We say: “The eyes are the mirror of the soul.” To a large extent this is true. If you know how to observe, you can easily understand what a person's eyes say. Sometimes you can even understand the character by their shape.
Lillian Glass paid great attention to this issue in her research.
Then read and remember.
What does glance mean?
- Surprised eyes. When a person is surprised, he opens his eyes wide, so that the whites of his eyes are visible. At the same time, the eyebrows rise high, and the jaw, on the contrary, drops. By paying attention to the combination of these signs, you will understand that the person is surprised.
- Frightened eyes. From fear, a person also opens his eyes wide, raises his eyebrows and brings them to the bridge of his nose.
- Angry eyes. If a person narrows his eyes and stares at another person, this is a sign that the person has angered him.
- Looking too closely d may indicate sexual appeal or hostility.
- Hesitant eyes. If a person simultaneously frowns, squints his eyes, and raises his eyebrows. This look in the eyes happens to those who cannot make a decision.
- Shocked or surprised eyes. When a person is surprised and cannot believe what he is being told, he raises his eyes to the ceiling.
- Shy eyes. When a person is embarrassed, he glances surreptitiously or looks from under his brows.
- The eyes are sad and bashful. If a person is sad or ashamed of something, he looks at his feet, afraid to meet someone’s gaze.
- "I didn't do it" eyes. When a person is falsely accused, but he did not do it, he and he have no feeling of guilt - he looks straight. If he is deceiving, then the person does not make eye contact during the conversation.
- Eye tic. An eye tic may appear in a person if he is in a state of stress and nervous tension for a long time.
- Blinking too much- a sign of nervousness and strong excitement. Appears when a person has been in a neuroticizing situation for a long time.
Here it is interesting picture about the expression of the eyes and what they mean.
Alexander Sergeevich, just a minute! Tell Zinaida Mikhailovna that...
I can’t tell Zinaida Mikhailovna anything, she left.
Where did you go?
With my lover to the Caucasus!
How about a lover? And you talk about this so calmly? YOU ARE AN ORIGINAL PERSON!
(dialogue from the film “Ivan Vasilyevich changes his profession”)
What does the expression "original man" mean? Here main characteristic A person is his originality, that is, what distinguishes him from others, makes him noticeable, outstanding and memorable. Original people They can be both held in high esteem and outcasts from “decent” society. But in any case, they know about them, talk about them, discuss them (and maybe even condemn them), admire them, are surprised, and even fear them. How do people show their originality? Through appearance(clothing, hairstyle, makeup, etc.), through expressing original thoughts, through performing actions, behavior or activities.
Examples of some famous “originals”: Zhanna Aguzarova, Nikolai Tsiskaridze, Lady Gaga, Elton John, Johnny Depp, David Lynch, Quentin Tarantino, Freddie Mercury. Agree: whether we like them or not, all these people distinguished themselves in some way, showed themselves in an unusual way and became famous figures modernity.
We remember original people, sometimes for the rest of our lives. And if this is one of our friends, acquaintances, or perhaps relatives, then there is a great opportunity to communicate with interesting person, see or hear something unique, special, inimitable! Or perhaps you can be considered an “original”? If you have your own personality in every sense, know how to think unconventionally, or even non-standardly, do not like banalities, trivialities, typicality, are not afraid to be different from others and show your individuality, admit that in addition to traditional views, there are others - then welcome to the club!
In one art school there was a teacher, as they said, with his own oddities, but the students loved him for his unconventionality. Once, at an exhibition of his works, after the “creations” were approved by critics, he put them in a pile and set them on fire, everything burned, and he looked and quietly rejoiced! Nobody understood why. But everyone remembered the “original” for a long time, and there were so many discussions!
In a small Ural town there lived a seemingly ordinary boy: he went to school, hung out with friends. Yes, one fine day he began to show his strangeness: he grew long bangs, dyed his hair black, began to wear black tight-fitting clothes and... sew (yes, with the girls in labor lessons)! At school he became a “black sheep”, did not fit into general standards, violated accepted norms in clothing and behavior. Someone twisted their finger at their temple, someone looked at him contemptuously, but everyone knew who he was. Years have passed... Original boy now lives in the glorious city of Moscow - he is a fashion designer famous brand, has its weight in the field of high fashion. And I retained my love for black. But he claims that a woman should look “delicious”!
My son is an original person. He draws horses with a very long muzzle, occupying almost the entire space of the sheet. The horse's eyes are at the top, and the nostrils are at the bottom, there is also a small round body and legs at the side - I have never seen a more original and beautiful horse! And his square dogs! This is simply a masterpiece! Huge dog on the entire sheet, consisting of practically one head with cunning eyes and smiling! He composes unusual dance moves especially for me and writes from right to left “Mom, I love you”! At school they don’t understand him much...
An original person is a free, independent person, who has the courage to openly express his originality and originality, who is not afraid of being branded “strange, eccentric”, who has his own distinctive features, zest, feature! Well, how will you feel if you are called original?
Each of us has at some point wondered what this or that expression means and where it came from. Interesting Facts that you may not have known...
with your prayers
This is a colloquial, humorous expression said in response to the question “How are you?” or “How are you?” - in the meaning of “thank you, nothing” as an expression of gratitude for a sympathetic attitude.
All 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. It turned out to be “fence grass,” that is, a weed that no one needs, everyone is indifferent to.
Lead by the nose
Deceive by promising and not fulfilling what was promised. This expression was 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.
After the rain on Thursday
Rusichi - ancient ancestors Russians - among their gods they honored the main god - the god of thunder and lightning Perun. One of the days of the week was dedicated to him - Thursday. 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.
Cut it on your nose
If you think about it, the meaning of this expression seems cruel - you will agree that it is not very pleasant to imagine an ax next to your own nose. In fact, everything is not so sad. In this expression, the word “nose” has nothing to do with the organ of smell. A “nose” was a name given to a memorial plaque or note tag. In the distant past, illiterate people carried such tablets and sticks with them, with the help of which all kinds of notes or notches were made as memories.
Grated kalach
In the old days there really was such a type of bread - “grated kalach”. The dough for it was crushed, kneaded, “grated” for a very long time, which is why the kalach turned out to be unusually lush and noble. That is, a person is taught by trials and experiences.
Scapegoat
This is the name given to the person on whom someone else's guilt is blamed. The history of this expression is as follows. The ancient Jews had a ritual for the remission of sins. The priest laid both hands on the head of a living goat, thereby, as it were, transferring the sins of his people onto it. After this, the goat was driven out into the desert.
Unlucky man
In the old days in Rus', “path” was the name not only for the road, but also for various positions at the prince’s court. 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.
Beat your head
In ancient times, artisans made cups, bowls, spoons and other utensils from wood. And in order to carve a spoon, it was necessary to chop off a small block from a log. It was precisely this wooden block that was called a baklusha. The preparation of baklushi was entrusted to students or, as they were also called, journeymen, since it was a simple matter, one might say, trivial, not requiring special skill and ability. Making such wooden chocks was called “beating the buck”. And since this work was easy, careless students tried to drag it out longer. Hence the expression “throwing the thumbs” - a mockery of the lazy “thumpers.”
There is nothing behind the soul
In ancient times, it was believed that the soul of a person was located in a depression that was located between the collarbones, such a dimple in the neck. It was also the custom here to hide money so that when necessary could be obtained quickly and safely. But since the poor people had no money, there was nothing to hide. That is why they say that the poor man has nothing in his soul.
Break a leg
This expression first appeared among experienced hunters, and was justified by the superstitious idea that when you directly and openly wish for both fluff and feather, you can jinx the results of the hunt. Evil spirits They don’t sleep, and they will definitely lead you and throw you off the scent. In the language of hunters, a feather meant a bird, while fluff meant an animal. So it was customary to wish “Neither fluff nor feather” in order to deceive evil spirits. To which the breadwinner, following the same scenario, responded “To hell,” so as not to jinx the secret wishes. Evil spirits took everything at face value and did not interfere with the hunters in their work, did not plot and did not steal the prey.
Gehenna fiery
One of the names for hell, a place of great suffering and unbearable torment. The word Gehenna comes from the name of the Gennom Valley near Jerusalem. Once upon a time, pagans performed human sacrifices here, burning people alive. This is the expression to burn in fiery Gehenna and denotes the terrible fate of sinners.
Big boss
Remember the painting “Barge Haulers on the Volga”? Remember how the barge haulers drag the barge with all their strength. The hardest and most important place in this strap is the place of the first barge hauler. He sets the initiative, he guides the others. Therefore, this place was occupied by the most strong man. This man in a burlatka strap was called a “bump.” This means that " big boss" - this is a big and important person.
Blue blood
Aristocrats have always been proud of their white skin. It was considered indecent if the skin tanned even a little in the sun. Ladies always walked around with umbrellas covering their faces from sun rays. Therefore, the skin of the nobility was thin and pale, while blue veins under the skin were visible. It seemed as if they had blood flowing in their veins. blue blood. Since then, this expression has been used to refer to people from high society.
And ends in water
This expression has deep roots going back to the time of Ivan the Terrible. During his atrocities, people were killed indiscriminately, without trial or investigation. Sometimes this became so widespread that even Tsar Ivan the Terrible himself was perplexed. At the same time, so that fewer people knew about his atrocities, the corpses of people were thrown into the river at night. The current carried the bodies far from the crime scene. So, ending up in the water meant removing traces of crimes so that no one would know anything.
It's written on the forehead
This expression appeared during the reign of Elizabeth Petrovna. She issued a written order to brand criminals. The mark was placed on the forehead “so that one could be distinguished from the righteous.” Looking at such a person, they said that all his bad thoughts were written on his forehead, meaning a stigma.
Soap opera
This is what we used to call TV series. What does this expression mean? In 1932, the opera Betty and Bob was a huge success in the United States. Its sponsors were soap and detergent manufacturers. And later, in order to clarify what kind of opera they were talking about, they talked about a “soap opera,” meaning this one.
In the bag
In the old days there was no mail as such, there were special people who delivered the news with their own hands. These were messengers. And since the roads were unsafe in those days, in order not to lose the messages, they sewed them under the durable lining of a cap or hat. Since then, we have been saying “the job is done,” meaning that the assigned task has been completed.
Shabby look
This expression goes back to the time of Tsar Peter the Great. In those days there was such a manufacturer Zatrapeznikov. His factory produced very coarse and low-quality cloth. This fabric was bought only by poor people who could not buy something better for themselves. And such poor people looked appropriate. Since then, if a person is dressed sloppily, they say that he looks shabby.
Got into trouble
Now we know what it means to find ourselves in an unpleasant situation. This expression comes from Ancient Rus'. In those days, people in villages very often caught fish by setting a kind of snare - traps woven from vines and branches. These traps were called bindings, from the word weave. The fish caught in the bind ended up in the frying pan, which was completely bad for the fish.
Uma ward
In Ancient Rus', chambers were large rooms located in sovereign buildings. Later, the institutions that lived in them began to be called chambers. Remember, the Chamber of Facets or the Armory. And in these chambers various laws were usually discussed and sovereign decisions were made. Therefore, they say “smart chamber”, meaning that a person is smart, his intelligence is like that of a whole assembly of the sovereign’s sages.
You're an old horseradish
Remember how many times we have heard this expression. Now this sounds ironic and is usually addressed to old people. Ever wondered why?
It's really all about horseradish here. Yes, yes, in that vegetable that we still grow in our gardens. Young horseradish is usually smooth and white, but it does not have the same strength and vigor as old horseradish, two or three years old. Try grating old horseradish. Tears will flow long and abundantly.
So, when we tell a man “you’re an old prick,” we are not insulting him, but only emphasizing the strength and experience acquired over the years.
Inside out
The history of this expression is connected with the decree of Ivan the Terrible to mark the guilty in a special way. The guilty boyars were dressed in a shirt inside out and put on a horse backwards and so driven around the city, “so that everyone could see the scoundrel, and so that others would be discouraged.”
Deaf grouse
During mating games, that is, during mating, the male grouse experiences hearing loss for some time. Sometimes even he stops seeing. Therefore, hunters used this very often. Such birds could be picked up with bare hands. Interestingly, this never happens to females.
Gray-haired like a harrier
The harrier is a bird with bluish-whitish plumage. And she has an interesting appearance, feathers frame her entire head like a crown, reminiscent of a gray-haired old man with a beard. This is where the expression “gray-haired as a harrier” came to us, i.e. quite an old man with a gray, almost white head.
Attach your hand
In ancient times in Rus', all illiterate people, instead of their signature, left their fingerprint on the document. This meant that the person had read the document and agreed. This is where the expression “to have a hand” comes from, which means to take part in any business. This is where “assault” comes from, that is, a person got into a fight with someone, put his hand to someone’s face.
It was stupidity
This expression appeared thanks to the gentlemen-school students. The fact is that the word “moros”, translated from Greek, means “stupidity”. This is how teachers told careless students, if they started talking nonsense out of ignorance of the lesson, “you’re talking nonsense.” Then the words were rearranged, and it turned out that out of ignorance the schoolchildren were “freezing in stupidity.”
He's all fucked up
When they say tryn-grass, they mean that a person doesn’t care about anything. And that's why. Initially they said tyn-grass, meaning the grass that grows behind the tyn, that is, behind the fence, and about which no one cares. The grass in the yard was always mowed. And behind the fence it grew haphazardly to enormous sizes.
Gogol walking
And the question immediately arises: does this expression have anything to do with Nikolai Vasilyevich Gogol. It turns out, no, it doesn’t. But it has the most direct connection to the waterfowl. Gogol is the name of the diving duck. She has a large head and a short, strong neck. She comes out of the water slowly, holding her beak high. Therefore, the expression “walking like a gogol” means holding yourself arrogantly and proudly.
Soul wide open
Even in ancient times, in Rus' it was believed that the human soul has its place on the body, this is the dimple between the collarbones. And if a person wanted to show that he had no bad thoughts, he unbuttoned a button on his shirt, showing off this dimple. This meant that a person lives with an open soul, i.e. he is sincere in his thoughts and actions.
Disservice
This expression is directly related to Krylov’s fable “The Hermit and the Bear.” Once a hermit and a bear went for a walk in the forest in hot weather. The hermit was tired, sat down to rest and fell asleep, and at that time the bear drove the flies away from him. And when another fly landed on the hermit’s forehead, the bear took a cobblestone and killed the fly, in the process splitting the hermit’s skull.
So, to provide a disservice means to bring harm instead of the promised help.
Sharashkin's office
What kind of office is this? This expression comes from the words sharan, trash. This has long been the name given to people who engaged in deception, i.e. crooks. And that’s why those organizations that try to deceive people were called sharashka offices. It was not recommended to trust such organizations, as well as any sharani.
Palm of the Championship
The meaning of this expression must be sought in Ancient Greece. The point is that during olympic games in Greece, the winners were crowned not only with laurels, i.e. laurel wreaths, but also palm branches. Only the winners of the competition could receive the palm branch. This implied subsequent honor and respect.
Get things moving
In mechanics there is such a concept as a dead point, when forces from different sides balance each other. At some point the mechanism freezes in this critical point. And to make it work, flywheels were used. Those. to move a mechanism from a dead point means to make it move again. It's the same with business. Getting things moving means overcoming difficult stagnation.
Like a goat's milk
The fact is that a goat gives a person both milk and wool. Those. it is doubly useful to a person. But there’s a problem with the goat: it doesn’t give milk or wool. So they say so disparagingly about a useless person, “You are as useful as a goat’s milk.”
Wash your hands
In the east there was such a custom. If a person was accused of a crime and he was innocent, he would wash his hands with water and say, “It is not my fault,” or “My hands are clean.” This was equivalent to an oath. That is, the person absolved himself of the blame placed on him. So the expression “wash your hands” means to abdicate responsibility for some event.
White crow
We have all seen completely white cats, there are also white rabbits and white mice. And you’ve also seen people with completely white hair and eyebrows. Scientists call such creatures albinos. This is caused by the fact that there is no coloring pigment in the skin. Crows can also be albinos, but this happens very rarely. However, as with all other creatures. Here is the expression " White crow" denotes something rare and unusual, out of the ordinary.
Without a hitch
This expression came into our speech from the professional slang of carpenters and joiners. When processing wood, it was very important that all knots and roughness were removed. Only then was the wood obtained without flaws, that is, it was High Quality processing. So the expression “everything went without a hitch” means that everything went very smoothly, without any interference.
Not a sound, not a breath
This is an expression from the hunters' arsenal. Since ancient times, it has been the custom that when hunters went out hunting and sat in ambush for hours, they were not allowed to talk, and they were not allowed to smoke or make a fire. And the ambush was always made on the leeward side. So that the animal cannot hear a single, even the quietest, sound, and not the slightest smell, that is, the human spirit. It was especially difficult in winter. There was a lot of snow, the frosts were severe, and it was difficult to withstand such cold without fire. So the expression “neither heard nor breath” means that the hunter sits so quietly that nothing is known about him.
Reluctantly
Do you remember how an ungreased cart creaks? Yes, there is such a nasty and annoying sound. That is, an ungreased cart will roll hard and slowly, as if with reluctance. So the expression “reluctantly” means that a person does something against all his desires, with great reluctance.
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 passed it around the circle from hand to hand. At the same time, everyone present sang the song “The Smoking Room is alive, alive, alive, not dead...”. And so on until the torch burns. The one in whose hands the torch died out lost. Since then, this expression began to be used with those people, and sometimes with things that, it would seem, should have disappeared a long time ago, but they still, despite everything, continued to exist.
Soul in your heels
You've probably noticed that when a person gets scared, he starts running away with incredible speed. It would seem that you have no strength, but your legs carry you on their own. This is exactly what is said in the expression “soul in the heels”, i.e. the soul helps to be saved, because it goes to the feet. And now we just talk like that about when we get very scared.
Touch the inner core
Previously, it was customary to keep a large number of livestock on the farm. A good owner The one who had more livestock was considered. So, so that not a single cow or horse gets lost, the owner puts a mark so that he can always find his own cattle. And when they branded the cattle, each animal shuddered in pain, because they touched a living body with a hot brand. This is where the expression “to touch a nerve” comes from, that is, to cause pain.
Get it out of the ground
In ancient times in Rus' it was necessary to pay a rent to the master. And the peasant wanted to save at least a little for life. Therefore, they buried some available money in the ground, i.e. made a hiding place. Only the one who hid it knew about the location of this cache. But the master also knew that the peasants were hiding money. And when, when asked to pay the quitrent, the peasant said, “There is no money,” the owner always answered, “Get it out from under the ground,” meaning the stash. This was clear to both the master and the peasant.
Grandma said in two
We use this expression when we are unsure of something and assume that we still don’t know how things will end. “Grandmother said in two” is a truncated part of the saying. And the full saying goes like this: “Grandma said in two: either it will rain or it will snow, either it will happen or it won’t.”
Sleep without hind legs
This expression arose a long time ago. Peasants, often observing animals, noticed that when you wake the animals, when they wake up, they try to stand on their legs and always on their front legs. The hind legs do not obey them at first. That is, the horse rises first on its front legs and then on its hind legs. It seems that when the front legs are already at work, the hind legs are still watching their sleep. So, this is the expression we now use when talking about a person sleeping soundly.
Quietly
We use this expression when we say that a person does something secretly, unnoticed. We received this expression as a gift from the military. In military terminology, a sapoy is called a ditch or a tunnel, with the help of which you can quietly and unnoticed get closer to the enemy. The word sapa was taken from the French language, where “sape” means undermining.
Everything is on ointment
This expression comes from carriers. They had to make sure that the carts were lubricated on time, so that they did not creak, and that nothing would fray or break along the way. And when the merchant asked the carriers if everything was ready for further path, they answered “everything is ready,” that is, the carts are ready for the road.
On the seventh heaven
This expression goes back to very ancient times. Then it was believed that the sky consists of seven spheres (this is from the teachings of Aristotle). And on these spheres the stars and planets are attached.
But the farthest sphere is the most mysterious, there is paradise, where every person strives to go after death. And in heaven there is joy, happiness and eternal bliss. So being in seventh heaven means that you are practically in heaven.
Cuckold
The origin of this expression is also very ancient. During the reign of Emperor Komnenos Andronikos (ancient Byzantium), the following rule was in use: those husbands with whose wives the emperor had love affair, it was allowed to hunt in the emperor’s menagerie, where he kept many exotic animals. And I must say this privilege was in great demand then. So, the gates of the houses where such families lived were decorated with deer antlers - “a sign of special honor.”
In the middle of nowhere
This is what we say when we want to say that this place is very far away. Let's start with the fact that sandpipes are swampy and sticky places in the forest, where folk beliefs There was always evil spirit around. And as usual, the devil rules among them, i.e. these very Easterlands are his diocese.
Elbow feeling
This expression also came to us from the military. In formation, it is very important that soldiers clearly mark their steps and wave their hands. And for all this to happen synchronously, you had to very subtly feel the elbow of your comrade standing next to you. Don't touch it, but feel it. Then the entire formation at the parade looked like one creature and the movements were clear and streamlined.
Don't get into trouble
This expression means that you should not do something without thinking, under the influence of emotions. So what is trouble? Judging by ancient documents, this was the name of the stake with which experienced hunters went to hunt a bear. This stake was specially made and hewn to make it sharp. And when a bear appeared on a hunt, this stake was put out in front of them as the first weapon against the shaggy one.
Bring to white heat
We owe the origin of this expression to the workers who smelted metal and stood at hot furnaces all day long. The fact is that when metal is heated for forging, it changes color depending on the temperature. At first the color is red, after some time it turns yellow, and then becomes white. This was the highest degree of heating. But to achieve such a metal color required a huge amount of effort and patience. So the expression “bring to white heat” means bringing a person to the point of highest degree irritation, pissing off.
There are lees to every wine
This expression is many years old. It appeared back when our ancestors considered the sun to be a deity, they prayed to him and presented gifts. But even in those distant times, people already noticed that the sun is not clearly yellow, there are darker spots on it. Now we know that these are traces of huge vortices, but then people did not know this. So the expression “even the sun has spots” means that there is no absolute perfection in the world.
And there is a hole in the old woman
The word prorukha in ancient times meant a mistake, a mistake. And the wisest and most respected people in the villages were considered to be old people, wise from experience. But they also sometimes made mistakes. So this expression says that even the most experienced people make mistakes.
Indian summer
By this expression we mean that at the beginning of autumn there begins a period of warm, clear, windless weather. And what is your attachment to women, ask? And, it turns out, the most, as they say, close connection. At this time, after hard field work, the time came when the work done by women came to the fore, i.e. This is harvesting the garden, picking berries and mushrooms. In that warm period women tried to do more homework, without putting it off in the cold.
Wait until the carrot spell
The fast is the last day before fasting, when you can still eat meat, fish, and milk. There is a ban on these products during Lent. But there is no ban on eating carrots in any fast. Therefore, the carrot plot is simply something that can never happen. And the expression “wait until the carrot spell” means waiting for a time that will never come.
Steros club
This is what we now call a person, meaning that he is stupid. This expression appeared among seminarians. The fact is that the word “club” was used for a very long time and meant that a person was not very smart and that his head was empty. And stauros was taken from the Greek language, from the word “stauros”, which also means club, pile, stake. So, when the teacher called the seminarian a “stoeros cudgel,” he meant that the seminarian is stupider than stupid, i.e. stupid squared.
It's dying out
Frankincense is the sap of resinous trees, it has a strong odor and is usually used in the performance of various church rituals. In particular, a censer with smoking incense was swung in front of a dying person. This implied that the soul would easily leave the body. And dying out last bit of strength I tried to inhale this smell. So the expression “breathing on its last legs” means to be in a very in serious condition, almost dying.
Not a timid one
This expression came from among the military in Ancient Rus'. The fact is that “ten” is the name of a military unit, the smallest military unit, headed by a foreman. Ten such “ten” were called a hundred and were headed by a centurion. And every single dozen warriors had their own reputation. And if a warrior showed courage in battle, they said that he was not a timid person. Then this expression spreads from military speech to everyday speech.
Sing the praises
What is a dithyramb? This is a solemn song in honor of the gods. This song praised the gods and praised their mission. Later, this expression began to be used when someone praised someone excessively, highly appreciating his merits. Those. man was practically equated with god.
This expression appeared in very ancient times. At that time, most of the population of Rus' was illiterate. But people somehow needed to keep basic records. So the first abacus was considered to be a person’s palm and his fingers. When counting, the fingers bent and the number counted increased.
Bring it under the monastery
It just so happened in Rus' that people very often went to the monastery to atone for some of their sins, that is, after major everyday troubles. And the expression “to bring under the monastery” meant that the person had done something, something very bad from the point of view of the church, i.e. something that will take a long time to pray for. Now we use it when someone has put someone else in an uncomfortable position, brought trouble or some kind of trouble to someone.
My husband ate too many pears
This humorous expression is used when we want to say that the husband is not here now. The origin of this phrase has not been fully elucidated. Some language experts claim that this is just a humorous rhyme, such as “well - wildebeest bagels.”
Others claim that this is due to the Chinese pear, which has a bad effect on a man's potency. Those. he doesn't care about his wife.
Still others have their own version, which says that after eating a lot of pears, you will have an upset stomach. Therefore, at this time the husband is busy with important work.
In any case, the answer to the question “Where is your husband?” - “The husband has eaten too many pears!” means that there seems to be a husband, but where he is and what he is doing is unclear.
Green serpent
This expression appeared in Ancient Rus'. Young wine made from grapes has a greenish tint, which is why it was called “green wine.” But we all know that if you drink wine often, you are not far from drunkenness. That is, the young wine is easy to drink, but gives a very good impression to the head. It’s like the biblical tempting serpent, it gently seduces, but it won’t lead to trouble. Therefore, when invited to drink, they say that the green serpent, i.e. alcohol, seduces.
Crazy with fat
This expression originated from observations of animals. If a dog is fed fat for a very long time, it becomes lazy and clumsy. She no longer cares about performing her “dog” service. And if they tried to lift her with a stick, she would rush at her owner. That’s when the expression “A fat dog gets mad” appeared. Nowadays, this expression has been shortened and used when we describe people who are capricious from idleness, from the fact that there is nothing to do.
Showed up, didn't get dusty
Who showed up and why didn't they get dusty? Let's figure it out. When the owner sent his servant on an errand, he was not supposed to take a cab; he had to walk the whole way. And if a servant appeared after some time in clothes with no dust on them, this indicated that he either did not fulfill the order or was cheating. In any case, the owner was unhappy. “He showed up without getting dusty” denotes an expression of dissatisfaction with the appearance of someone.
Go left
This expression is associated with the belief that we have two angels. The guardian angel chose his right shoulder, and the tempting angel chose the left. And so they sit on our shoulders all their lives and give advice. The Guardian Angel protects us, and the Tempter Angel constantly draws us into something.
Since ancient times, the word “right” among the Slavs meant correct, legal, given by God. So, going to the left means doing something wrong, something the tempting angel is tempting you with. And according to tradition, he, like the tempting serpent, usually tempts to treason.
Like looking into the water
This expression is directly related to fortune telling. It was believed that during Christmas week everyone was allowed to guess. And the girls often gathered in groups and told fortunes. The simplest and at the same time the right way was with lit candles looking into a dish of water. You should have asked a question and looked carefully. The images appearing in the water were the answer to the question. And the questions were usually made about the future. So the expression “like looking into water” means to foresee something, to know in advance about some events.
Like Christ in his bosom
What is a sinus? This is the place located between the chest and clothing. If we look at ancient Russian clothing, we will notice that there were no pockets then. They began to be sewn on much later. And the most reliable place was precisely the sinus. Money, documents, in general, everything that was most valuable and important was hidden there. And since Christ is the savior and protector of all believers, in his bosom there was generally the safest, calmest and most reliable place.
Don't lose face in the dirt
This expression is associated with fist fights in Rus'. It was believed that in a fist fight the most shameful thing was to fall face down on the ground or in the mud. That is, if the opponents got up from the ground and one of them had dirt on his face, it was assumed in advance that he had lost. So even in the most difficult battles, fighters could endure everything: pain, blood, but not dirt on their faces. So the expression “not to lose face in the dirt” means to come out of any test with dignity.
In no time
We owe the appearance of this expression to the military. From ancient times, it so happened that all military commands had to be carried out by counting. For example, throwing a rifle onto the shoulder was done in two counts, at the command of the commander: “One, two.” Or you also need to count a step in formation. And since in wartime decisive and quick actions were needed, since the life of a soldier depended on it, now this expression means that the action was carried out very quickly, almost instantly.
You can't spill it with water
This expression appeared a long time ago, and it is connected with this. There should be only one bull in the herd; he is the rightful owner in this herd. When two bulls came together in a pasture, a fight immediately broke out between them. Everyone wanted to show that they were stronger than their opponents. At that moment it was better not to approach the bulls. They could easily mutilate the shepherd. So the shepherds themselves came up with the idea of pouring water on the fighting bulls. While the stunned bulls were coming to their senses, they were pulled in opposite directions. Since then, the expression “you can’t spill water” means that someone is very tightly connected to someone else, just like bulls fighting with horns. Later they started talking about great friends like that.
He is my right hand
This expression reflects the way of peasant life in Rus'. In those distant times, all family members had their assigned place at the table. The head of the family, usually the eldest man in the family, sat at the “top edge of the table” under the images. The eldest son usually sat on the right hand, since he was considered his father’s main assistant and the greatest hopes and greatest responsibility were always placed on him. He had to be obeyed if the head of the family left somewhere.
There is another version. This is the meaning of the right hand for a person. Usually, unless a person is left-handed, of course, for him the right hand is the main one. He performs all his actions better right hand than the left.
Sprinkle ashes on your head
Now this expression means that a person bitterly repents of what he has done. So where did this expression come from?
In ancient times, Jews had the following custom: if someone died in the family, or some other misfortune occurred, then family members sprinkled earth or ashes on their heads. This told others that the family was in deep sorrow. And as usual, family members blamed themselves for what happened. Therefore, there is a feeling of guilt and remorse.
Let's not be foolish
This expression was born during the time of the Moscow Tsars. Then each king had jesters in his service, or “fools” as they were called, who entertained both the king and the guests. So, when the boyars close to him gathered at the hour appointed by the tsar in the tsar’s chambers to “think the sovereign’s thoughts,” no one in excess was allowed there. That is, this happened behind closed doors. Even jesters were not allowed. The boyars were informed about the secrecy of such a meeting: “No fools.” And now this expression means that the matter is serious, no joke.
Onion grief
When do we cry? When some misfortunes happen in life. So there must be a reason for tears, right? But you can cry for no reason if you just peel the onion. Tears will be abundant, but there is no reason for them. So we use the expression “woe is my onion” in relation to a person who has invented for himself a lot of unnecessary difficulties that actually do not exist.
Good face at bad game
This expression appeared among gamblers. A very good card player must be able to control his face very deftly. No matter what happened, no matter what cards were dealt to him, he had to maintain a calm and detached expression on his face, i.e. mine so that the enemy does not guess which layout of cards in the game has fallen. This demonstrated the professionalism of a true master.
Dressed to perfection
This expression appeared among tailors. When the sewn clothes were handed over to the customer, they had to be completely ready and ironed. A good master tailor was considered to be one whose clothes fit his figure like a glove.
When the customer put on this outfit, they said that he was dressed to the nines, i.e. The clothes are just from the master, new and fit very well.
Such masters were worth their weight in gold.
walk on hind legs
Do you have a dog? Do you remember how you raise, educate, train her? And, of course, we all feel moved when our pets stand on their hind legs and stretch out their front legs towards us. And we tell them “Come on, serve!” And he serves. This happens very often. And our pets, seeing our admiration and tenderness for this, try again and again to please us, to please us. The expression “walking on your hind legs” means that someone is pleasing someone, or someone is currying favor with someone.
a fool
In the old days, it was customary to place a scarecrow (or jester) in the garden so that it would scare away birds and hares from the fields. And in order for the effect to be stronger, the scarecrow was dressed in straw from last year's peas. At the slightest wind, these straw clothes began to rustle and the birds scattered in fright. Since then, a poorly and ugly dressed person has been called a fool. This expression speaks of bad taste or old-fashioned clothing.
Easy to find
This expression is related to folk custom. If a person died, it was customary to mention him at his wake " kind words" That is, they mentioned him “for his repose,” so that in the next world he would be well received and his soul would be at peace.
And those who left or were far from home were always mentioned at feasts “for their health.” Remember the toast “To those at sea”? This is a classic "health" reference. If after such a mention a person suddenly returned, they said that he was easy to remember.
Cut off slice
This expression is part of the saying “You can’t put a cut piece back on bread.” A cut off piece is what they called a daughter in Rus' who got married and left her home. Now she no longer belonged to her father, but belonged to her husband.
Later, this expression is used to refer to any family member who decides to live his own life.
They are smeared with the same world.
This expression appeared in ancient times. The fact is that myrrh is a fragrant substance that is used in the church for ritual events. For example, a baby is anointed with myrrh at baptism. This means that he came into the world of God's faith. Therefore, in ancient times, the expression “smeared with the same world” meant that these were people of the same faith. Nowadays it is used rather with a negative connotation.
Play first fiddle
This expression came to us from among musicians. Every large orchestra must have not one, but several violins. The main violin is always considered to be the “prima”, the second one is the “second”, then the “viola”, and so on. But the first violin is always the leader, and all the others follow it, complementing its sound. So, going beyond music, this expression came to mean a person who is a leader, leading others. And other people look up to him.
Persona non grata
This expression was given to us by gentlemen diplomats. The fact is that, translated from Latin, the word “persona” means a person or a person, a person. And “grata” is desire. Further, in the meaning, “persona grata” is a person who was received with great desire in a foreign country. And accordingly, “persona non grata” is someone who is undesirable, whom they do not want to see, i.e. an undesirable person for whom the road is closed.
Put it in its place
At the Moscow royal court there was a rule that at all ceremonial events the boyars were obliged to stand in places strictly defined by their nobility and rank. But sometimes the kings brought closer to them seemingly not noble people, but apparently very important. Then this person was placed closer to the king, and it was considered greatest honor for this man, but this caused discontent among all the other boyars.
Now this expression means that someone has been pointed out about his behavior, sometimes very unworthy.
Fail
Translated from Italian word“fiaska” means a large bottle (2 liters). The fact is that in Italy there was a fairly famous comedian Bianconelli, and he had a funny act in which he tried to hold this bottle with one hand, while making funny movements. Everything would have been fine and the audience would have been happy and cheerful, but in one of these performances Bianconelli dropped a bottle and water splashed all those present. The indignant audience began to leave without watching the performance to the end. After such an acting failure, the word “fiasco” began to mean failure. And the expression “to fail” means to fail, to fail in some matter.
I've got you figured out
This expression is connected, oddly enough, with money, but not with paper money, but with coins. In ancient times, in order to protect themselves from counterfeit coins, ordinary people checked their authenticity in the following way - they bit the coin with their teeth, and then looked to see if there were teeth marks on the coin. If there is, then the coin is fake. And then this expression began to be used in relation to people. “I figured you out” means that someone understood everything about another person, figured out true motives his actions.
Put the pig down
The origin of this expression has two options. The first is a gift from the military. In ancient times, there was such a formation of troops during military operations as a “pig”. At the same time, the troops lined up in a wedge, and this formation was very successful during the offensive. The appearance of such a wedge was so formidable that the enemy very often rushed to his heels. And this was not just a nuisance, it was a big disaster and even death.
The second version is related to the ban on Muslims eating pork. Sometimes it happened that a person ate a piece of meat without even suspecting that it was pork. And when he found out, it caused such anger that no one was hardened enough.
So the expression “to put a pig” in any case means that someone was in big trouble.
Tip on your tongue
Sometimes these hard and very painful pimples appear on the tongue. They were called tipuns. In ancient times in Rus' they said that this is a sign of a person’s deceit. And they scared the children, saying that if you tell a lie, a pip will immediately appear on your tongue. Since then, this expression has been used as a spell against a liar and any unkind person who, with his words, can bring about some kind of misfortune.
Set your teeth on edge
Do you remember how your mouth feels when you eat a lot of green apples or plums? It’s such an unpleasant feeling from the acidity of green fruits, isn’t it? Even sometimes there is a slight pain in the teeth. This is what sets the teeth on edge. Anyone who likes to feast on green apples knows very well what it is like to set one's teeth on edge.
Later, this expression began to be used for all sorts of boring matters. So “to set one’s teeth on edge” now means that something about we're talking about in conversation, very tired, boring.
To shake one's head
This expression appeared at a time when almost all men in Rus' wore beards and mustaches. When they had to make a decision, men very often began to twirl their mustaches to keep their hands busy. Or maybe it came from thoughtfulness. But, nevertheless, this habit was noticed by the people. And now when we say to someone “take your time,” we mean that the person should think carefully, take into account all the facts before coming to a final decision.
Wouldn't hurt a fly
In our minds, a fly is a creature associated with something dirty, which you don’t even mind killing so as not to spread infection. And that’s why we have a slightly disgusting attitude towards them. And a person who cannot offend even a fly, despite all its dirt and harmfulness, is the standard of human meekness.
That is, this expression is used to describe very kind, meek people, who by their nature cannot bring harm or pain to anyone.
If we don't wash, we'll ride
In Rus', laundresses usually washed clothes near a pond. This process took place in two stages: first, they were soaped and washed in water, and then, if it was not washed, they were also rolled on boards using rolling pins.
So the expression “if we don’t wash it, we ride it” means that goals are achieved in any way, using different means. At the same time, they are not shy in choosing these very means.
Burn one's boats
This expression came to us from among the military. During hostilities, bridges were burned in two cases:
- so that there is no temptation to retreat;
- so that you can escape the pursuit of the enemy and detain him in front of this bridge.
Later this expression turned into peaceful speech. But the meaning remained similar - to commit an act that will not allow you to return to the past. This is an act whose point of no return has been passed.
Fed up with
This expression has been used since ancient times to describe the degree of satiety of a person. That is, it was used only in relation to how much a person ate. And it meant that the person had completely satisfied his hunger.
Later, this same expression began to be used when there was something beyond all measure, when everything was tired, boring or annoying. And this applied not only to the concept of food, but also to other things.
Catch on the fly
If you have a dog, you've probably seen more than once how deftly it catches a piece of meat you throw. She doesn't wait for him to plop down on the ground, no. The dog catches him in flight.
So the expression “catch on the fly” means that a person very easily assimilates the information he needs, as if playfully. And in order to understand everything, he just needs to listen carefully, while the other needs years of training for this purpose.
Suck it from your finger
You've probably noticed how some people, when they're worried or thinking about something, start biting their nails. But from the outside it seems that the person is sucking his finger. This is how this expression “suck it out of thin air” appeared and it means that a person came up with something incomprehensible to himself and came to a false conclusion without any reason.
That is, this conclusion was literally pulled out of thin air.
Every person has indulged in dreams in their life. In childhood, in youth, in adulthood, we love to dream. In some cases, the dream remains an unattainable horizon, like a mirage in the desert. But there are people who reach their peak. And sometimes their dream turns into a goal for which they are ready to do a lot. Obstacles in the path of such people crumble like rocks from the blow of dynamite. And if someone’s head turns out to be where the “rock” is, what could happen? How will you continue your journey? In our article we will look at what it means to “go over the heads.” I've heard it more than once. So, let's begin.
Expression value
To our colloquial speech The phrase “go over your head” was included, which means that to achieve a set goal a person will stop at nothing, bringing emotional, moral, and sometimes physical harm into the lives of other people. The meaning of the expression “go over your head” is not simply to achieve a goal, but to cause harm to people around you. Characteristic feature You may get what you want in the shortest possible time. Another expression comes to mind, namely: “Revenge is a dish best served cold.” Let's emphasize the word “cold”. Here, on the contrary, a person is consumed by passion or the desire to occupy a certain position, weaves intrigue, lies, and sometimes becomes dangerous. In other words, we can say that a person crosses the line of universal morality.
Examples from literature
As you understand, the expression “go over your head” is often found in literature. One of bright examples is the work of N.S. Leskova "Lady Macbeth from Mtsensk district" The heroine of the novel, Izmailova, was swallowed up love passion: to achieve her goal, she kills her father-in-law, mother-in-law and a little six-year-old boy. Here, in the literal sense of the word, she goes over their heads.
An equally impressive example is “Heroes of Our Time” by M. Yu. Lermontov. To achieve his goals, Pechorin also goes over his head, namely, he sacrifices Bela, a sweet and simple girl, whose life is cut short in the prime of life. And the hero is all the more unpleasant, since his goal is defined simply for him: he does not want to be bored, and therefore is ready to do a lot, as long as it is interesting for him. Everything was ruled by the boredom and fun of the protagonist, the counterbalance of which was the price of a young life.
Synonyms and their meaning
As you understand, the expression “go over your head” has synonyms. As an example, we will give some of them, for example, “go ahead”, “go contrary”. The above synonyms do not have a negative connotation in their connotation, which cannot be said about the expression “go over your head.” Synonyms for this expression define an action without emotional overtones.
Let us also give an example of the expression “walk over corpses”, the semantic meaning of which is aimed at achieving the set goal without sparing anyone’s life. In this case, the negative color reaches its apogee.
Let us give an example of a phrase such as “allowing yourself a lot,” that is, regardless of the circumstances, a person takes certain actions, “is arbitrary,” “gets out of hand.” In other words, behave in a rebellious, independent manner.
Is it worth it or not?
So what does it mean to “go over your head”? We should not forget that this expression has become so firmly entrenched in our lives that just by mentioning it, associations of something wrong and unpleasant arise. Nowadays, you can often come across the opinion that you often have to go over your head. Such people see only one single path to realizing their dreams in life, making their way through difficulties by any means, even immoral.
But the question is different: is it worth it or not? The emotional and moral damage can sometimes be so great that the consequences are irreversible. And think for a minute: what if your loved ones end up in this place? Would you want them to suffer a similar fate? Do not forget simple truths: act as you would like to be treated. But sometimes we observe paradoxes in life: arrogant and unprincipled people live very well. Don’t forget that everyone has their own price: a penny or a million... It is quite possible that people can change their principles. In any case, this is a real test of yourself.
Price or value
What does it mean to “go over your head”? The defining issue is the value of human life. Many act according to their conscience and remain true to themselves and their principles, while others are able to step over themselves, through other people, justifying their actions with the desire to achieve well-being in the future for the family, for their children and to support their parents.
People who “go over their heads” have no conscience, no honor, no decency. However, they often put themselves above other people and are ready to sacrifice anyone who tries to cross their path. They are quite often unprincipled and criminal. But often the goal can elude them and get lost, just like loved ones. The price you have to pay is sometimes high and unjustified.
Finally
To summarize what has been said, I would like to say that this expression does not mean killing people in literally words. But this is how the human world works, and the animal world as well - the one who grabs the most delicious piece gets the most.
What does it mean to “go over your head”? This means a struggle, sometimes dishonest and cruel, and sometimes necessary, because a “piece” will help the family, and if this is so, then you will have to fight. So the situation may not always be all black and white. The expression itself is always faceless without taking into account the whole picture. But you should never forget about such words as honor, conscience, dignity.
