Examples of popular expressions in Russian. Chasing a long ruble

The Russian language is rich and powerful with its long history. And each era brought something of its own to this language. And such expressions have come down to us that absolutely everyone knows, for example, to freeze stupidity or set horns, and everyone knows what they mean, but only a few know where they came from. Read more about the origin of these and other catchphrases in this article..

Freeze stupidity

This expression appeared thanks to gentlemen high school students. The fact is that the word “moros” translated from Greek means “stupidity”. This is what the teachers said to the careless students when, out of ignorance of the lesson, they began to talk nonsense: “You are talking nonsense.” Then the words were rearranged - and it turned out that out of ignorance the schoolchildren “were freezing stupidity.”

Big boss

Do you remember the picture “Barge Haulers on the Volga”, how in it the barge haulers are dragging the barge with all their strength? The heaviest and most important place in this burden is the place of the first barge hauler. He sets the initiative, he directs the rest. Therefore, this place was occupied by the strongest person. This a man in a burlatka strap was called a “bump.” This means that a “big shot” is a big and important person.

Alive Smoking Room

In the old days in Rus' there was such a game: everyone sat in a circle, someone lit a torch - and then it was passed around the circle from hand to hand. At the same time, everyone present sang a song: “The Smoking Room is alive, alive, alive, not dead...” And so on until the torch burned. The one in whose hands the torch went out lost. Since then, this expression began to be applied to those people and sometimes things that, it would seem, should have disappeared a long time ago, but despite everything continued to exist.

And prove that you are not a camel

This phrase became very popular after the publication of the next series of the zucchini, “Thirteen Chairs.” There was a miniature where Mr. Director talks with Mr. Himalayan about a camel recently brought to the circus. The accompanying documents read: “We are sending a Bactrian camel to your circus and Himalayan”, i.e. the surname of Pan Himalayan was written with a small letter. Fearing bureaucratic checks, Mr. Director demands a certificate from Mr. Himalayan stating that he is not actually a camel. This so vividly ridiculed the role of the bureaucratic machine in our country that the expression very quickly spread to the people and became popular. Now we say this when we are asked to prove obvious things.

Not at ease

In French, “asiet” is both a plate and a mood, a state. They say that at the beginning of the 19th century, a certain translator, while translating a French play, translated the phrase “buddy, you’re out of sorts” as “you’re out of your element.” Alexander Sergeevich Griboedov, who was an avid theatergoer, of course, could not ignore such a brilliant blunder and put an illiterate phrase into Famusov’s mouth: “My dear! You're out of your element. I need sleep from the road." With the light hand of Alexander Sergeevich, the crazy phrase took on meaning and took root in the Russian language for a long time.

Add the first number

In the old days, schoolchildren were often flogged, often without any fault of the person being punished. If the mentor showed special zeal, and the student suffered especially hard, he could be freed from further vices in the current month, until the first day of the next month. This is how the expression “pour in the first number” arose.

And it's a no brainer

The source of the expression “It’s a no brainer” is Mayakovsky’s poem (“It’s even a no brainer – / This Petya was a bourgeois”). The wide spread of this phrase was facilitated by the use of this phrase in the Strugatskys’ story “The Land of Crimson Clouds,” and it also became common in Soviet boarding schools for gifted children. They recruited teenagers who had two years left to study (classes A, B, C, D, D) or one year (classes E, F, I). Pupils of the one-year stream were called “hedgehogs”. When they arrived at the boarding school, the two-year students were already ahead of them in the non-standard program, so at the beginning of the school year the expression “no brainer” was very relevant.

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 means “yes, I agree, I authorize.” This is what gave rise to the expression “give the go-ahead.” The derivative expression “Customs gives the go-ahead” first appeared in the film “White Sun of the Desert.”

Fly like plywood over Paris

It would not be an exaggeration to say that everyone has heard the expression “Fly like plywood over Paris.” The meaning of this phraseological unit can be conveyed as a missed opportunity to do or get something, to be out of work, to fail. But where did this saying come from? In 1908 year, the famous French aviator Auguste Fanier, making a demonstration flight over Paris, crashed into the Eiffel Tower and died. After which the famous Menshevik Martov wrote in Iskra that “the tsarist regime is flying to its death as quickly as Mr. Fanier over Paris "The Russian perceived this maxim somewhat differently, changing the name of the foreign aviator to plywood. This is where the expression “fly like plywood over Paris” came from

Description of some catchphrases

We often use so-called catchphrases without even knowing their origin. Of course, everyone knows: “And Vaska listens and eats” - this is from Krylov’s fable, “gifts of the Danaans” and “Trojan horse” - from Greek legends about the Trojan War... But many words have become so close and familiar that it doesn’t even occur to us whoever said them first may come.

Scapegoat
The history of this expression is as follows: the ancient Jews had a rite of absolution. The priest laid both hands on the head of the living goat, thereby, as it were, transferring the sins of the entire people onto it. After this, the goat was driven out into the desert. Many, many years have passed, and the ritual no longer exists, but the expression still lives on...

Tryn-grass
The mysterious “tryn-grass” is not at all some kind of herbal medicine that people drink so as not to worry. At first it was called “tyn-grass”, and tyn is a fence. The result was “fence grass,” that is, a weed that no one needed, everyone was indifferent to.

Master of sour cabbage soup
Sour cabbage soup is a simple peasant food: water and sauerkraut. Preparing them was not particularly difficult. And if someone was called a master of sour cabbage soup, it meant that he was not fit for anything worthwhile. Balzac’s age

The expression arose after the publication of the novel by the French writer Honore de Balzac (1799-1850) “A Woman of Thirty” (1831); used as a characteristic of women aged 30-40 years.

White crow
This expression, as a designation of a rare person, sharply different from the rest, is given in the 7th satire of the Roman poet Juvenal (mid-1st century - after 127 AD):
Fate gives kingdoms to slaves and brings triumphs to captives.
However, such a lucky person is rarer than a black sheep.

Plant the pig
In all likelihood, this expression is due to the fact that some peoples do not eat pork for religious reasons. And if such a person was quietly put pork in his food, then his faith was desecrated.

Throwing a stone
The expression “throwing a stone” at someone in the sense of “accusing” arose from the Gospel (John 8:7); Jesus said to the scribes and Pharisees, who, tempting him, brought to him a woman caught in adultery: “He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone at her” (in ancient Judea there was a penalty - stoning).

Paper endures everything (Paper does not turn red)
The expression goes back to the Roman writer and orator Cicero (106 - 43 BC); in his letters “To Friends” there is an expression: “Epistola non erubescit” - “A letter does not blush,” that is, in writing one can express thoughts that one is embarrassed to express orally.

To be or not to be - that is the question
The beginning of Hamlet's monologue in Shakespeare's tragedy of the same name, translated by N.A. Polevoy (1837).

Wolf in sheep's clothing
The expression originated from the Gospel: “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”

In borrowed plumes
It arose from a fable by I.A. Krylov “The Crow” (1825).

Add the first number
You won’t believe it, but... from the old school, where students were flogged every week, no matter who was right or wrong. And if the mentor overdoes it, then such a spanking would last for a long time, until the first day of the next month.

Register Izhitsa
Izhitsa is the name of the last letter of the Church Slavonic alphabet. Traces of flogging on well-known places of careless students strongly resembled this letter. So registering an Izhitsa means teaching a lesson, punishing it, and it’s easier to flog it. And you still criticize modern school!

I carry everything I have with me
The expression originated from an ancient Greek legend. When the Persian king Cyrus occupied the city of Priene in Ionia, the inhabitants abandoned it, taking with them the most valuable of their possessions. Only Biant, one of the “seven wise men”, a native of Priene, left empty-handed. In response to the perplexed questions of his fellow citizens, he answered, referring to spiritual values: “I carry everything I own with me.” This expression is often used in the Latin formulation due to Cicero: Omnia mea mecum porto.
Everything flows, everything changes
This expression, which defines the constant variability of all things, sets out the essence of the teachings of the Greek philosopher Heraclitus of Ephesus (c. 530-470 BC)

Goal like a falcon
Terribly poor, beggar. People usually think that we are talking about a bird. But the falcon has nothing to do with it. In fact, the “falcon” is an ancient military battering gun. It was a completely smooth (“bare”) cast iron block attached to chains. Nothing extra!

Orphan Kazan
This is what they say about a person who pretends to be unhappy, offended, helpless in order to pity someone. But why is the orphan “Kazan”? It turns out that this phraseological unit arose after the conquest of Kazan by Ivan the Terrible. The Mirzas (Tatar princes), finding themselves subjects of the Russian Tsar, tried to beg all sorts of concessions from him, complaining about their orphanhood and bitter fate.

Unlucky man
In the old days in Rus', “path” was the name given not only to the road, but also to various positions at the prince’s court. The falconer's path is in charge of princely hunting, the hunter's path is in charge of hound hunting, the stableman's path is in charge of carriages and horses. The boyars tried by hook or by crook to get a position from the prince. And those who did not succeed were spoken of with disdain: a good-for-nothing person.

Was there a boy?
One of the episodes of M. Gorky’s novel “The Life of Klim Samgin” tells about the boy Klim skating with other children. Boris Varavka and Varya Somova fall into the wormwood. Klim hands Boris the end of his gymnasium belt, but, feeling that he too is being pulled into the water, he lets go of the belt. Children are drowning. When the search for the drowned begins, Klim is struck by “someone’s serious, incredulous question: “Was there a boy, maybe there wasn’t a boy.” The last phrase became popular as a figurative expression of extreme doubt about something.

Twenty two misfortunes
This is how in A.P. Chekhov’s play “The Cherry Orchard” (1903) they call the clerk Epikhodov, with whom some comic trouble happens every day. The expression is applied to people with whom some misfortune constantly happens.

Money doesn't smell
The expression arose from the words of the Roman emperor (69 - 79 AD) Vespasian, said by him, as Suetonius reports in his biography, on the following occasion. When Vespasian's son Titus reproached his father for introducing a tax on public latrines, Vespasian brought the first money received from this tax to his nose and asked if it smelled. To Titus's negative answer, Vespasian said: "And yet they are made of urine."

Draconian measures
This is the name given to the excessively harsh laws named after Dragon, the first legislator of the Athenian Republic (7th century BC). Among the punishments determined by its laws, the death penalty allegedly occupied a prominent place, which punished, for example, such an offense as theft of vegetables. There was a legend that these laws were written in blood (Plutarch, Solon). In literary speech, the expression “draconian laws”, “draconian measures, punishments” have become stronger in the meaning of harsh, cruel laws.

Inside out
Now this seems to be a completely harmless expression. And once it was associated with shameful punishment. During the time of Ivan the Terrible, a guilty boyar was placed backwards on a horse with his clothes turned inside out and, in this disgraced form, was driven around the city to the whistling and jeers of the street crowd.

Retired goat drummer
In the old days, trained bears were brought to fairs. They were accompanied by a dancing boy dressed as a goat, and a drummer accompanying his dance. This was the goat drummer. He was perceived as a worthless, frivolous person.

Yellow press
In 1895, American graphic artist Richard Outcault published a series of frivolous drawings with humorous text in a number of issues of the New York newspaper “The World”; Among the drawings was a picture of a child in a yellow shirt, to whom various funny sayings were attributed. Soon another newspaper, the New York Journal, began publishing a series of similar drawings. A dispute arose between these two newspapers over the right of primacy to the “yellow boy”. In 1896, Erwin Wardman, editor of the New York Press, published an article in his magazine in which he contemptuously called both competing newspapers "yellow press." Since then, the expression has become popular.

Finest hour
An expression by Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) from the preface to his collection of historical short stories, Humanity's Finest Hours (1927). Zweig explains that he called historical moments starry hours “because, like eternal stars, they invariably shine in the night of oblivion and decay.”

Golden mean
An expression from the 2nd book of odes of the Roman poet Horace: “aurea mediocritas.”

Choose the lesser of two evils
An expression found in the works of the ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle “Nicomachean Ethics” in the form: “The lesser of evils must be chosen.” Cicero (in his essay “On Duties”) says: “One should not only choose the least of evils, but also extract from them themselves what can be good in them.”

To make mountains out of molehills
The expression is one of the ancient ones. It is quoted by the Greek writer Lucian (3rd century AD), who ends his satirical “Praise of the Fly” like this: “But I interrupt my speech, although I could say a lot more, lest anyone think that I “, as the proverb goes, I make a mountain out of a molehill.”

Highlight
The expression is used in the meaning: something that gives a special taste, attractiveness to something (a dish, a story, a person, etc.). It arose from a popular proverb: “Kvass is not expensive, the zest in kvass is expensive”; became popular after the appearance of L. N. Tolstoy’s drama “The Living Corpse” (1912). The hero of the drama, Protasov, talking about his family life, says: “My wife was an ideal woman... But what can I tell you? There was no zest - you know, there is zest in kvass? - there was no game in our lives. And I needed to forget. And without the game you won’t forget...”

Lead by the nose
Apparently, trained bears were very popular, because this expression was also associated with fairground entertainment. Gypsies led bears by a ring threaded through their noses. And they forced them, the poor fellows, to do various tricks, deceiving them with the promise of a handout.

Sharpen the laces
Lyasy (balusters) are turned figured posts of railings at the porch. Only a true master could make such beauty. Probably, at first, “sharpening balusters” meant conducting an elegant, fancy, ornate (like balusters) conversation. But in our time, the number of people skilled in conducting such a conversation became fewer and fewer. So this expression came to mean empty chatter.

a swan song
The expression is used to mean: the last manifestation of talent. Based on the belief that swans sing before death, it arose in ancient times. Evidence of this is found in one of Aesop’s fables (6th century BC): “They say that swans sing before they die.”

Flying Dutchman
A Dutch legend has preserved the story of a sailor who vowed, in a strong storm, to round the cape that blocked his path, even if it took him forever. Because of his pride, he was doomed to forever rush on a ship on a raging sea, never landing on the shore. This legend obviously arose in the age of great discoveries. It is possible that its historical basis was the expedition of Vasco da Gama (1469-1524), who rounded the Cape of Good Hope in 1497. In the 17th century this legend was associated with several Dutch captains, which is reflected in its name.

Seize the day
The expression apparently goes back to Horace (“carpe diem” - “seize the day”, “take advantage of the day”).

The lion's share
The expression goes back to the fable of the ancient Greek fabulist Aesop “The Lion, the Fox and the Donkey”, the plot of which - the division of prey among the animals - was later used by Phaedrus, La Fontaine and other fabulists.

The Moor has done his job, the Moor can leave
Quote from the drama by F. Schiller (1759 - 1805) “The Fiesco Conspiracy in Genoa” (1783). This phrase (d.3, iv.4) is uttered by the Moor, who turned out to be unnecessary after he helped Count Fisco organize a rebellion of the Republicans against the tyrant of Genoa, Doge Doria. This phrase has become a saying characterizing a cynical attitude towards a person whose services are no longer needed.

Manna from heaven
According to the Bible, manna is the food that God sent to the Jews every morning from heaven when they walked through the desert to the promised land (Exodus 16, 14-16 and 31).

Disservice
The expression arose from I. A. Krylov’s fable “The Hermit and the Bear” (1808).

Honeymoon
The idea that the happiness of the first stage of marriage quickly gives way to the bitterness of disappointment, figuratively expressed in eastern folklore, was used by Voltaire for his philosophical novel “Zadig, or Fate” (1747), in the 3rd chapter of which he writes: “Zadig experienced that The first month of marriage, as described in the book of Zend, is the honeymoon, and the second is the wormwood month.”

Young people love us everywhere
Quote from “Song of the Motherland” in the film “Circus” (1936), text by V. I. Lebedev-Kumach, music by I. O. Dunaevsky.

Silent means consent
Expression of Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) in one of his messages, included in canon law (a set of decrees of church authority). This expression goes back to Sophocles (496-406 BC), in whose tragedy “The Trachinian Women” it is said: “Don’t you understand that by silence you agree with the accuser?”

Torments of Tantalus
In Greek mythology, Tantalus, the king of Phrygia (also called the king of Lydia), was the favorite of the gods, who often invited him to their feasts. But, proud of his position, he offended the gods, for which he was severely punished. According to Homer (“Odyssey”), his punishment was that, cast down into Tartarus (hell), he forever experiences unbearable pangs of thirst and hunger; he stands up to his neck in water, but the water recedes from him as soon as he bows his head to drink; branches with luxurious fruits hang over him, but as soon as he stretches out his hands to them, the branches deviate. This is where the expression “torment of Tantalus” arose, meaning: unbearable torment due to the inability to achieve the desired goal, despite its proximity.

On the seventh sky
The expression, meaning the highest degree of joy, happiness, goes back to the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC), who in his essay “On Heaven” explains the structure of the vault of heaven. He believed that the sky consists of seven motionless crystal spheres on which the stars and planets are established. The seven heavens are mentioned in various places in the Quran: for example, it is said that the Quran itself was brought by an angel from the seventh heaven.

I don't want to study, I want to get married
Words by Mitrofanushka from D. I. Fonvizin’s comedy “The Minor” (1783), no. 3, yavl. 7.

New is well forgotten old
In 1824, the memoirs of milliner Marie Antoinette Mademoiselle Bertin were published in France, in which she said these words about the queen’s old dress that she had updated (in reality, her memoirs are fake - their author is Jacques Pesce). This idea was perceived as new only because it had been well forgotten. Already Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) said that “there is no new custom that is not old.” This quote from Chaucer was popularized by Walter Scott's book The Folk Songs of Southern Scotland.

Nick down
In this expression, the word “nose” has nothing to do with the organ of smell. A “nose” was the name given to a memorial plaque, or a note tag. In the distant past, illiterate people always carried such tablets and sticks with them, with the help of which all kinds of notes or notches were made as memories.

Break a leg
This expression arose among hunters and was based on the superstitious idea that with a direct wish (both down and feather), the results of a hunt can be jinxed. In the language of hunters, feather means bird, and down means animals. In ancient times, a hunter going on a hunt received this parting word, the “translation” of which looks something like this: “Let your arrows fly past the target, let the snares and traps you set remain empty, just like the trapping pit!” To which the earner, in order not to jinx it either, replied: “To hell!” And both were confident that the evil spirits, invisibly present during this dialogue, would be satisfied and leave behind, and would not plot intrigues during the hunt.

Beat your head
What are “baklushi”, who “beats” them and when? For a long time, artisans have been making spoons, cups and other utensils from wood. To carve a spoon, it was necessary to chop off a block of wood from a log. Apprentices were entrusted with preparing the bucks: it was an easy, trivial task that did not require any special skill. Preparing such chocks was called “beating the lumps.” From here, from the mockery of the masters at the auxiliary workers - “baklushechnik”, our saying came from.

About the dead it's either good or nothing
The expression often quoted in Latin: “De mortuis nil nisi bene” or “De mortuis aut bene aut nihil” seems to go back to the work of Diogenes Laertius (3rd century AD): “Life, teaching and opinions famous philosophers”, which contains the saying of one of the “seven wise men” - Chilon (VI century BC): “Do not slander the dead.”

Oh holy simplicity!
This expression is attributed to the leader of the Czech national movement, Jan Hus (1369-1415). Sentenced by a church council as a heretic to be burned, he allegedly uttered these words at the stake when he saw that some old woman (according to another version, a peasant woman) in simple-minded religious zeal threw the brushwood she had brought into the fire. However, Hus's biographers, based on reports of eyewitnesses to his death, deny the fact that he uttered this phrase. The church writer Turanius Rufinus (c. 345-410), in his continuation of Eusebius's History of the Church, reports that the expression “holy simplicity” was uttered at the first Council of Nicaea (325) by one of the theologians. This expression is often used in Latin: “O sancta simplicitas!”

An eye for an eye a tooth for a tooth
An expression from the Bible, the formula for the law of retribution: “A fracture for a fracture, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth: as he has injured a person’s body, so must he do it” (Leviticus 24:20; about the same - Exodus 21: 24; Deuteronomy 19, 21).

From great to funny one step
This phrase was often repeated by Napoleon during his flight from Russia in December 1812 to his ambassador in Warsaw, de Pradt, who spoke about it in the book “History of the Embassy to the Grand Duchy of Warsaw” (1816). Its primary source is the expression of the French writer Jean-François Marmontel (1723-1799) in the fifth volume of his works (1787): “In general, the funny comes into contact with the great.”

The language will take you to Kyiv
In 999, a certain Kiev resident Nikita Shchekomyaka got lost in the endless, then Russian, steppe and ended up among the Polovtsians. When the Polovtsians asked him: Where are you from, Nikita? He answered that he was from the rich and beautiful city of Kiev, and described the wealth and beauty of his native city to the nomads in such a way that the Polovtsian Khan Nunchak attached Nikita by the tongue to the tail of his horse, and the Polovtsians went to fight and plunder Kiev. This is how Nikita Shchekomyaka got home with the help of his tongue.

Sharomyzhniki
1812 When the French burned Moscow and were left in Russia without food, they came to Russian villages and asked for food She rami, like give it to me. So the Russians began to call them that. (one of the hypotheses).

Bastard
This is an idiomatic phrase. There is a river called Voloch, when the fishermen came with their catch, they said ours and Voloch came. There are several other tomological meanings of this word. To drag - to collect, to drag. This word came from them. But it became abusive not long ago. This is the merit of 70 years in the CPSU.

Know all the ins and outs
The expression is associated with an ancient torture in which needles or nails were driven under the fingernails of the accused to extract a confession.

Oh, you are heavy, Monomakh’s hat!
Quote from A. S. Pushkin’s tragedy “Boris Godunov”, scene “The Royal Chambers” (1831), monologue of Boris (Monomakh in Greek is a martial artist; a nickname that was associated with the names of some Byzantine emperors. In ancient Russia, this nickname was assigned to the Grand Duke Vladimir (beginning of the 12th century), from whom the Moscow kings traced their origin. Monomakh's cap is the crown with which the Moscow kings were crowned kings, a symbol of royal power). The above quote characterizes a difficult situation.

Plato is my friend but the truth is dearer
The Greek philosopher Plato (427-347 BC) in his essay “Phaedo” attributes to Socrates the words “Following me, think less about Socrates, and more about the truth.” Aristotle, in his work “Nicomachean Ethics,” polemicizing with Plato and referring to him, writes: “Even though friends and truth are dear to me, duty commands me to give preference to truth.” Luther (1483-1546) says: “Plato is my friend, Socrates is my friend, but truth should be preferred” (“On the Enslaved Will,” 1525). The expression “Amicus Plato, sed magis amica veritas” - “Plato is my friend, but the truth is dearer”, was formulated by Cervantes in the 2nd part, ch. 51 novels "Don Quixote" (1615).

Dancing to someone else's tune
The expression is used to mean: to act not according to one’s own will, but according to the will of another. Goes back to the Greek historian Herodotus (5th century BC), who in the 1st book of his “History” says: when the Persian king Cyrus conquered the Medes, the Greeks of Asia Minor, whom he had previously tried in vain to win over to his side, expressed their readiness obey him, but under certain conditions. Then Cyrus told them the following fable: “One flute player, seeing fish in the sea, began to play the flute, expecting them to come out to him on land. Having lost his hope, he took a net, threw it in and pulled out many fish. Seeing the fish struggling in the nets, he said to them: “Stop dancing; when I played the flute, you didn’t want to come out and dance.” This fable is attributed to Aesop (VI century BC).

After the rain on Thursday
The Rusichi - the most ancient ancestors of the Russians - honored among their gods the main god - the god of thunder and lightning Perun. One of the days of the week was dedicated to him - Thursday (it is interesting that among the ancient Romans Thursday was also dedicated to the Latin Perun - Jupiter). Prayers were offered to Perun for rain during the drought. It was believed that he should be especially willing to fulfill requests on “his day” - Thursday. And since these prayers often remained in vain, the saying “After the rain on Thursday” began to be applied to everything that is unknown when it will come true.

Get into trouble
In dialects, a binder is a fish trap woven from branches. And, as in any trap, being in it is not a pleasant thing. Beluga roar

Beluga roar
He's as dumb as a fish - you've known that for a long time. And suddenly a beluga roars? It turns out that we are not talking about the beluga, but the beluga whale, which is the name of the polar dolphin. He really roars very loudly.

Success is never blamed
These words are attributed to Catherine II, who allegedly expressed herself this way when A.V. Suvorov was put on trial by military court for the assault on Turtukai in 1773, undertaken by him contrary to the orders of Field Marshal Rumyantsev. However, the story about Suvorov’s arbitrary actions and about putting him on trial is refuted by serious researchers.

Know yourself
According to the legend reported by Plato in the dialogue “Protagoras”, the seven sages of ancient Greece (Thales, Pittacus, Bias, Solon, Cleobulus, Myson and Chilo), meeting together in the temple of Apollo at Delphi, wrote: “Know yourself.” The idea of ​​knowing oneself was explained and disseminated by Socrates. This expression is often used in its Latin form: nosce te ipsum.

Rare bird
This expression (Latin rara avis) meaning “rare creature” is first found in the satires of Roman poets, for example, in Juvenal (mid-1st century - after 127 AD): “A rare bird on earth, sort of like black Swan".

Born to crawl cannot fly
Quote from “Song of the Falcon” by M. Gorky.

Smoke rocker
In old Rus', huts were often heated in a black way: the smoke did not escape through a chimney (there was none at all), but through a special window or door. And they predicted the weather by the shape of the smoke. The smoke comes in a column - it will be clear, dragging - towards fog, rain, a rocker - towards the wind, bad weather, or even a storm.

Not appropriate
This is a very old sign: only the animal that the brownie likes will live both in the house and in the yard. If he doesn’t like it, he’ll get sick, get sick, or run away. What to do - not good!

Hair on end
But what kind of rack is this? It turns out that standing on end means standing at attention, on your fingertips. That is, when a person gets scared, his hair seems to stand on tiptoes on his head.

Get into trouble
Rozhon is a sharp pole. And in some Russian provinces this is what they called four-pronged pitchforks. Indeed, you can’t really trample on them!

From the ship to the ball
Expression from “Eugene Onegin” by A. S. Pushkin, chapter 8, stanza 13 (1832):

And travel for him,
Like everyone else in the world, I'm tired of it,
He returned and hit
Like Chatsky, from the ship to the ball.

This expression characterizes an unexpected, sharp change in situation or circumstances.

Combine business with pleasure
An expression from “The Art of Poetry” by Horace, who says about the poet: “He is worthy of all approval who combines the pleasant with the useful.”

Wash your hands
Used to mean: to avoid responsibility for something. It arose from the Gospel: Pilate washed his hands before the crowd, giving Jesus to them for execution, and said: “I am not guilty of the blood of this righteous man” (Matt. 27:24). The ritual washing of hands, which serves as evidence of the non-involvement of the person washing in anything, is described in the Bible (Deuteronomy 21:6-7).

Weak spot
It arose from the myth about the only vulnerable spot on the hero’s body: Achilles’ heel, a spot on Siegfried’s back, etc. Used in the meaning: the weak side of a person, deeds.

Fortune. Wheel of Fortune
Fortuna is the goddess of blind chance, happiness and misfortune in Roman mythology. She was depicted blindfolded, standing on a ball or wheel (emphasizing her constant changeability), and holding a steering wheel in one hand and a cornucopia in the other. The rudder indicated that fortune controls a person's destiny.

Upside down
Loitering - in many Russian provinces this word meant walking. So, upside down is just walking upside down, upside down.

Grated kalach
By the way, in fact there was such a type of bread - grated kalach. The dough for it was crushed, kneaded, and grated for a very long time, which is why the kalach turned out to be unusually fluffy. And there was also a proverb - don’t grate, don’t crush, there won’t be a kalach. That is, trials and tribulations teach a person. The expression comes from a proverb, and not from the name of the bread.

Bring to light
Once upon a time they said to bring fish to clean water. And if it’s a fish, then everything is clear: in thickets of reeds or where snags are drowning in silt, a fish caught on a hook can easily break the fishing line and leave. And in clear water, above a clean bottom - let him try. So it is with an exposed swindler: if all the circumstances are clear, he will not escape retribution.

And there is a hole in the old woman
And what kind of gap (mistake, oversight by Ozhegov and Efremova) is this, a gap (i.e. flaw, defect) or what? The meaning, therefore, is this: And a person wise by experience can make mistakes. Interpretation from the lips of an expert in ancient Russian literature: And on an old woman there is a blow of Porukha (Ukrainian zh. coll.-dec. 1 - Harm, destruction, damage; 2 - Trouble). In a specific sense, porukha (other Russian) is rape. Those. everything is possible.

He who laughs last laughs best
The expression belongs to the French writer Jean-Pierre Florian (1755-1794), who used it in the fable “Two Peasants and a Cloud.”

End justifies the means
The idea of ​​this expression, which is the basis of Jesuit morality, was borrowed by them from the English philosopher Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679).

Man is a wolf to man
An expression from the “Donkey Comedy” by the ancient Roman writer Plautus (c. 254-184 BC).

Augean stables
In Greek mythology, the “Augean stables” are the vast stables of Augeas, the king of Elis, which were not cleaned for many years. They were cleansed in one day by Hercules: he directed the Alpheus River through the stables, the waters of which carried away all the impurities. This myth was first reported by the ancient Greek historian Diodorus Siculus. The expression “Augean stables” that arose from this refers to an extremely neglected premises, as well as to matters that are in extreme disorder.

Aurora
In Roman mythology, Aurora is the goddess of the dawn. In figurative and poetic speech it is generally synonymous with dawn. The expression “rose-fingered Aurora” entered literary speech from the poems of Homer. In Greek mythology, it corresponds to Eos.

Antey
In Greek mythology, Antaeus is a giant, the ruler of Libya, the son of the god of the seas Poseidon and the goddess of the earth Gaia. He challenged everyone who appeared in his domain to battle, and was invincible as long as he was in contact with mother earth. Strangled by Hercules, who tore him off the ground. This myth was conveyed by the Greek writer Apollodorus in the “Library”. The image of Antaeus is used when talking about the power that a person possesses if he is connected with his native land, his native people.

• 29 November 2012, 01:54

Poor as Ir.
In Greek mythology, Ir is one of the characters in the Odyssey, a beggar who got into a fight with Odysseus when he returned to his home under the guise of a beggar. In a figurative sense - a poor man.

Balzac age
The expression arose after the publication of O. de Balzac’s novel “A Woman of Thirty” and is used as a humorous definition of women aged 30-40.

White crow
This expression, as a designation of a rare, exceptional person, is given in a satire by the Roman poet Juvenal:
Fate gives kingdoms to slaves and brings triumphs to captives.
However, such a lucky person is rarer than a black sheep.

Prodigal son
The expression arose from the Gospel parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), which tells how a certain man divided his property between two sons; the younger one went to the far side and, living dissolutely, squandered his share. Having experienced need and hardship, he returned to his father and repented before him, and his father accepted and forgave him: Let us eat and be merry, for this son of mine was dead and is alive again, he was lost and is found. The expression “Prodigal Son” is used both in the meaning of “a dissolute man” and in the meaning of “repentant of his errors.”

• 29 November 2012, 02:32

Age of Astraea
In Greek mythology, Dike Astraea is one of the Or, the goddess of justice, daughter of Zeus and Themis. Dike informed Zeus about all the injustices happening on earth. The time when she was on earth was a happy, “golden age.” She left the earth in the Iron Age and since then, under the name of Virgo, she has been shining in the constellation of the Zodiac. The nickname Astraea (starry, heavenly) is probably associated with the idea that true justice is possible only in heaven. The expression “age of Astraea” is used to mean: a happy time.

Barbarian
Barbarian is a contemptuous term for a rude and uncultured person. It arose from "barbaros" - "incomprehensibly chattering." This is what the Greeks called those who did not speak Greek.

Libation [worship] of Bacchus [Bacchus]
Bacchus (Bacchus) is the Roman name of the Greek god of wine and fun, Dionysus. The ancient Romans had a libation ritual when making sacrifices to the gods, which consisted of pouring wine from a cup in honor of the god. This is where the humorous expression “libation to Bacchus” arose, used to mean: drinking. The name of this ancient Roman god is also used in other humorous expressions about drunkenness: “worship Bacchus,” “serve Bacchus.”

Babel
The expression originates from a biblical myth about an attempt to build a tower in Babylon that would reach the sky. When the builders began their work, the angry God “confused their language,” they ceased to understand each other and could not continue the construction (Genesis, 11, 1 - 9). (Church Glav.: pandemonium - the structure of a pillar, tower.) Used in the meaning: disorder, confusion, noise, turmoil

• 29 November 2012, 02:35

Hercules. Herculean labor (feat) Pillars of Hercules (pillars.)
Hercules (Hercules) is a hero in Greek mythology, the son of Zeus and the mortal woman Alcmene. He performed the famous twelve labors: he strangled the Nemean lion, killed the Lernaean hydra, cleaned the Augean stables, etc. In memory of his wanderings, Hercules erected the “Pillars of Hercules”. This is what the ancient world called two rocks on opposite shores of the Strait of Gibraltar. These pillars were considered the “edge of the world”, beyond which there is no way. Therefore, the expression “to reach the pillars of Hercules” began to be used to mean: to reach the limit of something, to the extreme point. The name of Hercules himself became a household name for a person with great physical strength. The expression “Herculean labor, feat” is used when talking about any task that requires extraordinary effort.

Hercules at the crossroads
The expression arose from the speech of the Greek sophist Prodicus, which became known to us in the presentation of Xenophon. In this speech, Prodicus told an allegory he had composed about Hercules (Hercules), sitting at a crossroads and reflecting on the path of life that he had to choose. Two women approached him: Effeminacy, who promised him a carefree life full of pleasures, and Virtue, who showed him the difficult path to glory. Hercules chose the latter and after much labor became a god. The expression “Hercules at the crossroads” is applied to a person who finds it difficult to choose between two decisions.

Voice in the wilderness
An expression from the Bible (Isaiah, 40, 3; quoted: Matt., 3, 3; Mark, 1, 3; John, 1, 23), used in the meaning: a vain call for something, remaining unheeded, unanswered

Hannibal at the Gate
This expression, meaning imminent and formidable danger, was figuratively used for the first time by Cicero in one of his speeches (Philippics 1:5,11) against the commander Anthony, who was marching on Rome to seize power. Cicero was referring to the Carthaginian commander Hannibal (Annibal) (247-183 BC), who was an ardent enemy of Rome.

• 29 November 2012, 02:37

Sword of Damocles
The expression originated from an ancient Greek legend told by Cicero. Damocles, one of the close associates of the Syracusan tyrant Dionysius the Elder, began to enviously speak of him as the happiest of people. Dionysius, in order to teach the envious man a lesson, put him in his place. During the feast, Damocles saw a sharp sword hanging above his head from a horsehair. Dionysius explained that this is a symbol of the dangers to which he, as a ruler, is constantly exposed, despite his seemingly happy life. Hence the expression “sword of Damocles” received the meaning of impending, threatening danger.

Greek gift. Trojan horse
The expression is used to mean: insidious gifts that bring with them death for those who receive them. Originated from Greek legends about the Trojan War. The Danaans (Greeks), after a long and unsuccessful siege of Troy, resorted to cunning: they built a huge wooden horse, left it at the walls of Troy, and themselves pretended to sail away from the shores of Troy. The priest Laocoon, seeing this horse and knowing the tricks of the Danaans, exclaimed: “Whatever it is, I am afraid of the Danaans, even those who bring gifts!” But the Trojans, not listening to the warnings of Laocoon and the prophetess Cassandra, dragged the horse into the city. At night, the Danaans, hiding inside the horse, came out, killed the guards, opened the city gates, let in their comrades who had returned on ships, and thus took possession of Troy (Homer’s “Odyssey”, Virgil’s “Aeneid”). Virgil’s hemistich “I am afraid of the Danaans, even those who bring gifts,” often quoted in Latin (“Timeo Danaos et dona ferentes”), has become a proverb. This is where the expression “Trojan horse” arose, used in the sense of: a secret, insidious plan; betrayal.

Two-Faced Janus
In Roman mythology, Janus - the god of time, as well as every beginning and end, entrances and exits (janua - door) - was depicted with two faces facing in opposite directions: young - forward, to the future, old - back, to the past. The expression “two-faced Janus” or simply “Janus” that arose from here means: a hypocrite, a two-faced person.

Two Ajax
In Homer's poems, Ajax is two friends, heroes of the Trojan War, who together performed feats. The expression “Two Ajaxes” means two inseparable friends. Offenbach's operetta "The Beautiful Helen" contributed to its popularity.

• 29 November 2012, 03:13

Echidna
In Greek mythology, Echidna is a monster, half-maiden, half-snake, who gave birth to a number of monsters: the Sphinx, Cerberus, the Nemean lion, chimera, etc. In a figurative sense - an evil, sarcastic and insidious person.

Egyptian darkness
This expression, used in the meaning: thick, hopeless darkness, arose from the biblical story about one of the miracles that Moses allegedly performed: he “stretched out his hand to heaven, and there was thick darkness throughout the whole land of Egypt for three days” (Exodus, 10, 22).

If you want peace, prepare for war
This expression, often quoted in Latin form: “Si vis pacem, para bellum,” belongs to the Roman historian Cornelius Nepos (94 - 24 BC) and is found in the biography of the Theban commander of the 4th century. BC e. Epaminondas. A similar formula: “Qui desiderat pacem, praeparet bellum (He who desires peace prepares war)” is found in a Roman military writer of the 4th century. n. e. Flavia Vegetia.

Eat to live, not live to eat.
The statement belongs to Socrates, and was often quoted by ancient writers (Quintilian, Diogenes Laertius, Aulus Helius, etc.). Subsequently, it was also actively used, including in Moliere’s famous comedy “The Miser.”

• 29 November 2012, 03:15

Life is a struggle
The expression goes back to ancient authors. In Euripides’ tragedy “The Petitioner”: “Our life is a struggle.” In Seneca's letters: “To live is to fight.” Voltaire in the tragedy “Fanaticism, or the Prophet Mohammed” puts it into the mouth of Mohammed; phrase: “My life is a struggle”

Die is cast
Exclamation of Julius Caesar when crossing the Rubicon. Used to mean: the final decision has been made. According to Suetonius, the words “the die is cast” were pronounced by Julius Caesar in Latin (alea jacta est), and by Plutarch - in Greek, as a quote from the comedy of Menander: “Let the lot be cast.” Caesar's historical phrase is often quoted in its Latin form.

Life is short, art is long lasting.
An aphorism by the Greek thinker and physician Hippocrates. It is often used not in the sense in which it was said - art is longer lasting than the life of one person - but also in a more expanded interpretation - art is greater, more significant than a person’s life, for understanding it and mastering it in a person’s life it will never be enough.

He reaps where he did not sow.
This is what they say about people who benefit from the fruits of other people's labor. It arose from the Gospel: “You are a cruel man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter”, Matthew 25.24; “You take away what you did not put in and reap what you did not sow,” Luke 19:21.

Yellow press
This expression, used to mean a low-quality, deceitful, sensation-hungry press, originated in the USA. In 1895, the American artist Richard Outcault published in a number of issues of the New York newspaper "The World" a series of frivolous drawings with humorous text, among which was a boy in a yellow shirt, to whom various funny sayings were attributed. Soon, another newspaper, the New-York Journal, began publishing its own series of drawings with a similar meaning and content. A furious dispute broke out between the newspapers over the right to the “yellow boy”. In 1896, Erwin Wardman, editor of the New-York Press, published an article in his magazine in which he spoke very contemptuously of both disputing sides. For the first time he used the expression “yellow press” in relation to disputants and since then the expression has become popular.

• 29 November 2012, 03:16

The Golden Fleece. Argonauts
Ancient Greek myths tell that the hero Jason went to get the Golden Fleece - the golden skin of a magic ram - which was guarded by the dragon of the king of Colchis, Aeetes. Jason built the ship "Argo" and, having gathered the greatest heroes, who began to be called Argonauts after the name of the ship, set off. Having overcome many adventures, Jason obtained the Golden Fleece. The poet Pindar was the first to expound this myth. Since then, the golden fleece has been called gold, the wealth that people strive to acquire; Argonauts - brave sailors, adventurers.

Golden age
Hesiod called the Golden Age the very first and happiest time in the history of mankind, when people knew no wars, no worries, no suffering. In a figurative sense, the golden age is the time of greatest prosperity.

Golden Rain
This image arose from the Greek myth of Zeus, who, captivated by the beauty of Danae, the daughter of King Acrisius, appeared to her in the form of golden rain, after which her son Perseus was born. Danaë, showered with a shower of gold coins, is depicted in the paintings of many Renaissance artists (Titian, Correggio, Van Dyck, etc.). Metaphorically, “golden shower” refers to abundant gifts.

Bury your talent in the ground
The expression arose from the Gospel parable about how a certain man, leaving, instructed slaves to guard his estate; He gave one slave five talents, another two, and a third one. (Talent is an ancient monetary unit.) The slaves who received five and two talents “used them for business,” that is, they lent them at interest, and those who received one talent buried it in the ground. When the departing owner returned, he demanded an account from the slaves. Those who gave money on interest returned him instead of the five talents they had received, ten, and instead of two, four. And the master praised them. But the one who received one talent said that he buried it in the ground. And the owner answered him: “You are a wicked and lazy slave. You should have given my silver to the traders, and I would have received it with profit” (Matt. 25:15-30). The word “talent” (Greek talanton) was originally used in the meaning: scales, weight, then the amount of money of a certain weight and, finally, became synonymous with outstanding abilities in any field. The expression “bury talent in the ground” is used to mean: do not care about the development of talent, let it die out.

Zeus the Thunderer
Zeus (Zeus) - in Greek mythology, the supreme god, father and king of the gods. In figurative speech - majestic, unparalleled. Zeus is the lord of thunder and lightning; one of his constant epithets is “thunderer.” Hence, ironically, “Zeus the Thunderer” is a formidable boss.

Golden calf
The expression is used in the meaning: gold, wealth, the power of gold, money, - according to the biblical story about a calf made of gold, which the Jews, wandering in the desert, worshiped as a god (Exodus, 32)

Lost Sheep
This is what they say about a dissolute person who has strayed from the righteous path. The expression arose from the Gospel (Matt. 18:12; Luke 15:4-6)

Rear contemplation
The expression originated from the Bible; God said that people should not see his face, and if anyone looks, he will be struck with death; only Moses allowed him to see himself only from behind: “Behold my backside” (Exodus, 33:20-23). From here the expression “to contemplate the rear” received the meaning: not to see the true face of something, to know something unfoundedly.

the Forbidden fruit
The expression is used to mean: something tempting, desirable, but forbidden or inaccessible. It arose from the biblical myth about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, the fruits of which God forbade Adam and Eve to eat.

Here is Rhodes, here and jump
Expression from Aesop's fable "The Braggart". A certain man boasted that he had once made a colossal leap in Rhodes and cited witnesses as proof. One of the listeners objected: “Friend, if this is true, you don’t need witnesses: here’s Rhodes, jump here.” The expression is used to mean: instead of showing off something in words, show it in action."

Knowledge is power.
Expression of the English materialist philosopher Francis Bacon (1561-1626) in Moral and Political Essays, 2.11 (1597).

Golden mean
This is how they talk about some decision, a course of action that is alien to extremes and risk. This expression, "aurea mediocritas", is from the 2nd book of odes of the Roman poet Horace.

• 29 November 2012, 03:17

And you Brute?
In Shakespeare’s tragedy “Julius Caesar” (d. 3, iv. 1), with these words (in the original Latin: “Et tu, Brute?”), the dying Caesar addresses Brutus, who was among the conspirators who attacked him in the Senate . Historians consider this phrase legendary. Marcus Junius Brutus, whom Caesar considered a supporter, became the head of a conspiracy against him and was one of the participants in his assassination in 44 BC. e. Caesar, at the first wound inflicted on him, as Suetonius reports in his biography, only sighed and did not utter a single word. However, at the same time, adds Suetonius, they said that Caesar, seeing Brutus advancing on him, exclaimed in Greek: “And you, my child?” But according to Shakespeare's tragedy, Caesar's legendary phrase became a catchphrase to describe his friend's unexpected betrayal.

Trumpet of Jericho Walls of Jericho.
An expression from a biblical myth. The Jews, upon leaving Egyptian captivity, on their way to Palestine, had to take the city of Jericho. But its walls were so strong that it was impossible to destroy them. However, from the sound of the sacred trumpets, the walls of Jericho fell by themselves, and thanks to this miracle, the city was taken by the Jews (book of Joshua, 6). The expression “trumpet of Jericho” is used to mean: a loud, trumpet voice.

Massacre of the innocents
The expression arose from the Gospel legend about the killing of all babies in Bethlehem by order of the Jewish king Herod, after he learned from the Magi about the birth of Jesus, whom they called the king of the Jews (Matt. 2, 1 - 5 and 16). Used as a definition of child abuse, and also when jokingly talking about strict measures applied to anyone in general.

• 29 November 2012, 03:32

Carthage must be destroyed
The phrase with which, as Plutarch tells us, the Roman commander and statesman Cato the Elder (234 - 149 BC), an implacable enemy of Carthage, ended each of his speeches in the Senate. Titus Livia, Cicero, and others talk about the same thing. This expression began to be used as a persistently repeated call for a stubborn struggle against an enemy or some obstacle. Often quoted in Latin: "Carthaginem esse delendam."

Sink into oblivion. Summer
In Greek mythology, Lethe is the river of oblivion in the underworld. The souls of the dead, having tasted the water from Lethe, forgot about their earthly life. “Sink into oblivion” - to be forgotten, to disappear without a trace.

Cassandra, prophetic Cassandra
In Greek mythology, Cassandra is the daughter of the Trojan king Priam. Cassandra received a prophetic gift from Apollo, but when she rejected his love, he made sure that her prophecies were no longer believed. Thus, the Trojans did not heed the words of Cassandra, who warned her brother Paris against the abduction of Helen; the latter, as is known, led to the Trojan War and the destruction of Troy. The name Cassandra has become a household name for a person who warns of danger, but who is not believed.

Carnival
Carnival is a holiday. The word refers to Anthesteria, the great spring festivals of the awakening of nature, held in Athens. The first two days of Anthesteria, “the day of opening the barrels” and “the day of the mugs,” were dedicated to Dionysus: the statue of the god of wine was transported in a boat on wheels. The word “carnival” comes from the name of this boat (Latin carrus-navalis - “chariot-ship”).

Winged words are stable figurative combinations that came into speech use from various sources: folklore, scientific works, sayings of prominent figures, names of famous events. They constantly appear, but later they may be forgotten or remain forever.

Some popular expressions have survived thousands of years. Examples can be cited from antiquity, where only specialists know the authors. Few people can say that the phrase “there is no dispute about taste” is a quote from a speech by Cicero.

The emergence of popular words

The expression “winged words” first appeared in the poems of Homer. As a term it has passed into many languages. The first collection of catchphrases was published in the 19th century in Germany. It subsequently went through many editions.

Because of their stability and reproducibility, catchwords belong to phraseology, but their author’s origin allowed them to take their special place among other means of speech. When words are rearranged, the phraseological structure is destroyed and the general meaning is lost. There is also no meaning in every single word taken from the expression. It is the given combination that makes them special.

Catchphrases and expressions accumulate and remain thanks to the development of civilization. They remain in cultural memory only thanks to writing.

Wise phrases were always written down and preserved for posterity.

Catchphrases and aphorisms

A good aphorism briefly and figuratively conveys to us the reasons for many phenomena in life and at the same time gives moral advice. It is an exquisite piece of literature summed up in one sentence. It is no coincidence that Chekhov said that brevity is the sister of talent.

The aphorisms of ancient philosophers, which survived thousands of years, explained much that had not yet been discovered by science. The meaning of these catchphrases has remained the same and civilization has managed to preserve them.

Moreover, science has confirmed the truth of most of them.

Not all aphorisms are catchphrases. Numerous examples can be given, and many of the aphorisms lead into the world of illusions and abstractions. And catchphrases are lively and more reflective of the realities of life. Therefore, they are especially important when they just appear, vividly and figuratively reflecting today's events and phenomena.

Catchphrases from works

The works of Pushkin, Krylov, Tolstoy, Dostoevsky, Chekhov are a treasure trove of popular expressions. Their repetition does not always produce the desired effect. But they need to be known and applied in accordance with the situation:

“It didn’t work out that way, to put it mildly,
When the decision moment is missed.
It's not in vain that we learn from mistakes,
And croaking with cheese in its beak is cool!”

The evolution of catchphrases transforms them and brings them closer to modern realities: “Now the impression cannot be erased,” “Your common sense is not suitable for this life.”

They can be created in the process of translations and adaptation to our society.

There are 61 catchphrases in Shakespeare's Hamlet. The writer deliberately created a pun and play on words: “Frailty, your name is woman.” The expression was obtained based on the violation of linearity. If it had been built in the usual way, no one would have paid attention to it. He uses puns, inversions and other techniques so masterfully that special meaning and irony emerge from sets of words.

Ilf and Petrova are recognizable and frequently used catchphrases in the media. Examples are from the works “The Golden Calf” and “The Twelve Chairs,” which include the names of the characters and sayings.

Catchphrases in the works of Ilf and Petrov have long become speech cliches, ready-made standards. This is a wide field for the creativity of writers, journalists and just amateurs. It is important not just to deftly insert the desired phrase, but to present it from a new perspective, from a different angle. You must not only know popular expressions and words, but also be able to use them, creating something of your own.

Catchphrases enrich the text, strengthen the argument and attract the attention of readers.

Catchphrases in comedies

Comic effects create catchphrases from comedies. Griboyedov’s work is especially saturated with them, where the title “Woe from Wit” already sets the whole tone. It remains relevant to this day, when many minds cannot break through the mass of misunderstanding, and new ideas are considered completely unnecessary and dangerous for society. For some comedy heroes, an alternative to intelligence is iron discipline (“Learning won’t make me faint” - Skalozub), for others it simply brings harm (“Learning is a plague...” - Famusov). In this comedy it is not known whether to laugh or cry?

Cinema is the source of catchphrases

In Soviet times, cinema was one of the most widespread sources from which catchphrases and expressions poured out as if from them and were immediately picked up by the people, for example, after the release of Gaidai’s films. They have become so popular that many people don’t even remember which character said them. Some of Gaidai’s comedies entered our lives and became popular:

• “Everything has already been stolen before us”;
• “Thank you, I’ll stand on foot...”;
• “Better train on cats”;
• “We are strangers at this celebration of life.”

Conclusion

There are sayings of classics of literature, philosophers, famous people. These are mostly catchphrases. Examples can be found in collections published continuously since the 19th century. Winged expressions remain in the memory of peoples and are multiplied thanks to writing and the development of culture.

We use ancient sayings and various catchphrases in everyday life, sometimes without even knowing the history of the origin of such catchphrases. We all know the meanings of many of these phrases from childhood and use these expressions appropriately; they came to us unnoticed and became entrenched in our culture for centuries. Where did these phrases and expressions come from?

But every folk wisdom has its own story, nothing appears out of nowhere. Well, it will be very interesting for you to find out where these catchphrases and expressions, proverbs and sayings came from!

Read also our material Russian folk superstitions, about the history of the origin of popular signs and superstitions - very interesting!

Where did the expressions come from?

bosom friend

“Pour over your Adam’s apple” is a rather ancient expression; in ancient times it literally meant “to get drunk”, “to drink a lot of alcohol.” The phraseological unit “bosom friend”, formed since then, is used to this day and means the closest friend.

Money doesn't smell

The roots of this expression should be sought in Ancient Rome. The son of the Roman Emperor Vespasian once reproached his father for introducing a tax on public toilets. Vespasian showed his son the money received into the treasury from this tax and asked him if the money smelled. The son sniffed and gave a negative answer.

Washing the bones

The expression dates back to ancient times. Some peoples believed that an unrepentant damned sinner, after his death, emerges from the grave and turns into a ghoul or vampire and destroys everyone who gets in his way. And in order to remove the spell, it is necessary to dig up the remains of the dead person from the grave and wash the bones of the deceased with clean water. Now the expression “washing the bones” means nothing more than dirty gossip about a person, a pseudo-analysis of his character and behavior.

Breathing on its last legs

Christian custom required that the dying were confessed by priests before death, and also that they received communion and burned incense. The expression stuck. Now they say about sick people or poorly functioning devices and equipment: “they are dying.”

Play on your nerves

In ancient times, after doctors discovered the existence of nervous tissue (nerves) in the body, based on their resemblance to the strings of musical instruments, they called nervous tissue in Latin with the word strings: nervus. From that moment on, an expression came about that means annoying actions - “playing on your nerves.”

vulgarity

The word “vulgarity” is originally Russian, the root of which is derived from the verb “went”. Until the 17th century, this word was used in a good, decent meaning. It meant traditional, familiar in the everyday life of people, that is, what is done according to custom and happened, that is, WENT from time immemorial. However, the coming reforms of the Russian Tsar Peter I with their innovations distorted this word, it lost its former respect and began to mean: “uncultured, backward, simple-minded,” etc.

Augean stables

There is a legend according to which King Augeis was an avid horse breeder; there were 3,000 horses in the king’s stables. For some reason, no one cleaned the stables for 30 years. Hercules was entrusted with cleaning these stables. He directed the bed of the Althea River into the stables, and the flow of water washed away all the dirt from the stables. Since then, this expression has been applied to polluting something to the extreme.

Scum

The remaining liquid that remained at the bottom along with sediment was previously called scum. All sorts of rabble often hung around taverns and taverns, drinking the cloudy remains of alcohol in glasses behind other visitors, very soon the term scum passed on to them.

Blue blood

The royal family, as well as the nobility of Spain, were proud that they were leading their
ancestry from the West Goths, as opposed to the common people, and they never mixed with the Moors, who entered Spain from Africa. Blue veins stood out clearly on the pale skin of the indigenous Spaniards, which is why they proudly called themselves “blue blood.” Over time, this expression began to denote a sign of aristocracy and passed on to many nations, including ours.

Reach the handle

In Rus', rolls of bread were always baked with a handle, so that it was convenient to carry the rolls. The handle was then broken off and thrown away for hygiene purposes. The broken handles were picked up and eaten by beggars and dogs. The expression means to become extremely poor, to go down, to become impoverished.

Scapegoat

The ancient Jewish rite consisted of the fact that on the day of remission of sins, the high priest laid his hands on the head of a goat, as if laying all the sins of the people on it. Hence the expression “scapegoat.”

It is not worth it

In the old days, before the invention of electricity, gamblers gathered to play in the evenings by candlelight. Sometimes the bets made and the winner's winnings were negligible, so much so that even the candles that burned during the game did not pay for it. This is how this expression appeared.

Add the first number

In the old days, students were often flogged at school, sometimes even without any misconduct on their part, simply as a preventive measure. The mentor could show diligence in educational work and sometimes the students suffered greatly. Such students could be released from whipping until the first day of the next month.

Beat your head

In the old days, logs cut off from logs were called baklushas. These were the blanks for wooden utensils. Making wooden utensils did not require any special skills or effort. This matter was considered very easy. From that time on, it became a custom to “knuckle down” (do nothing).

If we don't wash, we'll just ride

In the old days, women in villages literally “rolled” their laundry after washing using a special rolling pin. Thus, well-rolled linen turned out to be wrung out, ironed and, moreover, clean (even in cases of poor quality washing). Nowadays we say “by washing, by skiing,” which means achieving a cherished goal by any means.

In the bag

In the old days, messengers who delivered mail to recipients sewed very valuable important papers, or “deeds,” into the lining of their caps or hats, in order to thus hide important documents from prying eyes and not attract the attention of robbers. This is where the expression “it’s in the bag,” which is still popular to this day, comes from.

Let's go back to our sheep

In a French comedy from the Middle Ages, a rich clothier sued a shepherd who stole his sheep. During the court hearing, the clothier forgot about the shepherd and switched to his lawyer, who, as it turned out, did not pay him for six cubits of cloth. The judge, seeing that the clothier had drifted into the wrong direction, interrupted him with the words: “Let's go back to our sheep.” Since then, the expression has become popular.

To contribute

In Ancient Greece there was a mite (small coin) in circulation. In the Gospel parable, a poor widow donated her last two mites for the construction of the temple. Hence the expression “do your bit.”

Versta Kolomenskaya

In the 17th century, by order of the then reigning Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, the distance between Moscow and the royal summer residence in the village of Kolomenskoye was measured, as a result of which very high milestones were installed. Since then, it has become a custom to call very tall and thin people “Verst Kolomenskaya”.

Chasing a long ruble

In the 13th century in Rus', the monetary and weight unit was the hryvnia, which was divided into 4 parts (“ruble”). Heavier than the others, the remainder of the ingot was called the “long ruble.” The expression “chasing a long ruble” means easy and good income.

Newspaper ducks

The Belgian humorist Cornelissen published a note in the newspaper about how one scientist bought 20 ducks, chopped one of them and fed it to the other 19 ducks. A little later, he did the same with the second, third, fourth, etc. In the end, he was left with one and only duck, which ate all 19 of its friends. The note was posted with the aim of mocking the gullibility of readers. Since then, it has become a custom to call false news nothing more than “newspaper ducks.”

Laundering of money

The origins of the expression go to America, at the beginning of the 20th century. Al Capone found it difficult to spend his ill-gotten gains because he was constantly under the watchful eye of the intelligence services. In order to be able to safely spend this money and not get caught by the police, Capone created a huge network of laundries that had very low prices. Therefore, it was difficult for the police to track the actual number of clients; it became possible to write down absolutely any income of laundries. This is where the now popular expression “money laundering” comes from. The number of laundries since that time has remained huge, the prices for their services are still low, so in the USA it is customary to wash clothes not at home, but in laundries.

Orphan Kazan

As soon as Ivan the Terrible took Kazan, he decided to bind the local aristocracy to himself. To do this, he rewarded high-ranking officials of Kazan who voluntarily came to him. Many of the Tatars, wanting to receive good, rich gifts, pretended to be seriously affected by the war.

Inside out

Where did this popular expression come from, which is used when a person dressed or did something incorrectly? During the reign of Tsar Ivan the Terrible in Rus', an embroidered collar was a sign of the dignity of one or another nobleman, and this collar was called “shivorot”. If such a worthy boyar or nobleman in any way angered the tsar or was subjected to royal disgrace, he was, according to custom, seated backwards on a skinny nag, having first turned his clothes inside out. Since then, the expression “topsy-turvy” has been established, which means “on the contrary, wrong.”

From under the stick

The expression “under the stick” takes its roots from circus acts in which trainers force animals to jump over a stick. This phraseological turn has been used since the 19th century. It means that a person is forced to work, forced to do some action or behavior that he really does not want to do. This phraseological image is associated with the opposition “will - captivity.” This metaphor likens a person to an animal or a slave who is forced to do something or work under pain of physical punishment.

One teaspoon per hour

This catchphrase appeared in quite distant times thanks to pharmacists. In those difficult times, pharmacists themselves prepared mixtures, medicinal ointments and infusions for many diseases. According to the rules that have existed since then, each bottle of the medicinal mixture must contain instructions (recipe) for the use of this medicine. Back then they measured things not in drops, as they mostly do now, but in teaspoons. For example, 1 teaspoon per glass of water. In those days, such medications had to be taken strictly by the hour, and treatment usually lasted quite a long time. Hence the meaning of this catchphrase. Now the expression “a teaspoon per hour” means a long and slow process of some action with time intervals, on a very small scale.

Goof

To get into trouble means to be in an awkward position. Prosak is an ancient medieval special rope machine for weaving ropes and twisting ropes. It had a very complex design and twisted the strands so strongly that clothing, hair or beard getting caught in its mechanism could even cost a person his life. This expression originally even had a specific meaning, literally - “accidentally falling into twisted ropes.”

Typically, this expression implies being embarrassed, going nuts, getting into an unpleasant situation, disgracing yourself in some way, getting into a puddle, screwing up, as they say these days, losing face in the dirt.

Freebies and for free

Where did the word "freebie" come from?

Our ancestors called a freebie the top of a boot. Typically, the bottom of the boot (the head) wore out much faster than the top of the muffler. Therefore, to save money, enterprising “cold shoemakers” sewed a new head to the boot. Such updated boots, one might say - sewn on “for free” - were much cheaper than their new counterparts.

Nick down

The expression “hack on the nose” came to us from ancient times. Previously, among our ancestors, the term “nose” meant writing boards that were used as ancient notepads - all kinds of notes were made on them, or it would be more correct to say even notches for memory. It was from those times that the expression “hack on the nose” appeared. If they borrowed money, they wrote the debt on such tablets and gave it to the creditor as promissory notes. And if the debt was not repaid, the creditor was “left with his nose,” that is, with a simple tablet instead of the borrowed money.

Prince on a white horse

The expression of modern princesses about the expectations of a “prince on a white horse” originated in medieval Europe. At that time, royalty rode beautiful white horses in honor of special holidays, and the most highly respected knights rode horses of the same color in tournaments. From that time on, the expression about princes on white horses came about, because a stately white horse was considered a symbol of greatness, as well as beauty and glory.

Far away

Where is this located? In ancient Slavic fairy tales, this expression of distance “far away lands” occurs very often. It means that the object is very far away. The roots of the expression go back to the times of Kievan Rus. At that time there were decimal and nine numeral systems. So, according to the nine-fold system, which was based on the number 9, the maximum scale for the standards of a fairy tale, which increases everything threefold, the number distant was taken, that is, three times nine. This is where this expression comes from...

I'm coming at you

What does the expression “I’m coming to you” mean? This expression has been known since the times of Kievan Rus. The Grand Duke and Bright Warrior Svyatoslav, before a military campaign, always sent the warning message “I’m coming at you!” to enemy lands, which meant an attack, an attack - I’m coming at you. During the times of Kievan Rus, our ancestors called “you” specifically to their enemies, and not to honor strangers and older people.

It was a matter of honor to warn the enemy about an attack. The code of military honor and the ancient traditions of the Slavic-Aryans also included a prohibition to shoot or attack with weapons an unarmed or unequally powerful enemy. The Code of Military Honor was strictly adhered to by those who respected themselves and their ancestors, including Grand Duke Svyatoslav.

There is nothing behind the soul

In the old days, our ancestors believed that the human soul was located in the dimple in the neck between the collarbones.
According to custom, money was kept in the same place on the chest. Therefore, they said and still say about the poor man that he “has nothing behind his soul.”

Sewn with white threads

This phraseological unit comes from tailoring roots. In order to see how to sew the parts when sewing, they are first hastily sewn together with white threads, so to speak, a rough or test version, so that later all the parts can be carefully sewn together. Hence the meaning of the expression: a hastily assembled case or work, that is, “on the rough side,” may imply negligence and deception in the case. Often used in legal vernacular when an investigator is working on a case.

Seven spans in the forehead

By the way, this expression does not speak of a person’s very high intelligence, as we usually believe. This is an expression about age. Yes Yes. A span is an ancient Russian measure of length, which is equal to 17.78 cm in terms of centimeters (the international unit of measurement of length). 7 spans in the forehead is a person’s height, it is equal to 124 cm, usually children grew to this mark by the age of 7. At this time, children were given names and began to be taught (boys - male craft, girls - female). Until this age, children were usually not distinguished by gender and they wore the same clothes. By the way, until the age of 7 they usually didn’t have names, they were simply called “child”.

In search of Eldorado

El Dorado (translated from Spanish as El Dorado means “golden”) is a mythical country in South America that is rich in gold and precious stones. The conquistadors of the 16th century were looking for her. In a figurative sense, “Eldorado” is often called a place where you can quickly get rich.

Karachun has arrived

There are popular expressions that not everyone can understand: “Karachun came,” “Karachun grabbed.” Meaning: someone, someone suddenly died, died or was killed... Karachun (or Chernobog) in ancient Slavic mythology of pagan times is the underground god of death and frost, moreover, he is not at all a good spirit, but on the contrary - evil. By the way, his celebration falls on the winter solstice (December 21-22).

About the dead it's either good or nothing

The implication is that the dead are spoken of either well or not at all. This expression has come down to the present day in a rather seriously modified form from the depths of centuries. In ancient times this expression sounded like this: “Either good things are said about the dead, or nothing but the truth.”. This is a fairly well-known saying of the ancient Greek politician and poet Chilon from Sparta (VI century BC), and the historian Diogenes Laertius (III century AD) tells about it in his essay “The Life, Teaching and Opinions of Illustrious Philosophers” . Thus, the truncated expression has lost its original meaning over time and is now perceived in a completely different way.

Exasperate

You can often hear in colloquial speech how someone drives someone to the point of insanity. The meaning of the expression is to stir up strong emotions, to bring someone into a state of extreme irritation or even complete loss of self-control. Where and how did this turn of phrase come from? It's simple. When a metal is gradually heated, it becomes red, but when it is further heated to a very high temperature, the metal becomes white. Heat it up, that is, warm it up. Heating is essentially very intense heating, hence the expression.

All roads lead to Rome

During the Roman Empire (27 BC - 476 AD), Rome tried to expand its territories through military conquest. Cities, bridges, and roads were actively built for better communication between the provinces of the empire and the capital (for the collection of taxes, the arrival of couriers and ambassadors, the rapid arrival of legions to suppress riots). The Romans were the first to build roads and, naturally, construction was carried out from Rome, from the capital of the Empire. Modern scientists say that the main routes were built precisely on ancient ancient Roman roads that are thousands of years old.

Woman of Balzac's age

How old are women of Balzac's age? Honore de Balzac, a famous French writer of the 19th century, wrote the novel “A Woman of Thirty,” which became quite popular. Therefore, “Balzac age”, “Balzac woman” or “Balzac heroine” is a woman of 30-40 years old who has already learned life wisdom and worldly experience. By the way, the novel is very interesting, like other novels by Honore de Balzac.

Achilles' heel

The mythology of Ancient Greece tells us about the legendary and greatest hero Achilles, the son of the sea goddess Thetis and the mere mortal Peleus. In order for Achilles to become invulnerable and strong like the gods, his mother bathed him in the waters of the sacred river Styx, but since she held her son by the heel so as not to drop him, it was this part of Achilles’ body that remained vulnerable. The Trojan Paris hit Achilles in the heel with an arrow, causing the hero to die...

Modern anatomy calls the tendon above the calcaneus in humans “Achilles.” Since ancient times, the very expression “Achilles’ heel” has meant a person’s weak and vulnerable spot.

Dot all the I's

Where did this rather popular expression come from? Probably from the Middle Ages, from the copyists of books in those days.

Around the 11th century, a dot appears over the letter i in the texts of Western European manuscripts (before that, the letter was written without a dot). When writing letters in words together in italics (without separating the letters from each other), the line could get lost among other letters and the text would become difficult to read. In order to more clearly designate this letter and make texts easier to read, a dot was introduced over the letter i. And the dots were placed after the text on the page had already been written. Now the expression means: to clarify, to bring the matter to an end.

By the way, this saying has a continuation and completely sounds like this: “Dot the i’s and cross the t’s.” But the second part didn’t catch on with us.