Get to the handle
IN Ancient Rus' kalachi were baked in the shape of a castle with a round bow. Citizens often bought kalachi and ate them right on the street, holding this bow, or handle. For reasons of hygiene, the pen itself was not used for food, but was given to the poor or thrown to be eaten by dogs. According to one version, they said about those who did not disdain to eat it: it reached the handle. And today the expression “to reach the handle” means to completely sink, to lose human appearance.
bosom friend
The old expression "pour over the Adam's apple" meant "get drunk", "drink alcohol." Hence the phraseological unit “bosom friend” was formed, which today is used to refer to very close friend.
Pour in the first number
In the old days, schoolchildren were often flogged, often without any fault of the punished. If the mentor showed particular zeal, and the student got hit especially hard, he could be released from further vices in the current month, up to the first day of the next month. This is how the expression "pour on the first number" arose.
Goof
Prosak used to be a special machine for weaving ropes and ropes. It had a complex structure and twisted strands so strongly that getting clothes, hair, beard into it could cost a person life. It was from such cases that the expression “get into a mess” came about, which today means to be in an awkward position.
Latest Chinese Warning
In the 1950s and 1960s, American aircraft often violated Chinese airspace for the purpose of reconnaissance. The Chinese authorities recorded every violation and each time sent a "warning" to the United States through diplomatic channels, although no real action followed, and such warnings were counted by the hundreds. This policy has given rise to the expression "the last Chinese warning", meaning threats without consequences.
hang dogs
When a person is blamed, accused of something, you can hear the expression: "They hang dogs on him." At first glance, this phrase is absolutely illogical. However, it is not associated with an animal at all, but with a different meaning of the word "dog" - burdock, thorn - now almost never used.
quiet glanders
The word sape means "hoe" in French. In the 16th-19th centuries, the term "sapa" meant a way to open a trench, ditch or tunnel to approach the fortifications. Gunpowder bombs were sometimes planted in the tunnels to the castle walls, and the specialists trained to do this were called sappers. And from the secretive digging of tunnels came the expression "sleep glanders", which today is used to denote cautious and inconspicuous actions.
Big boss
The most experienced and strong hauler, walking in the strap first, was called a bump. This has evolved into the expression "big shot" to refer to important person.
Case burnt out
Previously, if a court case disappeared, then a person could not be legally charged. Cases often burned down: either from a fire in the wooden buildings of the courts, or from deliberate arson for a bribe. In such cases, the defendants said: "The case burned out." Today, this expression is used when we talk about the successful completion of a major undertaking.
Leave in English
When someone leaves without saying goodbye, we use the expression "left in English." Although in the original this idiom was invented by the British themselves, but it sounded like ‘to take French leave’ (“leave in French”). She appeared during Seven Years' War in the 18th century in mockery of French soldiers who arbitrarily left the location of the unit. Then the French copied this expression, but in relation to the British, and in this form it was fixed in the Russian language.
Blue blood
Spanish The Royal Family and the nobility were proud that, unlike common people, they trace their ancestry to the West Goths and never mixed with the Moors who entered Spain from Africa. Unlike the dark-skinned commoners, blue veins stood out on the pale skin of the upper class, and therefore they called themselves sangre azul, which means " blue blood". Hence this expression for the designation of the aristocracy has penetrated into many European languages, including Russian.
And a no brainer
The source of the expression “And it’s clear to a hedgehog” is Mayakovsky’s poem (“It’s clear even to a hedgehog - / This Petya was a bourgeois”). It became widespread first in the Strugatsky story "The Land of Crimson Clouds", and then in Soviet boarding schools for gifted children. They recruited teenagers who had two years left to study (grades A, B, C, D, E) or one year (grades E, F, I). The students of the one-year stream were called “hedgehogs”. When they came to the boarding school, two-year students were already ahead of them in a non-standard program, so at the beginning school year the expression "no brainer" was very relevant.
Wash the bones
Among the Orthodox Greeks, as well as some Slavic peoples there was a custom of secondary burial - the bones of the deceased were removed, washed with water and wine and put back. If the corpse was found undecayed and swollen, this meant that during life this person was a sinner and a curse lies on him - to come out of the grave at night in the form of a ghoul, vampire, ghoul and destroy people. Thus, the rite of washing the bones was needed to make sure that there was no such spell.
The highlight of the program
Co. world exhibition 1889 in Paris, the discovery of a nail-like eiffel tower which caused a sensation. Since then, the expression "highlight of the program" has entered the language.
Not by washing, so by skating
In the old days, village women, after washing, “rolled” the laundry with the help of a special rolling pin. Well-rolled linen turned out to be wrung out, ironed and clean, even if the washing was not of very high quality.
newspaper duck
“One scientist, having bought 20 ducks, immediately ordered to cut one of them into small pieces, with which he fed the rest of the birds. A few minutes later, he did the same with the other duck, and so on, until there was one left, which, in this way, devoured 19 of her friends. This note was published in the newspaper by the Belgian humorist Cornelissen to mock the gullibility of the public. Since then, according to one version, false news is called "newspaper ducks."
Where did they come from idioms mamlas wrote in July 7th, 2012
Where did the expressions "reach the handle", "scapegoat", "pour on the first number" and others come from?
We use such phrases every day in speech, without thinking at all about their original meaning and origin. Why last warning specifically Chinese? Who is the quiet guy? And why should a successful business fail?
Everything has a historical or linguistic explanation. Behind each turn is either significant event, or the realities of the past, or the obsolete meaning of the word. So . Get to the handle
In ancient Rus', kalachi was baked in the shape of a castle with a round bow. Citizens often bought kalachi and ate them right on the street, holding this bow, or handle. For reasons of hygiene, the pen itself was not used for food, but was given to the poor or thrown to be eaten by dogs. According to one version, they said about those who did not disdain to eat it: it reached the handle. And today the expression “to reach the handle” means to completely sink, to lose human appearance.
bosom friend
The old expression "pour over the Adam's apple" meant "get drunk", "drink alcohol." Hence the phraseological unit “bosom friend” was formed, which today is used to refer to a very close friend.
Pour in the first number
In the old days, schoolchildren were often flogged, often without any fault of the punished. If the mentor showed particular zeal, and the student got hit especially hard, he could be released from further vices in the current month, up to the first day of the next month. This is how the expression "pour on the first number" arose.
Goof
Prosak used to be a special machine for weaving ropes and ropes. It had a complex structure and twisted strands so strongly that getting clothes, hair, beard into it could cost a person life. It was from such cases that the expression “get into a mess” came about, which today means to be in an awkward position.
Latest Chinese Warning
In the 1950s and 1960s, American aircraft often violated Chinese airspace for the purpose of reconnaissance. The Chinese authorities recorded every violation and each time sent a "warning" to the United States through diplomatic channels, although no real action followed, and such warnings were counted by the hundreds. This policy has given rise to the expression "the last Chinese warning", meaning threats without consequences.
hang dogs
When a person is blamed, accused of something, you can hear the expression: "They hang dogs on him." At first glance, this phrase is absolutely illogical. However, it is not associated with an animal at all, but with a different meaning of the word "dog" - burdock, thorn - now almost never used.
quiet glanders
The word sape means "hoe" in French. In the 16th-19th centuries, the term "sapa" meant a way to open a trench, ditch or tunnel to approach the fortifications. Gunpowder bombs were sometimes planted in the tunnels to the castle walls, and the specialists trained to do this were called sappers. And from the secretive digging of tunnels came the expression "sleep glanders", which today is used to denote cautious and inconspicuous actions.
Big boss
The most experienced and strong hauler, walking in the strap first, was called a bump. This has evolved into the expression "big shot" to refer to an important person.
Case burnt out
Previously, if a court case disappeared, then a person could not be legally charged. Cases often burned down: either from a fire in the wooden buildings of the courts, or from deliberate arson for a bribe. In such cases, the defendants said: "The case burned out." Today, this expression is used when we talk about the successful completion of a major undertaking.
Leave in English
When someone leaves without saying goodbye, we use the expression "left in English." Although in the original this idiom was invented by the British themselves, but it sounded like ‘to take French leave’ (“leave in French”). It appeared during the Seven Years' War in the 18th century as a mockery of French soldiers who arbitrarily left the location of the unit. Then the French copied this expression, but in relation to the British, and in this form it was fixed in the Russian language.
Blue blood
The Spanish royal family and nobility prided themselves on the fact that, unlike the common people, they traced their ancestry to the West Goths and never mixed with the Moors who entered Spain from Africa. Unlike the dark-skinned commoners, blue veins stood out on the pale skin of the upper class, and therefore they called themselves sangre azul, which means "blue blood". Hence, this expression for the designation of the aristocracy penetrated into many European languages, including Russian.
And a no brainer
The source of the expression “And a no-brainer” is a poem by Mayakovsky (“It is clear even to a hedgehog - / This Petya was a bourgeois”). It became widespread first in the Strugatsky story "The Land of Crimson Clouds", and then in Soviet boarding schools for gifted children. They recruited teenagers who had two years left to study (grades A, B, C, D, E) or one year (grades E, F, I). The students of the one-year stream were called “hedgehogs”. When they came to the boarding school, two-year students were already ahead of them in a non-standard program, so at the beginning of the school year, the expression "no brainer" was very relevant.
Wash the bones
The Orthodox Greeks, as well as some Slavic peoples, had a custom of secondary burial - the bones of the deceased were removed, washed with water and wine and put back. If the corpse was found undecayed and swollen, this meant that during his lifetime this person was a sinner and he was cursed to come out of the grave at night in the form of a ghoul, vampire, ghoul and destroy people. Thus, the rite of washing the bones was needed to make sure that there was no such spell.
The highlight of the program
The opening of the Eiffel Tower, which looked like a nail, 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.
Not by washing, so by skating
In the old days, village women, after washing, “rolled” the laundry with the help of a special rolling pin. Well-rolled linen turned out to be wrung out, ironed and clean, even if the washing was not of very high quality.
newspaper duck
“One scientist, having bought 20 ducks, immediately ordered to cut one of them into small pieces, with which he fed the rest of the birds. A few minutes later, he did the same with the other duck, and so on, until there was one left, which, in this way, devoured 19 of her friends. This note was published in the newspaper by the Belgian humorist Cornelissen to mock the gullibility of the public. Since then, according to one version, false news is called "newspaper ducks."
Seven Fridays in a week
Previously, Friday was a free day from work, and, as a result, a market day. On Friday, when they received the goods, they promised to give back the money due for it on the next market day. Since then, to refer to people who do not keep their promises, they say: "He has seven Fridays in the week."
Scapegoat
According to the Hebrew rite, on the day of the absolution of sins, the high priest put his hands on the goat's head and thereby laid on him the sins of the whole people. Then the goat was taken to the Judean desert and released. This is where the expression “scapegoat” comes from.
Where did the expressions “reach the handle”, “scapegoat”, “pour on the first number” and others come from? We often use such phrases in speech without thinking at all about their original meaning and origin. Why is the last warning Chinese? Who is the quiet guy? And why should a successful business fail? Everything has a historical or linguistic explanation. Behind each turn there is either a significant event, or the realities of the past, or the meaning of the word that has gone out of use. So.
Get to the handle
In ancient Rus', kalachi was baked in the shape of a castle with a round bow. Citizens often bought kalachi and ate them right on the street, holding this bow, or handle. For reasons of hygiene, the pen itself was not used for food, but was given to the poor or thrown to be eaten by dogs. According to one version, they said about those who did not disdain to eat it: they reached the handle. And today the expression “to reach the handle” means to completely sink, to lose human appearance.
bosom friend
The old expression "pour over the Adam's apple" meant "get drunk", "drink alcohol." Hence the phraseological unit “bosom friend” was formed, which today is used to refer to a very close friend.
Pour in the first number
In the old days, schoolchildren were often flogged, often without any fault of the punished. If the mentor showed particular zeal, and the student got hit especially hard, he could be released from further vices in the current month, up to the first day of the next month. This is how the expression "pour on the first number" arose.
Goof
Prosak used to be called a special machine for weaving ropes and ropes. It had a complex structure and twisted strands so strongly that getting clothes, hair, beard into it could cost a person life. It was from such cases that the expression “get into a mess” came about, which today means to be in an awkward position.
Latest Chinese Warning
In the 1950s and 1960s, American aircraft often violated Chinese airspace for reconnaissance purposes. The Chinese authorities recorded every violation and each time sent a “warning” to the United States through diplomatic channels, although no real action followed, and such warnings were counted by the hundreds. This policy has given rise to the expression "the last Chinese warning", meaning threats without consequences.
hang dogs
When a person is blamed, accused of something, you can hear the expression: "They hang dogs on him." At first glance, this phrase is absolutely illogical. However, it is not associated with an animal at all, but with a different meaning of the word "dog" - burdock, thorn - now almost never used.
quiet glanders
The word "sape" in French means "hoe". In the 16th-19th centuries, the term "sapa" denoted a method of digging a trench, ditch or tunnel to approach the fortifications. Gunpowder bombs were sometimes planted in tunnels to the walls of castles, and specialists trained to do this were called sappers. And from the secretive digging of tunnels came the expression "sleep glanders", which today is used to denote cautious and inconspicuous actions.
Big boss
The most experienced and strong hauler, walking in the strap first, was called a bump. This has evolved into the expression "big shot" to refer to an important person.
Case burnt out
Previously, if a court case disappeared, then a person could not be legally charged. Cases often burned down: either from a fire in the wooden buildings of the courts, or from deliberate arson for a bribe. In such cases, the defendants said: "The case burned out." Today, this expression is used when we talk about the successful completion of a major undertaking.
Leave in English
When someone leaves without saying goodbye, we use the expression "left in English." Although in the original this idiom was invented by the British themselves, but it sounded like “to take French leave” (“leave in French”). It appeared during the Seven Years' War in the 18th century as a mockery of French soldiers who arbitrarily left the location of the unit. Then the French copied this expression, but in relation to the British, and in this form it was fixed in the Russian language.
Blue blood
The Spanish royal family and nobility prided themselves on the fact that, unlike the common people, they traced their ancestry to the West Goths and never mixed with the Moors who entered Spain from Africa. Unlike the dark-skinned commoners, blue veins stood out on the pale skin of the upper class, and therefore they called themselves "sangre azul", which means "blue blood". Hence, this expression for the designation of the aristocracy penetrated into many European languages, including Russian.
And a no brainer
The source of the expression “And it’s clear to a hedgehog” is Mayakovsky’s poem (“It’s clear even to a hedgehog - / This Petya was a bourgeois”). It became widespread first in the Strugatskys' story "The Country of Crimson Clouds", and then in Soviet boarding schools for gifted children. They recruited teenagers who had two years left to study (grades A, B, C, D, E) or one year (grades E, F, I). The students of the one-year stream were called “hedgehogs”. When they came to the boarding school, two-year students were already ahead of them in a non-standard program, so at the beginning of the school year, the expression "no brainer" was very relevant.
Wash the bones
The Orthodox Greeks, as well as some Slavic peoples, had a custom of secondary burial - the bones of the deceased were removed, washed with water and wine and put back. If the corpse was found undecayed and swollen, this meant that during his lifetime this person was a sinner and he was cursed - to come out of the grave at night in the form of a ghoul, vampire, ghoul and destroy people. Thus, the rite of washing the bones was needed to make sure that there was no such spell.
The highlight of the program
The opening of the Eiffel Tower, which looked like a nail, 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.
Not by washing, so by skating
In the old days, village women, after washing, “rolled” the laundry with the help of a special rolling pin. Well-rolled linen turned out to be wrung out, ironed and clean, even if the washing was not of very high quality.
newspaper duck
“One scientist, having bought 20 ducks, immediately ordered to cut one of them into small pieces, with which he fed the rest of the birds. A few minutes later, he did the same with the other duck, and so on, until there was one left, which, in this way, devoured 19 of her friends. This note was published in the newspaper by the Belgian humorist Cornelissen to mock the gullibility of the public. Since then, according to one version, false news is called "newspaper ducks."
Seven Fridays in a week
Previously, Friday was a free day from work, and, as a result, a market day. On Friday, when they received the goods, they promised to give back the money due for it on the next market day. Since then, to refer to people who do not keep their promises, they say: "He has seven Fridays in the week."
Scapegoat
According to the Hebrew rite, on the day of the absolution of sins, the high priest put his hands on the goat's head and thereby laid on him the sins of the whole people. Then the goat was taken to the Judean desert and released. This is where the term "scapegoat" comes from.
Where the dog is buried
Some German linguists believe that this expression was created by treasure hunters who, out of superstitious fear of evil spirit, supposedly guarding each treasure, did not dare to directly mention the purpose of their search and conditionally began to talk about the "black dog" and the dog, meaning the devil and the treasure. Thus, according to this version, the expression "that's where the dog is buried" meant: "that's where the treasure is buried."
give the go-ahead
In the pre-revolutionary alphabet, the letter "D" was called "good". The flag corresponding to this letter in the code of signals of the navy has the meaning "yes, I agree, I allow." This is what led to the emergence of the expression "give good." The expression "customs gives the go-ahead" derived from this first appeared in the film "White Sun of the Desert".
Bury talent in the ground
Initially, talent was called the largest weight and monetary unit in Ancient Greece, Babylon, Persia and other areas of Asia Minor. From the gospel parable about a man who received money and buried it, being afraid to invest in a business, there was an expression "to bury talent in the ground." In modern Russian, this expression has acquired a figurative connotation due to the new meaning of the word talent and is used when a person does not care about developing his abilities.
Pass through the red thread
By order of the English Admiralty, since 1776, in the production of ropes for the navy, a red thread must be woven into them so that it cannot be removed even from a small piece of rope. Apparently, this measure was intended to reduce the theft of ropes. This is where the expression "pass like a red thread" comes from. main idea author throughout literary work, and Goethe was the first to use it in the novel Kindred Natures.
Soap opera
In the 1930s, serial programs appeared on American radio with simple tear-jerking stories. Their sponsors were manufacturers of soap and other detergents, as the main audience of these programs were housewives. Therefore, the expression “soap opera” was fixed for radio, and later for television series.
rub glasses
In the 19th century, cheaters-gamblers resorted to tricks: during the game, with the help of a special adhesive composition, they applied additional points (red or black marks) from powder to the cards, and if necessary, they could erase these points. This is where the expression "to rub glasses" comes from, meaning to present something in a favorable light.
whipping boy
Whipping boys in England and others European countries 15-18 centuries called boys who were brought up with princes and received corporal punishment for the faults of the prince. The effectiveness of this method was no worse than the direct flogging of the culprit, since the prince did not have the opportunity to play with other children, except for the boy, with whom he had a strong emotional connection.
Balzac age
Expression " balzac age” arose after the release of Balzac’s novel “The Thirty-Year-Old Woman” and is permissible in relation to women not older than 40 years.
Tutelka in tyutelka
Tyutelka is a diminutive of the dialectal "tyutya" (hit, hit) name exact hit with an ax in the same place during carpentry work. Today, to denote high accuracy, the expression "tutelka in tyutelka" is used.
Hack on the nose, stay with the nose
Previously, in addition to a part of the face, the nose was called a tag that they carried with them and on which they put notches to account for work, debts, etc. Thanks to this, the expression “hack on the nose” arose. In another sense, a bribe, an offering, was called a nose. The expression "to stay with the nose" meant to leave with an unaccepted offering, without an agreement.
play on nerves
After the ancient doctors discovered the nerves in the human body, they named them after their resemblance to strings. musical instruments the same word "nervus". Hence the expression for irritating actions "play on the nerves."
Pip on your tongue
A small horny tubercle on the tip of the tongue in birds, which helps them peck food, is called a pip. The growth of such a tubercle can be a sign of illness. Hard pimples on the human tongue are called pips by analogy with these bird bumps. According to superstitious ideas, the pip usually appears in deceitful people. Hence the unkind wish "pip on your tongue."
Money doesn't smell
When the son of the Roman emperor Vespasian reproached him for imposing a tax on public latrines, the emperor showed him the money that came from this tax and asked if it smelled. Having received a negative answer, Vespasian said: "But they are from urine." This is where the expression "money doesn't smell" comes from.
It is not worth it
The expression "the game is not worth the candle" came from the speech of gamblers, who spoke in this way about a very small gain that does not pay off the cost of the candles that burned out during the game.
Moscow does not believe in tears
During the rise of the Moscow principality, a large tribute was levied from other cities. Cities sent petitioners to Moscow with complaints of injustice. The king sometimes severely punished complainers to intimidate others. Hence, according to one version, the expression “Moscow does not believe in tears” came from.
It smells like kerosene
Koltsov's 1924 feuilleton told of a major scam uncovered in the transfer of a concession to exploit oil in California. The most senior US officials were involved in the scam. Here the expression "the case smells of kerosene" was first used.
Beat the thumbs
In the old days, chocks chipped from a log - blanks for wooden utensils - were called baklushas. Their manufacture was considered easy, not requiring effort and skill. Now we use the expression "beat the buckets" to refer to idleness.
In the bag
In the old days, the messengers who delivered the mail sewed very important papers, or "deeds" under the lining of their caps or hats, so as not to attract the attention of robbers. This is where the expression "in the bag" comes from.
Back to our sheep
In a medieval French comedy, a wealthy clothier sues a shepherd for stealing his sheep. During the meeting, the clothier forgets about the shepherd and showers reproaches on his lawyer, who did not pay him for six cubits of cloth. The judge interrupts the speech with the words: "Let's return to our sheep", which have become winged.
To contribute
In ancient Greece, there was a small coin lepta. IN gospel parable the poor widow donates her last two mites for the construction of the temple. From the parable came the expression "to contribute."
fail
“To fail” means to experience failure, to fail on the way to the goal. However, the word "fiasco" in Italian means a large two-liter bottle. How could such a strange combination of words be created and how did it acquire its modern sense? There is an explanation for this. It was born from failed attempt the famous Italian comedian Bianconelli to play a cheerful pantomime in front of the public with a large bottle in his hand. After his failure, the words "Bianconelli fiasco" took on the meaning of acting failure, and then the very word "fiasco" began to mean failure.
Chasing a long ruble
In the 13th century, the hryvnia, divided into four parts (“ruble”), was the monetary and weight unit in Rus'. A particularly weighty remnant of the ingot was called the "long ruble". The expression about big and easy earnings is connected with these words - “chasing a long ruble”.
What fly has bitten
This expression is applied to someone who is out of sorts, angry, angry; O strange behavior anyone. “What fly bitten” - tracing paper from the French “quelle mouche vous pique?”. It goes back to superstitious ideas (common among the Slavs) that the devil could turn into flies, horseflies, beetles and other insects. Penetrating into the mouth, nose, ear or biting a person, he made him demon-possessed, causing him to lose his temper, get nervous, get angry.
Like peas on the wall
V. I. Dal in the "Dictionary of the Living Great Russian Language" gives the following definition of this turnover: "does not cling." Among the people you can hear: "He should be told that to sculpt peas into the wall or how to squash peas against the wall."
How to drink to give
The expression is based on the tradition of giving travelers a drink. Giving water is a simple and easy thing, so the turnover was used in the meaning of "quickly, easily." At the beginning of the 19th century the form “how to drink will be given” appears; modern form formed by the middle of the 19th century.
Why are newbies called "dummies"?
A kettle is an inexperienced user, a person who does not know how to expediently use a personal computer to the extent necessary for him. The term comes from mountaineering. Experienced climbers call a teapot a beginner who has made his first ascent to the top of the mountain. As a rule, such people do not first of all perform the necessary actions to set up the camp, but pose for photographers, resting one hand on their side, and put the other aside, leaning on an ice ax with it, ski pole etc., which makes their silhouette strongly reminiscent of a teapot.
We use such phrases every day in speech, without thinking at all about their original meaning and origin. Why is the last warning Chinese? Who is the quiet guy? And why should a successful business fail? There is a historical or linguistic explanation for everything. Behind each turn there is either a significant event, or the realities of the past, or the meaning of the word that has gone out of use.
Get to the handle
In ancient Rus', kalachi was baked in the shape of a castle with a round bow. Citizens often bought kalachi and ate them right on the street, holding this bow, or handle. For reasons of hygiene, the pen itself was not used for food, but was given to the poor or thrown to be eaten by dogs. According to one version, they said about those who did not disdain to eat it: it reached the handle. And today the expression “to reach the handle” means to completely sink, to lose human appearance.
bosom friend
The old expression "pour over the Adam's apple" meant "get drunk", "drink alcohol." Hence the phraseological unit “bosom friend” was formed, which today is used to refer to a very close friend.
Pour in the first number
In the old days, schoolchildren were often flogged, often without any fault of the punished. If the mentor showed particular zeal, and the student got hit especially hard, he could be released from further vices in the current month, up to the first day of the next month. This is how the expression "pour on the first number" arose.
Goof
Prosak used to be a special machine for weaving ropes and ropes. It had a complex structure and twisted strands so strongly that getting clothes, hair, beard into it could cost a person life. It was from such cases that the expression “get into a mess” came about, which today means to be in an awkward position.
Latest Chinese Warning
In the 1950s and 1960s, American aircraft often violated Chinese airspace for the purpose of reconnaissance. The Chinese authorities recorded every violation and each time sent a "warning" to the United States through diplomatic channels, although no real action followed, and such warnings were counted by the hundreds. This policy has given rise to the expression "the last Chinese warning", meaning threats without consequences.
hang dogs
When a person is blamed, accused of something, you can hear the expression: "They hang dogs on him." At first glance, this phrase is absolutely illogical. However, it is not associated with an animal at all, but with a different meaning of the word "dog" - burdock, thorn - now almost never used.
quiet glanders
The word sape means "hoe" in French. In the 16th-19th centuries, the term "sapa" meant a way to open a trench, ditch or tunnel to approach the fortifications. Gunpowder bombs were sometimes planted in the tunnels to the castle walls, and the specialists trained to do this were called sappers. And from the secretive digging of tunnels came the expression "sleep glanders", which today is used to denote cautious and inconspicuous actions.
Big boss
The most experienced and strong hauler, walking in the strap first, was called a bump. This has evolved into the expression "big shot" to refer to an important person.
Case burnt out
Previously, if a court case disappeared, then a person could not be legally charged. Cases often burned down: either from a fire in the wooden buildings of the courts, or from deliberate arson for a bribe. In such cases, the defendants said: "The case burned out." Today, this expression is used when we talk about the successful completion of a major undertaking.
Leave in English
When someone leaves without saying goodbye, we use the expression "left in English." Although in the original this idiom was invented by the British themselves, but it sounded like ‘to take French leave’ (“leave in French”). It appeared during the Seven Years' War in the 18th century as a mockery of French soldiers who arbitrarily left the location of the unit. Then the French copied this expression, but in relation to the British, and in this form it was fixed in the Russian language.
Blue blood
The Spanish royal family and nobility prided themselves on the fact that, unlike the common people, they traced their ancestry to the West Goths and never mixed with the Moors who entered Spain from Africa. Unlike the dark-skinned commoners, blue veins stood out on the pale skin of the upper class, and therefore they called themselves sangre azul, which means "blue blood". Hence, this expression for the designation of the aristocracy penetrated into many European languages, including Russian.
And a no brainer
The source of the expression “And a no-brainer” is a poem by Mayakovsky (“It is clear even to a hedgehog - / This Petya was a bourgeois”). It became widespread first in the Strugatsky story "The Land of Crimson Clouds", and then in Soviet boarding schools for gifted children. They recruited teenagers who had two years left to study (grades A, B, C, D, E) or one year (grades E, F, I). The students of the one-year stream were called “hedgehogs”. When they came to the boarding school, two-year students were already ahead of them in a non-standard program, so at the beginning of the school year, the expression "no brainer" was very relevant.
Wash the bones
The Orthodox Greeks, as well as some Slavic peoples, had a custom of secondary burial - the bones of the deceased were removed, washed with water and wine and put back. If the corpse was found undecayed and swollen, this meant that during his lifetime this person was a sinner and he was cursed to come out of the grave at night in the form of a ghoul, vampire, ghoul and destroy people. Thus, the rite of washing the bones was needed to make sure that there was no such spell.
The highlight of the program
The opening of the Eiffel Tower, which looked like a nail, 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.
Not by washing, so by skating
In the old days, village women, after washing, “rolled” the laundry with the help of a special rolling pin. Well-rolled linen turned out to be wrung out, ironed and clean, even if the washing was not of very high quality.
newspaper duck
“One scientist, having bought 20 ducks, immediately ordered to cut one of them into small pieces, with which he fed the rest of the birds. A few minutes later, he did the same with the other duck, and so on, until there was one left, which, in this way, devoured 19 of her friends. This note was published in the newspaper by the Belgian humorist Cornelissen to mock the gullibility of the public. Since then, according to one version, false news is called "newspaper ducks."
Seven Fridays in a week
Previously, Friday was a free day from work, and, as a result, a market day. On Friday, when they received the goods, they promised to give back the money due for it on the next market day. Since then, to refer to people who do not keep their promises, they say: "He has seven Fridays in the week."
Scapegoat
According to the Hebrew rite, on the day of the absolution of sins, the high priest put his hands on the goat's head and thereby laid on him the sins of the whole people. Then the goat was taken to the Judean desert and released. This is where the expression “scapegoat” comes from.
Where did the expressions “reach the handle”, “scapegoat”, “pour on the first number” and others come from? We use such phrases every day in speech, without thinking at all about their original meaning and origin. Why is the last warning Chinese? Who is the quiet guy? And why should a successful business fail? Everything has a historical or linguistic explanation. Behind each turn there is either a significant event, or the realities of the past, or the meaning of the word that has gone out of use. So.
REACH THE HANDLE
In ancient Rus', kalachi was baked in the shape of a castle with a round bow. Citizens often bought kalachi and ate them right on the street, holding this bow, or handle. For reasons of hygiene, the pen itself was not used for food, but was given to the poor or thrown to be eaten by dogs. According to one version, they said about those who did not disdain to eat it: it reached the handle. And today the expression “to reach the handle” means to completely sink, to lose human appearance.
BEST FRIEND
The old expression "pour over the Adam's apple" meant "get drunk", "drink alcohol." Hence the phraseological unit “bosom friend” was formed, which today is used to refer to a very close friend.
FILL ON THE FIRST NUMBER
In the old days, schoolchildren were often flogged, often without any fault of the punished. If the mentor showed particular zeal, and the student got hit especially hard, he could be released from further vices in the current month, up to the first day of the next month. This is how the expression "pour on the first number" arose.
GOOF
Prosak used to be a special machine for weaving ropes and ropes. It had a complex structure and twisted strands so strongly that getting clothes, hair, beard into it could cost a person life. It was from such cases that the expression “get into a mess” came about, which today means to be in an awkward position.
LAST CHINESE WARNING
In the 1950s and 1960s, American aircraft often violated Chinese airspace for the purpose of reconnaissance. The Chinese authorities recorded every violation and each time sent a "warning" to the United States through diplomatic channels, although no real action followed, and such warnings were counted by the hundreds. This policy has given rise to the expression "the last Chinese warning", meaning threats without consequences.
HANG DOGS
When a person is blamed, accused of something, you can hear the expression: "They hang dogs on him." At first glance, this phrase is absolutely illogical. However, it is not associated with an animal at all, but with a different meaning of the word "dog" - burdock, thorn - now almost never used.
SILENT SPAOY
The word sape means "hoe" in French. In the 16th-19th centuries, the term "sapa" meant a way to open a trench, ditch or tunnel to approach the fortifications. Gunpowder bombs were sometimes planted in the tunnels to the castle walls, and the specialists trained to do this were called sappers. And from the secretive digging of tunnels came the expression "sleep glanders", which today is used to denote cautious and inconspicuous actions.
BIG BOSS
The most experienced and strong hauler, walking in the strap first, was called a bump. This has evolved into the expression "big shot" to refer to an important person.
CASE BURNED OUT
Previously, if a court case disappeared, then a person could not be legally charged. Cases often burned down: either from a fire in the wooden buildings of the courts, or from deliberate arson for a bribe. In such cases, the defendants said: "The case burned out." Today, this expression is used when we talk about the successful completion of a major undertaking.
EXIT IN ENGLISH
When someone leaves without saying goodbye, we use the expression "left in English." Although in the original this idiom was invented by the British themselves, but it sounded like ‘to take French leave’ (“leave in French”). It appeared during the Seven Years' War in the 18th century as a mockery of French soldiers who arbitrarily left the location of the unit. Then the French copied this expression, but in relation to the British, and in this form it was fixed in the Russian language.
BLUE BLOOD
The Spanish royal family and nobility prided themselves on the fact that, unlike the common people, they traced their ancestry to the West Goths and never mixed with the Moors who entered Spain from Africa. Unlike the dark-skinned commoners, blue veins stood out on the pale skin of the upper class, and therefore they called themselves sangre azul, which means "blue blood". Hence, this expression for the designation of the aristocracy penetrated into many European languages, including Russian.
AND NO LONGER
The source of the expression “And it’s clear to a hedgehog” is Mayakovsky’s poem (“It’s clear even to a hedgehog - / This Petya was a bourgeois”). It became widespread first in the Strugatsky story "The Land of Crimson Clouds", and then in Soviet boarding schools for gifted children. They recruited teenagers who had two years left to study (grades A, B, C, D, E) or one year (grades E, F, I). The students of the one-year stream were called “hedgehogs”. When they came to the boarding school, two-year students were already ahead of them in a non-standard program, so at the beginning of the school year, the expression "no brainer" was very relevant.
WASH BONES
The Orthodox Greeks, as well as some Slavic peoples, had a custom of secondary burial - the bones of the deceased were removed, washed with water and wine and put back. If the corpse was found undecayed and swollen, this meant that during his lifetime this person was a sinner and a curse lies on him - to come out of the grave at night in the form of a ghoul, vampire, ghoul and destroy people. Thus, the rite of washing the bones was needed to make sure that there was no such spell.
THE HEAD OF THE PROGRAM
The opening of the Eiffel Tower, which looked like a nail, 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.
DO NOT WASH, SO RIDE
In the old days, village women, after washing, “rolled” the laundry with the help of a special rolling pin. Well-rolled linen turned out to be wrung out, ironed and clean, even if the washing was not of very high quality.
NEWSPAPER DUCK
“One scientist, having bought 20 ducks, immediately ordered to cut one of them into small pieces, with which he fed the rest of the birds. A few minutes later, he did the same with the other duck, and so on, until there was one left, which, in this way, devoured 19 of her friends. This note was published in the newspaper by the Belgian humorist Cornelissen to mock the gullibility of the public. Since then, according to one version, false news is called "newspaper ducks."
SEVEN FRIDAYS IN THE WEEK
Previously, Friday was a free day from work, and, as a result, a market day. On Friday, when they received the goods, they promised to give back the money due for it on the next market day. Since then, to refer to people who do not keep their promises, they say: "He has seven Fridays in the week."
SCAPEGOAT
According to the Hebrew rite, on the day of the absolution of sins, the high priest put his hands on the goat's head and thereby laid on him the sins of the whole people. Then the goat was taken to the Judean desert and released. This is where the expression “scapegoat” comes from.
