Have time for a thorough analysis of phraseological units. "random analysis" of phraseological units

Where did the expressions “casual acquaintance” and “come to a casual analysis” come from?

According to tradition, men in Rus', when entering a church, took off their hats and folded them at the entrance, and at the end of the service they took them back. Anyone who was late came to the head, and since then this expression has been entrenched in the meaning of “arriving somewhere too late, when everything is already over.” And the expression “casual acquaintance,” meaning a superficial and cursory acquaintance with someone, is also associated with an old custom. When acquaintances or friends met, they raised their hats in greeting, and only friends shook hands.

Where did the expression “get into trouble” come from?

Prosak used to be called a special machine for weaving ropes and ropes. It had a complex design and twisted the strands so tightly that getting clothes, hair, or beard into it could cost a person his life. It was from such cases that the expression “get into trouble” came about, which today means to be in an awkward position.

Where is the Funny Star located in the sky?

Previously, an alternative name for the constellation Ursa Major together with the Polar Star was common in Rus' - the Frozen Horse (meaning a grazing horse tied with a rope to a peg). And the Polar Star, accordingly, was called the Funny Star.

Where does the expression “bosom friend” come from?

The ancient expression “to pour on the Adam’s apple” meant “to get drunk”, “to drink alcohol.” From here the phraseological unit “bosom friend” was formed, which today is used to denote a very close friend.

What fires were extinguished with milk in ancient times?

In Ancient Rus', a fire caused by lightning was considered divine fire and was extinguished not with water, but with milk.

Where did the expression “get to the point” come from?

In Ancient Rus', rolls were baked in the shape of a castle with a round bow. Townspeople often bought rolls and ate them right on the street, holding them by this bow or handle. For reasons of hygiene, the pen itself was not eaten, but was given to the poor or thrown to be eaten by dogs. According to one version, about those who did not disdain to eat it, they said: they got to the point. And today the expression “reach the pen” means to completely descend, to lose human appearance.

Where did the expression “spread a thought through a tree” come from?

In the first edition of “The Lay of Igor’s Campaign” from 1800, you can find the lines: “The prophetic Boyan, if someone wanted to compose a song, his thoughts spread across the tree, like a gray wolf along the ground, like a gray eagle under the clouds.” The strange combination of “thought along the tree” allowed text researchers to assume that the original was “thought along the tree” (translated from Old Russian “mys” is a squirrel). Or the poet wrote “with a thought, like a thought on a tree,” and the copyist omitted what he thought were unnecessary words. However, the catchphrase has become firmly established as “spreading thoughts along the tree,” which means going into unnecessary details and being distracted from the main thought.

What kind of work was done by spitting in Rus'?

Turnips have very small seeds: there are more than a million of them in one kilogram. Therefore, in ancient times, when sowing turnips, the seeds were not scattered by hand, but spat out. Good spitters were highly valued, as this work was not an easy one.

Where did the expression “orphan of Kazan” come from?

After the capture of Kazan, Ivan the Terrible, wanting to bind the local aristocracy to himself, rewarded high-ranking Tatars who voluntarily came to him. Many of them, in order to receive rich gifts, pretended to be severely affected by the war. This is where the expression “orphan of Kazan” came from.

Why were spices so expensive in Europe in the Middle Ages?

In medieval Europe, on the eve of winter, mass slaughter of livestock and meat procurement began. If meat is simply salted, it loses its original taste. Spices, which were brought mainly from Asia, help preserve it almost in its original form. But since the Turks monopolized almost the entire spice trade, their price was prohibitive. This factor was one of the motives for the rapid development of navigation and the beginning of the era of great geographical discoveries. But in Rus', due to the harsh winters, there was no urgent need for spices.

Where did the words obegorit and podkuzmit come from?

Before the introduction of serfdom in Rus', peasants could move from one master to another. They were hired to work in the spring, “at Yegoriy,” and received their pay in the fall, at “Kuzminki.” During transactions, the parties often indulged in all sorts of tricks, and sometimes even deception. This is where the words “gouge” and “knock” came from.

What was the French kiss called in Rus'?

In penitential collections of the 14th century, a kiss with an open mouth and use of the tongue was called Tatar. In the 18th century, such kisses began to be called French. These names reflect a long-standing tendency to designate morally harmful phenomena as the influence of a foreign culture.

Where did the word freebie come from?

The top of a boot used to be called a freebie. The lower part of the boot - the head - wore out much faster than the top of the freebie. Enterprising “cold shoemakers” sewed a new head to the boot. These boots—sewn on “for free”—were much cheaper than new ones.

Where did the word week come from?

The word “week” used to mean Sunday - a non-working day when “they don’t do anything”, and then it began to be called a seven-day week. In many Slavic languages this name has been preserved to this day.

Where did the expression “seven Fridays in a week” come from?

Previously, Friday was a day off from work, and, as a result, a market day. On Friday, when they received the goods, they promised to give the money due for it on the next market day. Since then, to refer to people who do not fulfill their promises, they say: “He has seven Fridays in a week.”

Where did the expressions “get on the nose” and “stay on the nose” come from?

Previously, the nose, in addition to part of the face, was a tag that was worn with oneself and on which notches were placed to record work, debts, etc. Thanks to this, the expression “hack on the nose” arose. In another meaning, the nose was a bribe, an offering. The expression “to stay with the nose” meant to leave with an unaccepted offering without reaching an agreement.

Where did the expression “after the rain on Thursday” come from?

The expression “after the rain on Thursday” arose from distrust of Perun, the Slavic god of thunder and lightning, whose day was Thursday. Prayers to him often did not achieve their goal, so they began to talk about the impossible, that this would happen after the rain on Thursday.

Where did the expression “Moscow doesn’t believe in tears” come from?

During the rise of the Moscow principality, large tribute was collected from other cities. Cities sent petitioners to Moscow with complaints of injustice. The king sometimes severely punished complainants to intimidate others. This is where, according to one version, the expression “Moscow does not believe in tears” came from.

Where did the word kopek come from?

During the monetary reform of 1535 in Rus', the image of a horseman with a saber on coins was replaced by the image of a Grand Duke with a spear. Later, such coins were called kopecks.

Where did the expression “there is nothing behind the soul” come from?

In the old days, it was believed that the human soul was located in the depression between the collarbones, the dimple in the neck. It was customary to keep money in the same place on the chest. Therefore, they say about a poor person that he “has nothing in his soul.”

Where did the expression “knuckle down” come from?

In the old days, chocks cut off from logs—blanks for wooden utensils—were called baklushes. Their manufacture was considered easy, requiring no effort or skill. Nowadays we use the expression “knuckle down” to mean idleness.

Where did the expression “not by washing, but by riding” come from?

In the old days, village women used a special rolling pin to “roll” their laundry after washing. Well-rolled laundry turned out to be wrung out, ironed and clean, even if the wash was not of very high quality. Today, to denote achieving a goal by any means, the expression “by scraping, by skiing” is used.

Where did the expression “it’s in the bag” come from?

In the old days, messengers delivering mail sewed very important papers, or “deeds,” into the lining of their caps or hats so as not to attract the attention of robbers. This is where the expression “it’s in the bag” comes from.

Why were frogs put into milk?

In ancient Rus', a frog was placed in a vessel with milk to prevent it from turning sour.

Where did the expression “chasing a long ruble” come from?

In the 13th century, the currency and weight unit in Rus' was the hryvnia, divided into 4 parts (“ruble”). The especially weighty remainder of the ingot was called the “long ruble.” Associated with these words is an expression about big and easy earnings - “chasing a long ruble.”

Previously, when people were invited to a reception, guests would hang their hats in the hallway. When the reception ended, people took their hats and left. It is the moment when people pick up their hats that is called hat collection. This is how “come to the hat” came about - to come when everything was already over.

Examples

"Almost Serious" (1976):

“We, soldiers and sergeants, receiving our leave, wanted to push ourselves. So I got myself an officer’s cap, wearing which means breaking the dress code.

I was walking around Riga during one of my layoffs, already in the peaceful, post-war days, and then a patrol noticed me and took me away. They brought me to the military commandant’s office, and there were plenty of people like me there. They took off our caps and put them on the table.

We stand with our heads naked. Those who brought us put on our caps and try them on their heads. “They’re probably choosing for themselves,” I thought. Suddenly a dark-haired senior lieutenant came in and immediately took his cap, put it on his head and looked into the door glass as if in a mirror.

I said as if nothing had happened:

- Here's another one came to a head-scratcher.

Everyone laughed. Senior lieutenant too.

He gradually let everyone go, replacing their caps with caps. I was the last one left.

I received a cap... and ten days of arrest. The dark-haired lieutenant turned out to be the head of the guardhouse."

"Quiet Don" (1925 - 1940), book. 1, part 2 ch. 18:

"Go ahead, I'll come later.

- To the hat analysis?"

"Indian Kingdom"- the maid wakes up the oversleeping mistress:

"- They called a long time ago! God's punishment, and to random analysis you won't make it in time! Get up!"

There is an opinion that the Russian “hat” grew out of this very French “le chapo”. Interesting opinion, but is it really so?

Personally, I'm not entirely sure about this. After all, in the Turkish language there is a complete analogue of our Russian hat. This is what it looks like: şapka. So the question of where this word came from in the Russian language is very controversial.
But, strictly speaking, we are interested not in where this or that word came from in the Russian language, but in how actively it lives in it, in the sense of participating in the composition of popular words.
The “hat” has distinguished itself here: it burns, it is broken, it is thrown around, it is used during acquaintances, it is taken apart, and so on and so forth... In general, often all this happens clearly not for its intended purpose. So let's figure out how all this could happen.
One of the most famous and widespread “hat” phraseological units is “the thief’s cap is on fire.” Here the opinion of all experts is unanimous. The parables they refer to differ only in words, since in essence they are absolutely identical.

I will present the parable in the form that is closer to me. After the theft, which occurred in a crowded place, the sage, to whom the victims turned, exclaimed: “Look, the thief’s hat is on fire.” Mechanically, out of surprise, the swindler grabbed his headdress and, naturally, was immediately captured.
There is a curious explanation for the origin of the idiom “to break one’s cap,” which allegorically means to curry favor with someone, to humiliate oneself. All this goes back to ancient times. Then it was customary that men, when meeting, had to take off their hats and hold it in their hands for some time. We have repeatedly seen scenes in feature films when serfs, when meeting a landowner, took off their hats and crumpled it in their hands for a long time until the master passed by or passed by. The word “mump” had such an interpretation as “to break.” This is where this expression came from: “Well, why are you breaking your hat in front of him?” - sometimes you either hear someone else’s conversation, or use this expression yourself in a conversation with friends, trying to persuade them not to humiliate themselves in front of someone, most often in front of their superiors.
It is curious that if the expression “breaking your hat” refers to veneration, then “twisting your hat on one side” refers to impudence. The custom of removing one’s headdress when meeting acquaintances also includes the idiom “casual acquaintance.” This expression is purely Russian and arose from etiquette. The fact is that it was customary to shake hands with friends and acquaintances, and when meeting casual acquaintances, it was enough to raise your headdress. This is where it started - a fleeting acquaintance turned into a casual acquaintance.
There is another version. On the street it was customary to walk with your head covered, and only at home could you remove your headdress. There is an opinion that “street” or “casual” acquaintance means that similar acquaintances do not visit each other. Some researchers believe that the military greeting arose in the same way, by placing a hand on the headdress, although there are a huge number of more interesting and reliable versions.
The expression “arrive at the end of the day” is also one of the most frequently used and means arriving late, at closing time, or when everyone has already begun to leave. And this is where it came from. In Rus', when entering a church, men are required to remove their headdress. In the old days, so that hats would not interfere with the process of long service, they were placed on a special shelf or bench, and after the service they were dismantled, crowding in this place. And so it happened that about those who are not in a hurry to get to church for the start of the service, they began to say: they are going to a “sort-out.” Gradually, this expression spread to other cases, becoming over time a stable phraseological unit.
Well, now let’s look at another widely used expression: “let’s throw our hats.” Now it means empty boasting, bravado, and underestimation of the enemy. In the old days it was used to denote numerical superiority. This is evidenced by its numerous uses in classical Russian literature.

Suffice it to recall the serf peasant woman from Turgenev’s story “Three Portraits”, who says: “Just order us... we’ll throw our hats at him, such a mischievous man... And it all came from the old Russian custom of throwing a hat on the ground both from brashness and in an argument when fighting I bet, both out of annoyance and as a sign of unbridled fun. That is why this expression was once used without any irony or boasting. Although these words also became an ironic definition of stupid arrogance long ago.
Perhaps this happened after the defeat of the Russian army at the Battle of Alma during the Crimean War of 1854. On the eve of the battle, Lieutenant General Vasily Kiryakov boastfully promised to “throw hats at” the enemy. It was after this general’s phrase, which became widely known, that the expression that interests us received a certain negative connotation, which intensified and took on its final meaning after the Russo-Japanese War, which was catastrophically lost in 1904-1905.
The fact is that the Russian nationalist press at the very beginning of that war was literally filled with bragging and bravado towards the enemy, assuring fellow citizens that the Russian army would “throw their hats at these Japs.” It turned out, as we now know well, everything turned out exactly the opposite.
Well, and a few more popular expressions associated with the hat. “It’s like Senka’s hat,” “You can’t make a hat out of thanks,” “What’s his crotch is like the hat he’s wearing” - all of them are so obvious that no explanation is required.
In general, the topic of hats is vast, since “to hit a hat” means to drive someone away, and “to find yourself under a red hat” means to be shaved into a soldier. Well, besides, a hat is both snow on a mountain peak or a tall building, and a newspaper headline for a section or series of articles.
Well, let's not forget about the fabulous invisibility hat. It would be nice if she could help us hide from all sorts of misfortunes!

Let's consider the phraseological unit "towards a head-to-head analysis" .

It is one of the phraseological units originated in Rus' .

Are given meaning, history of the origin of phraseological units, as well as examples of use from the works of writers.

The meaning of phraseology

(to have time / to come) to the head-to-head analysis- to be late, to come to the end of an event

Synonyms: not be on time, late, late

In foreign languages there are expressions with similar meanings. Among them:

post festum - “after the feast”, to be late (Latin)
to miss the boat - miss an opportunity, be late for the ship (English)
arriver à la fin d "une reunion - arrive at the end of the meeting (French)
kurz vor Torschluß kommen - come at the last minute (German)

In Russian, such expressions with similar meanings are also known as “at the passing of the carriages” and “mustard after dinner” (a catchphrase of the French poet Jean Antoine de Baif).

To the basic analysis: the origin of phraseological units

Nowadays, few people encounter random analysis in their lives, and even simply understand what it is (although many understand the meaning of the phraseological unit itself). Whereas in Christian Rus' it was customary for men coming to church services to leave their hats at the entrance. At the end of the service, a head-to-head analysis took place. Accordingly, the one who was on time (arrived) only for the preliminary examination was late for the service.

This previously widespread custom is based on the requirement for men to remove their hats when entering the temple. Nowadays, this instruction has not changed, but hats are usually not folded anywhere, but kept with oneself.

It is interesting that, unlike many other phraseological units that originate in the early history of Rus', interpretations of the origin of the phraseological unit “to be analyzed in detail” coincide in different sources.

Examples from the works of writers

Get dressed, mother, otherwise you’ll come to a head-scratching ceremony. (N.S. Leskov, “In the Province”)

Our visitors to the monastery, however, did not come to mass, but arrived just in time for a preliminary examination. (F.M. Dostoevsky, “The Brothers Karamazov”)

Dubov was waiting from minute to minute for Levinson to say: - For example, Dubov - he came today to a no-nonsense analysis, and yet I hoped for him more than anyone else - shame! (A.A. Fadeev, “Destruction”)

But here a characteristic feature of my biography came into play - the ability to keep up only with a preliminary analysis. As soon as I buy something on credit, this thing is immediately discounted. (S.D. Dovlatov, “Craft”)

So, as is often the case with phraseological units, the literal meaning of the phraseological unit “to be in time for a thorough analysis” has left our language, but figurative meaning lingered firmly in him.

Apparently, this was facilitated by the fact that in life the situation of coming to a head-to-head analysis retains its relevance in any historical period.

The meaning of COME TO A CASE STUDY in the Phraseology Handbook

GO TO THE HATCHING DISCUSSION

it's too late to come somewhere, when everything is already over. According to ancient Russian custom, when entering a room or church, men took off their hats and folded them at the entrance. Every meeting or gathering ended with a sorting of hats. The latecomer came to the dismantling of hats, that is, to the end.

Handbook of phraseology. 2012