Phraseologism " Hack on the nose"Most residents of our country know: it is often used in colloquial speech, usually in the case when it is necessary for the second person to whom this phrase is addressed not only to hear and ignore it, but to understand, draw the appropriate conclusions and remember for a long time what needs to be done. But how do you think this expression is interpreted? foreign citizens in the literal sense of this phraseological unit? Most likely, they won't understand it! After all, the expression is very difficult to translate into other languages ​​and, moreover, in the end, it will lose its original meaning. Foreigners are likely to interpret this phrase as “a call for self-harm.”

In this article we will answer the question of what the phraseological phrase “hack on the nose” means today, and what the meaning of this expression was in the past. where did this expression come from and why its meaning has nothing to do with the organ of smell. The human nose has nothing to do with it! What does it have to do with it then? Let's understand the meaning and origin of phraseological units.

The meaning of the phraseological unit “about nicks on the nose”

Nowadays, the phraseology “get it on your nose” means to put information in your memory forever, for the rest of your life. The expression is often said “in our hearts” when accompanying negative emotions. Therefore, it can carry aggression and rudeness towards the person to whom it is addressed. But this phrase can also act as a warning, due to the desire for a person to draw an appropriate conclusion from the current situation, for example, when a mother reprimands her child for committing an offense and demands that he remember the said instruction for many years.

This expression can be used in the educational and training process, but more gently. For example, if a teacher wants to convey a necessary and very useful information to the students, I focus on its importance and considerable significance.

Some may think that the word “hack” is too harsh and can be replaced with a softer one. However, the requirement to put a notch on the nose has nothing to do with damage to this human organ. To be convinced of this, let us turn to the history of the origin of phraseological units.

The origin of the phraseological unit “hack on your nose”

Why did they start using “nose” in this phraseological unit, and not another human organ? The history of the origin of phraseological units begins on Russian soil, at a time when ordinary people were not illiterate - they could neither read nor write. And such a lack of these skills had a negative impact on trade in general. Because of this, people could not count money correctly and make purchases at the bazaar, as well as participate in various kinds of fairs. In those years, letters had to be delivered on special wooden tablets. Notches were made on these tablets and various inscriptions were made.

Over time, this habit passed on to merchants, who made notes on completed transactions and sales (purchases) on tablets. Illiterate people constantly carried signs with them. This is where the word “nose” came from - from the verb “to wear”, this is how they began to call the plate on which marks and notches were placed.

And the expression “notch your nose” at that time meant “write it down on your tablet,” and had nothing to do with the human nose, much less mutilation of it.

An important purpose of this kind of writing tablets was to keep records of debt obligations. For example, one man borrowed four pounds of salt from another, and in order not to forget and remember this transaction, he makes four marks on this tablet. If the return was not carried out in several operations at once, then the men divided such a board among themselves. And both of them had parts with the required number of marks on their hands.

That is why the expression “cut it on your nose,” which later acquired a figurative meaning and became a phraseological unit, is used in Russian colloquial speech in our time.

The Russian language includes a large number set expressions, and their meaning is well understood by its native speakers, but foreigners are often puzzled. An example of this is the catchphrase “cut off on the nose,” the translation of which is very difficult for some countries, while others do not understand at all. The origin of such expressions most often has a simple but interesting explanation.

The meaning of the phrase "cut on the nose"

It's very sustainable catchphrase , and is used most often unconsciously by native speakers of the Russian language. Phraseologisms come to the aid of people when they want their interlocutors to remember their words. For example, such a statement is often made by teachers or parents who reprimand a disobedient child. The phrase is also used by adults who quarrel with each other.

This phraseological unit is clear evidence of the emotional richness of the native Russian language. A phrase conveys the emotions and importance of the speaker’s words better than a simple request to remember something. The expression does not contain a threat of physical violence, as it may seem to many foreigners who translate this statement word for word.

History of the phraseological unit “hack on the nose”

At first, the winged expression did not have any emotional connotation. It had nothing to do with damage to the human body. When offering to hack something, the speaker of this phrase did not mean the organ of smell at all, as one might initially think. The people received this name several centuries ago for tablets that served as a lifesaver to an untrained person in literacy.

How are these devices connected to the human nose? No way, because their name does not come from this word, but from the verb “to wear.” These writing instruments were very significant for the inhabitants of that time, and they practically never parted with them. The phrase meant to put a notch on a notebook that was always with you.

Why are “noses” needed?

Before the overthrow royal power in 1917, only people from high society were literate. And the majority of the population of all of Russia did not have any writing skills. Huge gaps in education did not prevent people from participating in trade, which at that time flourished in the country. Caravans flourished, fairs were launched, and trading houses were founded. Transactions sometimes involved very large sums and were carried out almost every minute.

The tablets we talked about earlier were invented to help illiterate traders. With the help of them, they recorded their own financial transactions in their memory, making notches. The notebook was deciphered by counting the marks created. This is not very convenient, but remember that in those days there were no electronic gadgets of any kind.

IN medieval Europe Such devices were also widespread, because the situation with literacy there was also deplorable at that time.

Emotional color

So why do people today threaten their opponent, either seriously or playfully, when they say the phrase “cut the nose”? The expression acquired an emotional color in connection with the main purpose of the small tablets that replaced the notebook. After all, they were the main means of fixing debts.

An example of such a record is very easy to give.

Other phraseological units

There are others catchphrases , which seem to be associated with the respiratory organ. Among them there are phrases that have a simple explanation, and expressions that were formed in a complex way.

• The characteristic “with a gulkin nose” is an example of a light and stable phrase; it means a small amount of something. When we say “gulkin’s nose,” we mean the beak of a dove, which is small in size.
• You've probably heard the phrase "get away with your nose", which has the same long history, as in the expression “hack on the nose.” The proposal has survived from the times when bribery was rampant. For example, it was difficult to hope for a positive resolution of the issue in court if you did not prepare a gift for a government official. Such a gift was not called a bribe, but was designated as a nose, a bring. If a person was left with his nose, then this indicated that the gift was refused, which is why achieving the goal seemed unrealistic.

Many catchphrases from the past have been forgotten, but the phraseology “to kill on the nose” is actively used today in the Russian language.

Makes a notch on the nose

The Russian language is rich in many aphorisms and phraseological units. A foreigner will be at a dead end trying to understand the true meaning of another such phrase. However, not only foreigners. Often, Russian speakers themselves will not be able to explain the origin of the popular saying. For example, " hack on the nose ».

Everyone has heard this common phrase and even understands its meaning. “Vaska, don’t let this happen again! Hack it on your nose!” “And the little tomboy understands that this is quite a serious warning.” Although he doesn’t even think about the meaning of these words. And really, what does the nose have to do with it?

It's all about literacy, or rather the lack thereof. In former times, literacy was not held in high esteem by ordinary people. Few peasants knew how to read and write. However, in the Middle Ages and among the nobility, few could boast of education.

However, human memory is not capable remember All significant events. And if a person needed to not lose sight of something, he had to use improvised means. Today, various gadgets come to our aid. At the same time, the role of a notebook was performed by ordinary tablets or sticks on which notches were placed. Simple and angry.

For example, one person owed another three bags of wheat. Exactly three notches are placed on the memorial stick. And, accordingly, as the debts were repaid, this stick was divided into parts. The division took place in such a way that both sides would have half of each mark.

And what does the nose have to do with it? In this case, this noun does not denote a detail of the face, but a derivative of the verb “to wear.” Memorial tablets were important for their owners as carriers of necessary information. That's why they carried them everywhere with them. Hence the name of these “notebooks”.

The expression hack on the nose means to remember once and for all, to remember firmly. But what is the connection between cutting on the nose and the process of memorization?

As a child, I often heard this expression from teachers or parents. When they tried to instill something like that in me or force me to remember, the adults (usually sternly) said: kill it on your nose! Like this cannot be done, or it must be done only this way and not otherwise. Like, remember, you fool. I now understand that hardly any of them knew where this seemingly meaningless expression came from.

And it appeared from the depths of centuries, from those times when the rudiments of writing already existed, but there was no paper yet. And so, in order to remember something important, people made notches on nose- a special wooden tablet that they carried with them. This tablet was called nose, they made memorization marks on it. So cut it on your nose meant just “make a note in your notebook- that is on the nose»!

Other interesting expressions from Russian speech:

Know by heart - this expression is familiar to everyone from school. Know on

The expression tit for tat is quite simple and understandable, like Newton’s third law. Means

One of the main versions of the origin of the expression If the mountain does not go to Mohammed,

Expression There is life in the old dog yet with a high degree of probability it went

One more, last legend, and my chronicle is finished...

How did the well-known expressions of the Russian language appear?

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

Bright Side I have collected a story of 15 expressions that will change your understanding of them.

Hack on the nose

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

So “get it on your nose” just meant “make a note in your notebook.”

No brainer

In Soviet boarding schools for gifted children, teenagers were recruited who had two years left to study (classes A, B, C, D, D) or one year (classes E, G, I).
The students of the one-year stream were called “hedgehogs.” When they came to the boarding school, the “two-year students” were already ahead of them in the non-standard program, so at the beginning academic year The expression “no brainer” was very relevant.

Shabby look

“Shabby” was the name given to the clothes of church servants, which they wore “at meals,” that is, simple clothes, and not elegant ones, which they wore for services.

Later, cheap cloth came into use, which was used on tablecloths, napkins and towels. This is the fabric that was most often used ordinary people, were named after the Zatrapezny merchant family, who owned the linen manufactory. Clothing made from this fabric received the same name - usually it is rough, simple clothing.

There is no truth in my feet

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

In ancient times in Rus', debtors were severely punished, beaten with iron rods on their bare legs, seeking repayment of the debt, i.e., “truth,” but such punishment could not force those who did not have money to repay the debt. This was called "pravezh".

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

Rub glasses

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

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

Seven Fridays a week

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

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

There is nothing behind the soul

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

Leave with your nose, stay with your nose

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

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

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

Big Shot

The expression goes back to the speech of barge haulers, in which the most experienced and strong barge hauler, walking first in the strap, was called “bump”. Now a “big shot” or “important shot” is an influential person.

It's in the bag

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

Soft cloth hats were worn by officials who were called “solicitors.” The attorneys prepared documents for the court and “concocted” the case. And these officials had a habit of putting important documents in the lining of their hats so as not to lose them.

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

There is also an opinion that the phraseological unit is connected by the habit of messengers to sew very important papers, “deeds”, as they were then called, into the lining of their hats. This was a relatively reliable way to avoid being robbed.

Enjoy your steam!

In Russian baths, the hottest place was almost under the ceiling, where there was a platform on which they steamed. Steam rose from hot stones doused with water. Those going to the bathhouse were wished for light steam, that is, the kind of steam that quickly rises upward from the hot stones.

The meaning is connected with another version: in the baths, steam could be mixed with carbon monoxide, from which people often got burned. This steam, unlike light, good couple, called heavy. Therefore, they wanted an easy steam.

Put your teeth on the shelf

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

Indian summer

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

According to another version, the combinations “Indian summer”, “Indian days”, “Indian cold” in the old days had a meaning based on the superstition that women could influence the weather. In addition, during this period, thin, light cobwebs fly across fields and forests, foreshadowing dry weather. This web is associated with barely noticeable gray strands of hair in women, and the time of warm and fine days is associated with her age, which precedes old age.

sit in the liver

In Rus', the liver was considered the reservoir of vital force. That is, “to sit in the liver” meant to poison life, to interfere with life.

Show where crayfish spend the winter

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

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

Seventh water on jelly

This is what they say about a person who is such a distant relative of you that it is not even clear whether he is a relative.

If the jelly sits for a long time, it loses its taste and a layer of water appears on it. The seventh water is water that appears on jelly that has stood for a long time, which is why its taste no longer has anything in common with jelly. The numeral “seven” is used here purely symbolically, as in other Russian proverbs and sayings. Sometimes they use the “tenth water on jelly” option.

Image: B. Diodorov
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