Where does the expression how come from? Where did the expression “sand is falling” come from? The history of the appearance of phraseological units

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 if 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 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 - simple peasant food: water yes 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 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, delivers 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 soliloquy tragedy of the same name Shakespeare 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 – name last letter Church Slavonic alphabet. Traces of flogging on well-known places of careless students strongly resembled this letter. So registering an Izhitsa means teaching her a lesson, punishing her, and it’s easier to flog her. 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 path of the falconer is in charge of princely hunting, the path of the hunter is in charge of hunting with dogs, the path of the stablemaster 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 figurative expression extreme doubt about something. Twenty two misfortunes So in the play by A.P. Chekhov “ The Cherry Orchard"(1903) is the name of the clerk Epikhodov, with whom some comic misfortune 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, a prominent place allegedly occupied the death penalty, which punished, for example, such an offense as stealing vegetables. There was a legend that these laws were written in blood (Plutarch, Solon). IN literary speech the expression “draconian laws”, “draconian measures, punishments” became 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, the American graphic 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 the drawings was a child in a yellow shirt, to whom various funny sayings. 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 Expression by Stefan Zweig (1881-1942) from the preface to his collection of historical short stories " star clock humanity" (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 giving special taste, attractiveness to something (a dish, a story, a person, etc.). Originated from folk 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, poor fellows, to do different tricks, deceiving with the promise of a handout. Sharpen the laces Lyasy (balusters) are turned figured posts of railings at the porch. Only a true master. 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 preserves the story of a sailor who swore an oath strong storm to go around 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's possible that historical basis it 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 is quickly replaced by 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 a honeymoon, and the second is a 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 Expression meaning highest degree joy, happiness, goes back to the Greek philosopher Aristotle (384-322 BC), who in his essay “On Heaven” explains the structure of the firmament. 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 Folk songs 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" - Chilo (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 done damage to a man’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 replied that he was from a rich and beautiful city Kyiv, and so described the wealth and beauty to the nomads hometown that the Polovtsian Khan Nunchak attached Nikita by the tongue to the tail of his horse, and the Polovtsians went to fight and plunder Kyiv. 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 “ 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 Rus', this nickname was assigned to the Grand Duke Vladimir (beginning of the 12th century), from whom the Moscow kings traced their origin. Hat Monomakh 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 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 (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 Silent as a fish - you have known this 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 (lat. rara avis) in the meaning of “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 a 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 for the yard This is a very old sign: only the animal that the brownie likes will live both in the house and in the yard (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 he was tired of traveling, Like everyone else in the world, He returned and ended up, 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: weak side person, deed. 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 variety of khl :) - 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 hall :). 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 Porukha (Ukrainian zh. up-down. 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 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).

“The sand is already pouring out of you,” we often say with some sarcasm about a person whose age, according to our concepts, no longer corresponds to the realization of his plans. At the same time, everyone understands perfectly well that the statement has something to do with the onset of old age, but they are unlikely to be able to intelligibly explain why. Let's try to understand the background to the appearance of this phraseological unit.

A few words about fashion

The desire to satisfy two main human needs - food and clothing - contributed to the dynamic development public life exactly in this direction. Everyone had the opportunity to stand out from their surroundings by preferring a special outfit or dish. If his style became popular and more and more people wanted to adhere to it, then it turned into fashion.

It has always been short-lived, interacting with the identity of society and other areas of culture. At the same time, she left some intricate imprint on history through one or another phraseological unit. “Sand is falling” - which has several versions of its origin. First, let's look at the one associated with European fashion of the 16th century.

Version one

Where did the expression “sand is falling” come from? Its roots originate in Europe. So, the 16th century is a period of harsh reforms, as well as the dominance of the Inquisition. Blasphemers were subjected to persecution, cruel torture and even death. It is very difficult to imagine such an instrument of torture as the “egg vise,” but the heretics of that time tested it on themselves. Male dignity has always had great importance, such treatment of him in those days contributed to increased attention to the reproductive organ on the part of society.

And to make up for the humiliation, in men's fashion In France, a new clothing accessory appears and is decorated in every possible way - the codpiece (from the Dutch gulp). This is a special pouch or trouser pocket where the reproductive organ was placed. This is not just another fashion trend, it is a kind of challenge to the Pope, because the Inquisition encroached on the most vulnerable part of the male body.

With time male organ was cultivated more and more, making the hearts of ladies beat faster when looking at the unusual pocket for the phallus.

The codpiece was made of silk and velvet, the most expensive fabrics of that time, decorated with pearls and embroidered with gold threads. The men competed with each other, attracting the admiring attention of the court ladies. The old womanizers also did not miss the opportunity to demonstrate to others: “I’m still wow!” For this purpose, they placed sandbags in their codpieces. However, after prolonged use, while dancing or when sudden movement they could easily tear, leaving a path of sand on the floor.

This caused everyone to laugh, and after the poor fellow they said: “And sand is already pouring out of this!”

Version two

Today, some scientists give a different explanation of where the expression “sand is falling” came from. It entered Russian speech in the 18th century and is associated with the name of Peter I. The Emperor, who preferred everything European, introduced into the army new uniform, which was completely unusual for a Russian man.

Tight trousers, similar to modern leggings, tightened the manhood so much that servicemen were forced to use some tricks to make them more comfortable. They cut out two additional bags slightly larger than their genitals and tied them to their belts. To avoid friction when moving, both accessories were filled with sand. This also helped relieve pressure on the phallus.

In those days, the service lasted 25 years, so the bags of the old-timers burst due to the dilapidation of the fabric. If sand fell after a soldier, it meant that his service life was coming to an end. Therefore, with a certain amount of sarcasm, one could speak of him as a decrepit, old man.

Least common version

Some historians have a different assumption about where the expression “sand is falling” came from. Scientists are confused by two points: firstly, the phrase became widespread only in the 19th century, and secondly, in everyday life it is applied not only to men, but also to women.

According to their version, the explanation is very simple and goes back to human physiology. Over the years, stones often form in the body. Some organs are susceptible to this disease: kidneys, gall and bladder, liver. When sand comes out of the body with urine, for example, this indicates a certain age of the person. Hence they began to say with humor that “sand is pouring out of old people.”

Instead of a conclusion

We have examined several versions that shed light on where the expression “sand is falling” came from. This phraseological unit is one of the most frequently used and is used to emphasize the venerable age of the person being spoken about. The most preferable explanation seems to be the connection between the statement and the fashion of the Middle Ages. And its use in relation to ladies can be explained by the fact that in everyday life people have stopped thinking about the history of the origin of phraseological units.

News and society

“Bomb Voronezh”: where did the expression come from?

Set expressions are not always something archaic that came to us from time immemorial. Some have a very recent history. We will be convinced of this when we look at where the expression “Bomb Voronezh” came from, which was brought into great popularity by active Internet users, who came up with a lot of memes (humorous pictures) with it.

The meaning of phraseology

When using this stable phrase, a person puts into it the following meaning:

• To apply against someone or something a series of sanctions or anti-sanctions that bring more harm to the initiator himself than to the one against whom he directed these actions.
• Strike back not at the enemy, but at yourself.

“Bomb Voronezh” - where did it come from?

If we rummage through the Internet archives, we will find such interesting information about this phraseological unit. It is connected with the sad events of 2008 - the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. Then the Russian government allocated financial assistance for the restoration of South Ossetia, in particular Tskhinvali after the bombing.

So where did “Bomb Voronezh” come from? The mentioned, in general, good deed, according to legend, caused discontent in the city council of this city. One of the deputies gave an epic speech in which he complained that the amount allocated to South Ossetia was three times more than what Voronezh region receives in 3 years. In his hearts, he continued: “Then bomb Voronezh - at least we’ll build normal roads.”

Since history has not preserved the name of the desperate deputy, nor a recording of his speech, we can assume that this is just a story invented by the author of the meme, dissatisfied with the decision of the Russian government.

Video on the topic

Synonymous expressions

“Bomb Voronezh”: we found out where the expression came from. Let's see what can be used to replace it in oral and written speech.

It is appropriate to use the following phraseological units:

• Beat Voronezh (an expression of the same origin).
• To spite myself - to the joy of my mother.
• To spite the conductor, I’ll take a hundred tickets and set off on foot.
• To spite my mother I will freeze my ears.
• If I gouge out an eye, my mother-in-law will have a one-eyed son-in-law.

“Bomb Voronezh”: where the phrase came from is now clear to you and me. Although memes with her have long been forgotten, you can still find her here and there in publications and spoken word.

Let's figure out together where these expressions came into our lives.

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

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. 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. Preparing 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 “knuckle down” - a mockery of lazy “buckwackers”.

There is nothing behind the soul

In ancient times, it was believed that the soul of a person was located in a depression located between the collarbones, a dimple in the neck. It was also the custom here to hide money so that if necessary, it could be retrieved 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.

Fire Gehenna.
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 heaviest 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 a “big shot” 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 that blue blood flowed in their veins. 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 knew 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 he 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, 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 her appearance is interesting, 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 he, out of ignorance, the high school students, were “foolish.”

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 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.

Move things forward with dead center
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 at 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. That's 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. The one who had more livestock was considered a good owner. So, so that not a single cow or horse was lost, the owner put a mark by which he would always be able to find exactly his 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 rent, the peasant said, “There is no money,” the owner always answered, “Get it 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 French, 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 an affair were 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 always found devilry. And as usual, the devil is in charge, 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 it through, 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 during the 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 this metal color it was necessary great amount strength and patience. So the expression “bring to a white heat” means to bring a person to the highest degree of irritation, to drive him crazy.

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. During this warm period, women tried to accomplish 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 stoerosovaya was taken from 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 the dying man tried with all his might to inhale this smell. So the expression “breathing on its last legs” means to be in a very 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 of these “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.

You can count it on your fingers
This expression appeared in very ancient times. Then 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.

We all know the expression “figli in Tula” very well. There is such a saying. When someone says “what the hell?”, they respond with this phrase. It is clear that many consider this expression obscene. Because it is supposedly obscene and obscene. It is obvious to many that the “bugs” in in this case- a derivative of the well-known word “x#%”. In fact, this is far from the case. I was lucky enough to visit the archives of Pavlovo-Posadsky local history museum unearth an interesting document.
This is an ordinary private letter. Merchant Ivan Ulyanovich Grebenshchikov (Pavlovo Posad residents know very well that on the site of the merchant Grebenshchikov’s house there is now a very prosperous shoe store “Kabluchok” and a Children’s Art School) writes to his, apparently, friend, merchant Arkady Nifontov. And among other personal things, there are facts that interest us. I quote:
“I was in Tula just now. I traveled to samovar artels to establish connections. We will buy samovars there and sell them here. I bought a couple of pieces and decided to check them there. Put one. And he's skinny! The second one is the same! The firebox is also bad. There is coal and ash in the water. How I went to make a scandal! I argued with them. And they said to me, why are you fooling us? Our samovars are good, people come from all over the country to buy them. I then tell them that how can I not fool you here in Tula? You haven’t even learned how to tin iron! Everything is full of holes! With that he left. We won’t buy anything from them..."
As we can see, the text contains the phrase “to play around in Tula.” That is, according to Dahl, “to blame, to find fault, to discredit, to humiliate, to condemn, to condemn, to call bad, bad.” But, as we understand, this does not yet prove the origin of the phrase that interests us. Although it leads to the right, sure trail. And here an interesting detail is revealed. Through difficult research, I managed to find the so-called “Yaroslavl Chronicle” in the archives. Life description of Yaroslavl, a kind of “Chronicle of bygone years” in a single city. A certain Afanasy Samokhvalov, a simple rope worker, once spoke at a meeting of shareholders. This rope team was scolded for dishonesty. Among other speakers, Samokhvalov also spoke. Here is his speech at the meeting. I quote almost verbatim: “There’s no point in fooling us here, we’re fooling around in Tula!” Of course, the word “figli” with the emphasis on the second syllable. And further in the “Yaroslavl Chronicle” it is said that after these words “the worker of the rope artel Afanasy Samokhvalov was kicked out of the meeting for swearing.” It remains unclear what the swearing has to do with it. Apparently, Afanasy Samokhvalov incorrectly placed the emphasis in the word. Whether this happened intentionally or not remains a mystery. Perhaps the artel worker was just joking. But the fact remains that the phrase has become popular among the people.
Now everything is falling into place. Only one thing remains unclear. Why did Samokhvalov use Tula in his expression? Apparently, after all, the phrase became known from the merchant Grebenshchikov. More precisely, not even from him, but from his friend, to whom that very letter was addressed, from Arkady Nifontov. Obviously, Nifontov often talked about that incident with the samovars different people. So the phrase took root among the people and now it is often used, putting into it precisely the abusive meaning unwittingly laid down by Afanasy Samokhvalov.