Greece, there was a small mite coin. In the gospel parable, the poor widow donates the last two mites to the construction of the temple. From the parable came the expression "contribute." In the 17th century, by order of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, distance measurements were made between Moscow and the summer royal residence in the village of Kolomenskoye and very tall milestones were installed. Since then, tall and thin people have been called the “Kolomenskaya mile”. In the 13th century, the hryvnia was the monetary and weight unit in Russia, divided into 4 parts (“ruble”). An especially weighty remainder of the ingot was called the "long ruble." Associated with these words is an expression about big and easy money - “chasing a long ruble”. “One scientist, having bought 20 ducks, immediately ordered to chop one of them into small pieces, which he fed the rest of the birds. A few minutes later, he did exactly the same with the other duck and so on, while there was only one left, who thus devoured 19 of his girlfriends. ” This article was published in the newspaper by the Belgian comedian Cornelissen in order to mock the gullibility of the public. Since then, according to one version, false news is called "newspaper ducks."