The meaning and origin of phraseological units
Write on (on) water ; Written on (on) the water with a pitchfork .
Meaning: about empty promises, vague plans, wasted work.
Synonyms: Grandma said in two; guessing on coffee grounds; build sand castles.
Examples of use:
- Will I get married or not, that’s yet written on the water with a pitchfork…
(A.V. Amphitheaters. “Home News”)
I'm not going to any Moscow. If it had been five years ago, such a proposal would have been royal gift. And now, when structures change five times a week, it looks naive. Yes, and my purpose written on the water with a pitchfork- It is obvious.
(Svyatoslav Demin. “In the crooked corridors of the UN”)
Etymology:
As in most cases when we're talking about about the origin of a particular word or phraseological combination, regarding the etymology of this expression there is whole line assumptions. Let's look at the main versions.
1. According to Snegirev I.M. (Snegirev I.M. Russians in their proverbs. T. 1. M., 1831), Russian phraseological unit “written on water with a pitchfork” - tracing paper from Greek or Latin ( in aqua scribes[in ákva skrubis] - you write on water) with a figurative meaning “to do useless work, to do nothing.” Catullus uses the expression “in aqua scribere” [in áqua skrúbere] - “to write on the water”, speaking about the frivolity of women’s vows: “what a girlfriend says / to a passionate lover, / / needs to write in the wind / or on fast water(translated by S. Shervinsky). This phrase is also found in Sophocles, Plato and Lucian. Available in many European languages.
2. This phraseological unit- the result of rethinking the free phrase in the Russian language “to write on the water with a pitchfork.” The figurative meaning of the expression “not sure what they are talking about” developed from the original image - not leaving marks on the water if you write on it with a pitchfork. (Felitsyna V.P., Prokhorov Yu.E. Russian proverbs, sayings and idioms. M., 1988.)
3. The origin of the phraseological unit “writing on water with a pitchfork” is associated with a superstitious, pagan amulet-spell against the merman, described by A.A. Afanasyev: the peasants protected themselves from the “pampering” of the merman by drawing a cross with a knife and a scythe during the conspiracy, which are symbols of Perun. Writing with a pitchfork on water correlates with this superstition and the custom it generated. The meaning of the phraseological unit “doubtful, unclear” appeared as a result of skeptical popular assessment such spells that do not bring desired results. (Gvozdarev Yu.A. Let the connection of the sayings be far... Rostov-on-Don, 1982).
4. The history of the expression is also associated with one of oldest species fortune telling - hydromancy (fortune telling by water). In Persia, for example, the future was determined by the circles radiating from a stone thrown into the water. The word "forks"* originally meant "circles" (cf. vilo k, dialectal pitchfork- “curl”), then this meaning became irrelevant and is now mistakenly associated with modern pitchfork- "agricultural implement". Logical motivation has become illogical. (Shansky N.M. Phraseology of the modern Russian language. M., 1985).
*Note:
Word pitchfork formed from the Indo-European word “to twist” (cf. Lithuanian vyti - “to twist”, Latin viere - “to weave”, Old Indian vayati - “weaves, weaves”, etc.) using the suffix *-dla (modern . -la) and meant something curly, “circles”. Remember also forks- "head of cabbage). In dialects there is still a word pitchfork- curl. It is formed using the suffix -l from viti (vit). Original meaning“viti” - “that around which cabbage leaves curl, forming a head of cabbage” (cf. the expression “cabbage curls”).
The world of Russian phraseology is huge and diverse; for any occasion in life, expressions can be found in it that will help give expressiveness and imagery to speech. Phraseologisms “pound water in a mortar” and “write on water with a pitchfork” are perceived today in their figurative meaning and are used by speakers in certain situations.
The basis for the formation of joke phraseological units is the internal lexical contradiction that forms the basis of the artistic and visual means of language called an oxymoron.
Indeed, you cannot pound water from a mortar (a wooden or metal vessel widely used in ancient times) - it will still remain water. The phraseological unit can be used in a shorter version, “pounding water”, it formed the basis that makes the conclusion - “there will be water.” The meaning of the expression is understood as a useless activity that will only waste time. If you heard this phrase from anyone, know: empty talk must be replaced with concrete action.
You can’t help it with a pitchfork (a tool of peasant labor), especially on water surface. Phraseologism is used in our speech to express doubt about the supposed events: whether the plan will actually happen or not.
Phraseological dictionaries classify these stable combinations To colloquial speech, indicate their emotional coloring – disdain.
Sources of phraseological units
Anyone figurative expression available own story origin, explanations of etymology are often ambiguous.
The appearance of “pounding water in a mortar” is sometimes associated with specific fact in history: in monasteries, monks were forced to do this as punishment. Upon linguistic comparison, it turns out that the phrase is “tied” to the custom of punishment, and did not arise from it.
The Slavs considered the stupa not only a necessary household item, but also a means of helping to get rid of illness, “crushing” the ailments of people and animals in it.
This often correlates with the time of its origin in Rus' Christian religion, when the clergy had to enter into a fight with the wise men and wizards, for whom pounding water in a mortar was business as usual. Christian priests considered such actions to be useless activities, not wanting to understand their real meaning.
But the magicians did not do their work aimlessly: they gave water magical properties. Beliefs about “living” and “dead” water have lived among the people since ancient times, people used all sorts of ways to slander it. The Magi pushed the water until it was completely purified, then putting any necessary information. The water purified by magicians was used for cooking, and medicinal potions were made from it.
Water quickly hides any traces, so many peoples have long figuratively defined writing on it as obviously unnecessary and useless. The expression “writing on water” can be found among ancient Greek and Roman thinkers and poets such as Plato, Sophocles, Catullus. It spread widely in people's everyday speech, enriching it in its own way. (For example, writing on material that cannot be stored for a long time (sand, snow, wind), in figuratively also meant a meaningless, useless thing).
This combination is made expressive and figurative by the choice of implements of action: a pitchfork, a finger, twigs and twigs. IN folk speech For example, there was even an expression “a magpie wrote on the water with its tail.”
The most widely used phraseology is “writing on water with a pitchfork.” The subject of discussion among linguists and historians of phraseology was the “pitchfork”, namely lexical meaning this word causes different opinions regarding the etymology of phraseological units.
The most popular is the explanation of the expression from the point of view of materialistic reality: if you run across the surface of the water with any object, there will be no traces left. The shaky material for recording, made with such an inconvenient instrument serving other purposes, indicates the unreliability and dubiousness of what was written.
Fortune telling by water has long been popular among Slavic peoples. But, as scientists explain, the use of the noun “fork” in the form instrumental case indicates not inscribed watermarks, but a writing instrument.
There is a mythological basis for explaining the expression. Its essence lies in the fact that once upon a time peasants, protecting themselves from the tricks of the waterman, at the moment of conspiracy, drew a cross on the water with a scythe or a knife. This superstition gave rise to writing about it with a pitchfork. And the meaning, indicating doubtfulness and ambiguity, was formed as a result of the people’s distrust of such spells. This interpretation is usually considered incorrect, primarily because the pitchfork symbolically personified the devil’s weapon, used against evil spirits did not correspond to the pagan faith.
Slavic mythology calls “forks” mermaids born from water, fog and morning dew, who lived in lakes, springs, and wells. They were considered very playful mythical creatures who were not averse to playing tricks on people and also predicting their fate. The mermaids drew prophecies on the water surface, and a rare person could read the notes. As a result, they began to speak expressively about the impracticable and unrealizable: “with a pitchfork
Razg is written on the water with a pitchfork. Iron. It remains to be seen whether this will happen or not. - What a commanding tone! Now you can see what the future celebrity is saying! - Antonin joked. - It’s written in the water with a pitchfork whether I’ll be a celebrity(P. Nevezhin. Quiet shelter).
Phrasebook Russian literary language. - M.: Astrel, AST. A. I. Fedorov. 2008.
Synonyms:See what “Written on the water with a pitchfork” is in other dictionaries:
written on the water with a pitchfork- the grandmother still wondered in two, it’s unlikely, the grandmother said in two, the grandmother said in two, the grandmother said in two, the grandmother wondered in two, the grandmother said in two, with a pitchfork it was written on the water, the magpie wrote on the water with its tail, not a fact, the grandmother still in two... ... Synonym dictionary
written on the water with a pitchfork- adverb, number of synonyms: 18 the grandmother still wondered in two (14) the grandmother said in two (14) ... Synonym dictionary
written on the water with a pitchfork- Vi/lami on (on) the water it is written About what. unlikely, doubtful or unknown... Dictionary of many expressions
this is still written with a pitchfork (on the water)- (foreign language) doubtful Wed. Cantemir. 175, 189. (Ed. Smirdin.) Cf. It is worth (gratitude), man: you are unlocking a bright paradise for me (leading me to burning)... Well, this is still written on the water with a pitchfork, sprinkled with string bags. D.L. Mordovtsev. The Great Schism. 2, 18…
This is still written on the water with a pitchfork.- This is still written on the water with a pitchfork. See TRUE RELIABLE... IN AND. Dahl. Proverbs of the Russian people
This is still written with a pitchfork (on the water)- This is still written with a pitchfork (on the water) (in foreign language) is doubtful. Wed. Kantemir. 175, 189. (Ed. Smirdin.) Cf. It’s worth (gratitude), man: you are unlocking a bright paradise for me (leading me to burning)... “Well, this was written on the water with a pitchfork, sprinkled with string bags.” D...
write with a pitchfork (on water)- (foreign language) about the impossible, unsuccessful, doubtful Wed. Is it enough for a father to vouch and answer what is on the mind of his grown-up girl? Soon you can write on the water with a pitchfork. Kokhanovskaya. From the provincial gallery of portraits. See this is also written with a pitchfork... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary
Pitchfork (by water)- With a pitchfork (on water) to write (in other words) about the impossible, unsuccessful, doubtful. Wed. Is it enough for a father to vouch and answer what is on his adult girl’s mind? Soon you can write on the water with a pitchfork. Kokhanovskaya. From the provincial gallery... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)
Written on (on) the water with a pitchfork- What. People's Iron. or Disapproved What l. very doubtful, unclear, not credible. DP, 293, 419, 703; BTS, 139; SHZF 2001, 36; Bug. 1991, 367; FSRY, 68; BMS 1998, 82 83 ... Big dictionary Russian sayings
Written on water with eggs- (written with a pitchfork on the water is very unlikely; eggs scrotum; rough) original meaning ... Live speech. Dictionary of colloquial expressions
Books
- Proverbs, sayings and popular expressions, Ushakova O.. Here is a collection of Russian proverbs and sayings. Do you know how they differ from each other? The answer is very simple. As it says folk wisdom: A saying is a flower, a proverb is a berry.…
The imprecision, fragility, vagueness of any enterprise or plans can be expressed in different words and ways. Let's ask ourselves what expression might be appropriate in such a situation. Let us answer this way: we are exploring the meaning of the phraseological unit “written on water with a pitchfork.” This is what we need.
Let us begin not with meaning and origin, but with two images that precede any analysis and consideration.
Incorrect image - “man with a pitchfork”
Any person who is not familiar with the history of the emergence of the phraseological unit under study will imagine such a picture when mentioning pitchforks on the water. A peasant is resting on the bank of a river on a fine, sunny day. Of course, he has his favorite pitchfork with him, i.e. agricultural tool.
Next, our hero, suddenly imbued with an inexplicable longing for the fullness of being, in response to some of his secret thoughts, approached the river and began to write intensely, drawing signs on the water with a pitchfork. The latter, in turn, obeying the inertia of the elements, immediately disappeared from the surface.
In principle, if we say that the meaning of the phraseological unit “written on water with a pitchfork” communicates, first of all, the fragility, instability of anything, then in this case this image will be suitable. But then we sin against history and truth.
The correct image and origin of phraseological units. "Circles on the water"
A child stands by the river and throws pebbles into the water, and from them pitchforks go across the water, i.e. circles. Here is such a simple solution. It turns out that this expression came to us from ancient times. And “pitchforks” in the meaning of “circles” go back to some archaic language(dialect). However, one way or another, it has long been lost.
Thus, the meaning of the phraseological unit “written on water with a pitchfork” has been clarified. What was quite unexpected was not so much the meaning of the expression as its origin. Let's move on to examples.
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans”
Everyone knows this modern proverb or saying. Meanwhile, its meaning is approximately the same as that of the expression in question.
Imagine a schoolboy, inspired by the fact that he passed his last final exams, comes home and shares his plans for how he will enter the university and shine there as a student.
Perhaps the father, who, despite his son’s festive mood, is not in the best mood, will say: “Wait, all this is written on water with a pitchfork.”
We found out the meaning a little earlier.
In principle, a not too affectionate parent could say: “Well, well, if you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” True, both are still rude to the child.
Let's say most of our life has a book written on water, so what? It does not at all follow from this that a person is not worth living. But we will look at what he should do in the next section.
What does phraseology teach us about fragility?
The meaning of the phraseological unit “written on water with a pitchfork” indicates to a person that much in his life is ephemeral. Our brother is a being who resides in the future rather than in the present. Therefore, many people plan and talk about their plans. And they seem to write monograms on the water. There is little that can be done about this, but there is a way out: we must oppose the eternal projection (in in this case this word is not endowed with any negative meaning) action.
Dreaming is not a crime. It is important that the desired result is not just a utopian dream, but implies some plan of action. And then no one can blame a person for building castles in the air.
You need not only to desire, but also to create. You cannot give a reason to say: “Yes, this is all written on water with a pitchfork,” i.e. inaccurate, blurry, fragile and generally unrealistic. Action comes first, it is the only thing that makes sense.
We hope the reader understands what “written on water with a pitchfork” means? It is also important to understand: the agricultural tool, which almost everyone has in their dacha, has nothing to do with the essence of the phraseological unit.
Often we hear about some matter that is not yet precise, it is doubtful that it is like “written on water with a pitchfork.” And it immediately becomes clear that the event is unlikely to happen.
But it is difficult to imagine how and why they write on water with a pitchfork, and it is not clear why such an action should be performed at all. Of course, it is immediately clear that this expression contains hidden images from the past that have gone out of use. And indeed it is.
What are pitchforks?
Pitchforks, in modern meaning is an agricultural tool used to harvest hay. And they don’t write to them on the water and have never written to them at all. It’s just that the word “forks” used to have a different meaning - “circles”. So you can remember about the “cabbage forks”.
And if these are not pitchforks, but circles in the water, then everything falls into place. After all, circles on the water are a fragile and short-lived thing. So they say about the event that it is unlikely to happen, just as the circles on the water will remain.
“It’s written on water with a pitchfork.” Deep into history
If you dig further, it turns out that a long time ago there were cloud maidens who spun silver threads of rain from the clouds. It is from the word “vit” that the word “fork” comes from. Dolya and Nedolya, prophetic spinners, were also called pitchforks.
By the way, the virgins themselves are considered by the forces of light, they were presented dressed in fluffy robes with swan wings. There is a version that the god Veles himself appeared from these bright maidens, or rather from their flowing serpentine hair.
The rain threads woven by Pitchfork carried with them prophecies about the destinies of people, and the circles on the water are their messages. In the old days, there were priests who knew how to decipher what was “written on water with a pitchfork.”