The Russian language includes many meanings which are perfectly understood by its native speakers, but it puzzles foreigners. "Hitting on the nose" is a bright one, the translation of which is difficult for linguists from other countries. The origin of the phraseological unit, as is typical for such expressions, has a simple and at the same time interesting explanation.

Hack on the nose: the meaning of the phrase

The winged expression is so well established that it is used unconsciously by native speakers. The phraseologism "hack to death" comes to a person's aid when he wants his interlocutor to remember his words forever. For example, this statement can be afforded by parents or teachers, scolding. It is also used by adults who quarrel with each other.

This phrase is one of the visual proofs of the emotional richness of the Russian language. The expression "hack it in the nose" better conveys the speaker's emotions and the importance of his words than a simple request to remember something. However, it does not at all conceal the threat of physical harm, as it might seem to a foreigner trying to translate the statement verbatim.

The origin of the phraseological unit

Oddly enough, the winged expression did not initially have any emotional connotation. It was completely unrelated to damage to the human body. By proposing to hack to death on the nose, the speaker did not mean at all an organ of smell, as one might think. This name was popularly acquired by the people several centuries ago, which served as a lifesaver for a person not trained in literacy.

How are these devices related to one of the body parts? Absolutely not, since their name comes from the verb "wear". Considering the importance of writing instruments, many residents of that time practically never parted with them. In fact, "hacking on the nose" meant making notches on the "notepads-noses" that were always with you.

Why do we need "noses"

Almost until the overthrow of the tsarist regime in 1917, literacy remained the privilege of high society. Most of the population of Russia did not even possess elementary writing skills. Serious educational gaps did not prevent people from actively participating in the trade that flourished in the country. New trading houses were constantly founded, fairs were launched, caravans flourished. Transactions were made every minute and were sometimes associated with large amounts.

Planks, which owe their own existence to the phraseologism "hack to death", were invented to help illiterate traders. With their help, they recorded their own financial transactions in their memory, making notches. Decryption of the "notebook" was carried out by counting the number of created "sticks". It does not seem convenient, but it is worth remembering that people in those days did not have electronic gadgets.

It is interesting that such adaptations were widespread in medieval Europe, since the situation with the literacy of the population in those days was also deplorable.

Emotional color

Why do people these days threaten their opponents, jokingly or seriously, when they ask them to hack to death? The importance has acquired an emotional color in connection with the main purpose of the tablets, which have successfully replaced modern notebooks. They have become a means of fixing debt obligations.

It is easy to give an example of recording such an operation on a commemorative tag. A man borrows three sacks of flour from a friend. To remember the fact of the loan and to repay it in a timely manner, three notches are made on the board. A partial return of the resulting debt was not ruled out. In this case, the "notebook" was divided into parts between the partners, and on each part, half of the notches made were saved.

Obviously, they may be fraught with a certain threat to the debtor. This is connected with the gradual acquisition of an inoffensive expression of emotional coloring.

Other phraseological units "with a nose"

There are other original catch phrases that seem to be or are actually associated with the organ of smell. Among them there are phraseological units that have a simple explanation, and expressions that have been formed in a complex way. An example of a "light" stable phrase is the characteristic "with a gulkin nose", meaning a small amount of something. Under the gulkin's nose, the speaker means a pigeon's beak, which is small in size.

The phrase "get away with the nose" has as long a history as "hack it on the nose." The offer dates back to the days when bribery flourished in the country. For example, it was difficult to hope for a positive solution to your issue in court if a gift was not prepared for a representative of the authorities. Of course, such a gift was not called a bribe: it was designated as a nose, bringing. If a person is left with a nose, this indicates that his gift was refused. Consequently, achieving the goal seems unrealistic.

Many catch phrases from the past have been forgotten, however, the phraseological unit “hack to death” continues to be actively used in the Russian language.

In ancient times, the peasants did not know either literacy or counting. And if one asked the other to borrow several sacks of grain or flour, they could not make notes or draw up receipts. And so that no controversy arose during the settlement, the borrower brought with him a long wooden plank, which was called the "nose."

On this board, transverse notches were made according to the number of borrowed bags, then the board was split from top to bottom, and each remained a half with notches. When the debtor came to return the bags, both parties to the transaction put their halves of the nose together. If the notches coincided, and the number of sacks was equal to the number of notches, this meant that none of the peasants had forgotten or confused anything.

The same custom existed in medieval Europe. In the Czech Republic, for example, in the 15-16 centuries. innkeepers widely used special sticks - "cuttings", on which they applied, "cut down" with a knife marks on the amount of drinks or eaten by visitors.

Homonymy

The word "nose" in the expression "on your nose" does not mean the organ of smell at all. Oddly enough, it is a "plaque", "tag for notes." The name of the plaque itself obviously comes from the Old Slavonic verb "carry" - to be useful from the notches, this plaque always had to be carried with you. And when it is desirable not to forget or confuse anything, and they say: "Cut it on your nose!"

In addition, the word "nose" was previously used in the meaning of an offering, a bribe, and if someone could not agree with the person to whom this nose was intended, this unfortunate someone, as you might guess, stayed with this very nose.

Thus, “cut your nose” lives to this day, and its original meaning has lost its meaning.

Interest of scientists

Of particular interest to etymologists is the relationship of the alleged homonyms nose "olfactory organ" and nose "tag with notches for memory." Trying to completely reject the association with the first homonym as absurd, E.A. Vartanyan notes that understanding would indicate cruelty: “it’s not very pleasant if you are asked to make nicks on your own face,” and, reassuring readers from this “unnecessary fear,” proceeds to an exposition of traditional etymology.

In a somewhat different way, without denying the completely natural in everyday perception of the associative connection of the turnover "on the nose" with the nose as "the organ of smell", V.I. Koval. He includes material from the Belarusian, Ukrainian and Bulgarian languages ​​in his analysis. Recognizing the original meaning of "tag for records", he emphasizes that gradually this word began to correlate with the well-known meaning, which led to the loss of the original image. Due to this, a person supposedly perceives it as "an image of a notch on the nose (the organ of smell)."

How the well-known expressions of the Russian language appeared.

We are used to using idioms and sayings to better express our thoughts. But sometimes it becomes strange: what a hedgehog understands everything and how can you hack something on the nose?

Bright Side collected a history of 15 expressions that will change your understanding of them.

Nick down

The expression takes root in the depths of centuries, at a time when the rudiments of writing were already there, but there was no paper yet. And so, in order to remember something important, people made notches on a special wooden board, which they carried with them. This tablet was called the "nose".

So "cut your nose" was just "make a note in your notebook."

Hedgehog is clear

In Soviet boarding schools for gifted children, adolescents were recruited 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, “biennial 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.

Shabby view

"Shabby" was the name given to the clothes of the church attendants, which they wore "at the meal," that is, the clothes that were simple, and not smart, that they wore for the service.

Later, cheap cloth appeared in everyday life, which was used on tablecloths, napkins and towels. This fabric, which was most often used by ordinary people, was called by the name of the Zatrapezny merchant family, who owned the linen manufactory. The same name was given to clothes made from this fabric - usually it is rough, simple clothes.

There is no truth at the feet

Now this is a harmless invitation to sit down, but before the expression had even a cruel meaning.

In ancient Russia, debtors were severely punished, beaten with iron rods on their bare feet, seeking to repay the debt, that is, "truth", but such a punishment could not force those who did not have money to return the debt. This was called "pravezh".

According to another version, it was believed that the landowner, having discovered the loss of something, gathered the peasants and made them stand until the culprit was named.

Rub glasses

The expression has nothing to do with the glasses people wear. In the 19th century, gamblers resorted to tricks: during the game, with the help of a special adhesive composition, they applied additional points (red or black signs) to the cards with powder, and, if necessary, could erase these points.

This is where the expression “rub in the glasses” comes from, meaning “to present something in a favorable light” or simply “to deceive”.

Seven Fridays a week

Once upon a time Friday was free from work and market day. Therefore, on this day, it was customary to fulfill various trading obligations. On Friday, receiving money, they gave their word of honor to bring the ordered goods on the next market day. On Friday, when they received the goods, they promised to give money for it next week.

It was then that they began to talk about a man who breaks his promise over and over again.

There is nothing behind the soul

"Soul" was called the depression between the collarbones, the dimple in the neck above the sternum, where, according to popular belief, the human soul was located. In the same place, wallets were worn on the chest (behind the soul).

Get away with your nose, stay with your nose

The fact is that the word "nose" in this expression does not mean part of the face at all. It is a noun derived from the verb "to bear."

According to one version, this refers to the nose that the groom, according to the ancient custom, presented to the bride's parents (ie “gift”, “ransom”). If the groom was refused and the gift was rejected, then the groom was left with a nose.

According to another version, the word nose is used here in the meaning of "offering", "bribe". In such a case, staying with a nose meant “leaving with an unacceptable offering; leave without an agreement. "

Big boss

The expression goes back to the speech of the barge haulers, in which the most experienced and strongest barge haule, walking in the strap first, was called "bump". Now the "big shot" or "big shot" is an influential person.

In the bag

It is over, decided, settled, everything is in order, everything ended well.

The soft cloth hats were worn by officials who were called "solicitors." The solicitors prepared documents for the court, “cooked up” the case. And these officials had a habit of putting important documents behind the lining of their hats so as not to lose them.

So it was believed that if the solicitor put the petition in his hat, it means that it will reach the court, there it will be considered, and the case will be decided.

There is also an opinion that the phraseological unit is associated with the habit of messengers to sew up very important papers into the lining of their hats, "cases", as they were then called. It was a relatively reliable way to avoid being robbed.

Enjoy Your Bath!

In Russian baths, the hottest place was almost under the very ceiling, where there was a platform on which people were steaming. Steam rose from the hot stones poured over with water. They wished those who went to the bathhouse to have a light steam, that is, a steam that quickly rises up from the hot stones.

The meaning is associated with another version: in the baths, steam could be mixed with carbon monoxide, from which people often got sick. This steam, in contrast to the light, good steam, was called heavy. Therefore, they wished for an easy pair.

Put your teeth on the shelf

This expression is not associated with false teeth, but with tools.
If you have work, then you will always have a piece of bread on your table. If there is no work, then put your teeth on the shelf and go hungry.

Indian summer

The origin is associated with that period in the life of the peasants, when the field work ended, and the women took up household chores: they soaked the flax, ruffled it, weaved it.

According to another version, the combination of "Indian summer", "Indian days", "Indian cold" in the old days made sense, based on the superstition that women could influence the weather. In addition, during this period, a thin, light cobweb flies through the fields and forests, foreshadowing dry weather. This spider web is associated with barely noticeable gray strands of hair in women, and the time of warm and fine days - with her age, which precedes the elderly.

Sit in the livers

In Russia, the liver was considered a repository of vitality. That is, "sitting in the livers" meant poisoning life, interfering with life.

Show where crayfish hibernate

Many landowners loved to feast on fresh crayfish, and in winter it is very difficult to catch them: crayfish hide under driftwood, dig holes in the banks of a lake or river and spend the winter there.

Therefore, in winter, the guilty peasants were sent to catch crayfish, who had to get them out of the icy water - hence this threat came.

Seventh water on jelly

So they say about a person who is such a distant relative to you that it is not even clear whether he is a relative.

If the jelly stands for a long time, then it loses its taste, and a layer of water appears on it. The seventh water is water that appeared on a long-standing jelly, which is why its taste has nothing to do with jelly anymore. The numeral "seven" is used here purely symbolically, as in other Russian proverbs and sayings. Sometimes the option "tenth water on jelly" is used.

Image: B. Diodorov
Based on materials:

Internet marketer, editor of the site "In an accessible language"
Date of publication: 25.09.2018

The phrase "" is familiar to many: it often appears by ear and in speech, especially if they want a particular person not only to perceive the meaning of what was said, but to understand it very well and remember it for a long time. However, what do you think, will foreigners understand this phrase in literal translation? Probably not! Phraseologism is difficult to translate and, as a result, loses its original meaning, it may even seem like a "call to self-harm."

Today we will tell you about what the phrase "Hits in the nose" means now, what meaning it carried before, where it came from, and why its figurative meaning has nothing to do with the organ of smell, which immediately comes to mind when you hear this expression ...

The meaning of phraseological units

In the modern interpretation, the expression "cut yourself on the nose" means to remember once and for all, for life. A phrase can be quite aggressive in nature, depending on the situation, it can play the role of a warning, warning or a desire to draw certain conclusions, for example, when one of the interlocutors requires his opponent to remember the information he is setting out.

Also, this phrase can be used in a calmer tone, for example, for educational and instructive purposes, when the teacher is trying to convey important material to his students, focusing on its great meaning.

It may seem to many that "hacking to death" is not aesthetically pleasing and even very harsh. But, the proposal to make a scar on the face has nothing to do with damage to the organ of smell.

The origin of the phraseological unit

Why is the “nose” the central figure of the winged expression? The history of phraseological units began in Russia, when most of the population did not possess the skills of either writing or reading. This lack of a minimum education badly affected trade, people simply could not take part in fairs, properly manage the amounts and make transactions in the market. At that time, it was customary for writing lessons to carry wooden tablets on which certain notes were made.

This habit also spread to merchants, who made notes on their boards about transactions and financial transactions. The word "Nose" in the sense in which it makes sense in the phraseological unit under consideration comes from the verb "to wear". Residents not trained in literacy carried signs with them almost everywhere, never parted with them.

The addressed phrase “cut your nose” at that time meant “write it down in your notepad”, and in no way meant marking the organ of smell :).

Another purpose of this kind of notebooks is accounting for debt obligations. Suppose one neighbor borrowed three sacks of grain from another, and in order to fix this operation, the neighbor puts three notches on the board. If the return was made in stages, then such a notebook was divided between neighbors, in each half of which a part of the notches was preserved.

Thus, the phrase "cut yourself on the nose" is relevant in speech to this day, despite the fact that over time it acquired a figurative meaning and a special emotional coloring.

In the Russian language you can find such expressions and idioms that will baffle even a professional linguist of a foreigner. People who try to learn Russian are generally shocked when they try to understand the meaning of many catch phrases. Even not every Russian can explain the meaning of phraseological units. " Nick down".

In Russia, everyone is familiar with this expression and perfectly understands its meaning. For example, a mother, scolding her child, can say: "Nikolai, never do this again, hack it on your nose." And the baby fully understands that this is the last warning that cannot be violated, otherwise bad consequences will follow. Although the child hardly understands the meaning of this phrase, he understands the emotional coloring of this expression.

The history of the expression "hack to death"

However, in the dark ages of medieval Russia, only priests and nobles were literate, and that was not all. However, life in the country was seething and boiling, trade caravans scurried between cities, fairs and trading houses were opened everywhere. Merchants made deals and earned money.
With general illiteracy, it was necessary to somehow get out.
At that time, there were special boards on which sticks (notches) were scratched.
For example, one merchant lends a person three skeins of cloth. He takes out a board and put exactly three notches. Then, when the debt gradually returned, the board was divided into parts. This was done in such a way that half of each notch would remain on both sides.

Well, everything is clear with this, but many will have a question.
What does the nose have to do with it?
Researchers believe that this is not a human organ, but a derivative of the verb "wear". Planks on which the notches were made were of great importance in ancient Russia, so most citizens carried them with them without parting for a minute, because it was their money.