Many of us have heard the expression: “Order of the Slouch.” However, not everyone knows the history of its origin. But we often use this phrase in everyday speech. But how can you say a word without fully understanding its meaning?! This is at least strange.

Let's try to figure this issue out.

Where did this expression come from?

Historians of the language are still arguing where this expression originated. However, most of them agree that this phrase appeared recently - about 50-60 years ago. It belongs to the non-literary varieties of the Russian language and is included in the so-called group of slang expressions.

Moreover, the phrase “Order of the Slouch” can be attributed both to professional words and to youth slang.

What it has in common with professional jargon is that the expression denotes an award given for long service at military service, navy and even at the factory. What this expression has in common with youth slang is that it has an ironic overtone.

Well, how can you be proud of the fact that you were awarded the Order of the Stooped One with a twist on the back?

Why is there a twist on the medal on the back?

Answering this simple question is not so easy. Well, firstly, the twist on the back indicates that a person is stooped. He served faithfully for so many years, and now he has become stooped and decrepit.

Secondly, this expression means that there is nothing good in this order. It’s somehow embarrassing to even wrap it around your chest, so they hang it on your back. As they say, out of sight.

Perhaps this expression is also connected with the personality of the famous Secretary General L.I. Brezhnev. As a famous person, he had so many awards that they simply did not fit on his chest. Witty dissidents suggested making twists on the leader’s back, because there was simply nowhere to hang orders and medals. And so it seems possible...

Therefore, this stroke rather indicates the low significance of this so-called award.

Would you like to receive the Order of the Slouch?

If you ask passers-by on the street such a question, you will most likely receive a negative answer. Indeed, the prospect of receiving such an “award” does not make anyone happy. That is why people have developed an ironic attitude towards this order. It seems to have been given, but this thing does not please the heart.

Thus, we briefly examined the question of what the Order of the Slouch is and why such an award is given. As we see, a rather mocking attitude towards this thing is due to the fact that this award as a whole means nothing and brings, rather, negative emotions to those who are awarded it.

“How difficult and inconvenient,
after hard work
From the wet back of the mighty
take off your shirt sometimes..."

Who else, in the North Yenisei taiga, has not heard of Mitry Kuzmich Sutulov?! – The old prospector Mitrich asked his young comrades, and continued slyly, “Only those who have never been to a gold mine!” Who hasn’t listened, with a breath, to the stories of old people - elderly grandfathers, forty years old... Yawning sweetly and crossing his golden, illegally made mouth, the experienced taiga man choked, and, for the hundred and first time, probably, slowly began the ancient, like his difficult, laborious work life, your story. It was not for nothing that the goldsmith baptized his mouth: perhaps, of course, from a drowsy yawn, but most likely from his upcoming intrigue, since he considered himself an illegitimate son epic hero, after all, children are a dark, nocturnal matter. Or maybe he had a crazy dream with a hangover... Who knows him, the old perkhun?

Before the Finnish, you understand, he swallowed the taiga ending of the word, this was the case. Exactly in 1938, his mother, our bad father. To do hard work, out of harm's way - they won't send you further than Siberia! - at that difficult time, a lot of people came forward. Some for long money - what is called a golden boom, some for slippery luck, and some from the prosecutor's cleaver... A caravan of barges came to Bryanka, barely made its way along the Pit to the gold mines, the richest, closer. Without iron and bread, you can’t get gold, you can’t shoot game, you can’t build a hut. Bread, iron and gold are always nearby. On the barge of three hundred tons of profit, the “seekers” are civilians, recruits, yellow-mouthed - to try their luck, to try their fate. While they were heading north, the peasants became close friends on the road, this always happens on the road. Go often - you will catch up with happiness, sit quietly - you will quickly catch up! And among that gop-company there was a huge man: he looked like a foul-mouthed, black-footed Tula man. - The old man was thinking...
Around the fire he was surrounded by very young guys who had arrived from the mainland to the Yenisei taiga to work. Not like in battles - none of them had ever been to the taiga and had never been further than a hundred kilometers from their mother’s tit. And here, among the experienced ones, “a hundred rubles is not money!”; Their mouths opened their mouths and listened to the storyteller with attention. The situation was very conducive to this: they were burning a fire for their first night in the taiga, near the fire; around the people huddled together, in the reflections of the calm flames on the pine trees, it was already visible; sipped scalding strong tea with sugar, each thinking about his own...
The grandfather slowly continued his simple story, lulling him to sleep: “From the pier, the whole gang, on carts and carts, was hastily delivered to the head of the Ognevsky district, whose plans for gold mining this season burned with a clear, blue fire. The prospects of non-fulfillment of the state plan worried the colonel. The fresh labor force that arrived instilled in the recruiter hopes for settled life and peace in the taiga. He knew the dog! - Norilsk was built further to the north. “The prospector spat, crossed himself three times and swore. He himself, thank God, did not have a chance to visit Umorilsk, but experienced convicts told all sorts of things about this disastrous land.
The boss, with a face the color of a wasp’s nest, personally registered the entire team, wrote out directions and orders for work, as well as to the warehouse and the hostel - the “bicharny”, for the settlement. The arriving boys went to get uniforms and entrenching tools, making plans for their lives and earnings: In the office, they had already found out from the locals that even those who had no trace of northern allowances were getting good money from daily earthworks. “All the new arrivals were like that.” The locals, in turn, “copied” the new guys, offered to buy from them the extra salary allowances for three bubbles... Having shown their documents to the mainland suckers, who carefully rewrote their documents, the urkagans went home - they were the only ones they saw, and the “fat-free” simpletons to everyone the herd moved towards the warehouses, already in their minds assessing all the benefits of the transaction they had made, or stupidity, whichever suits who best. Sutulov kept to himself and did not participate in the super-benefits of the team...
The head of the mine was already in full swing by telephone from the region. It was already July, and there wasn’t even a horse lying around at the training grounds! His excuses that the caravan had just arrived were not taken into account by the general...

Take a shovel, you bastard, and dig yourself, you bastard, since you are not able to organize the work. The whole season was about...sleeping! - the general finished his deep thought, whose direct Moscow telephone was also already ringing on his desk... The NKVD understood gold mining in the region no more than the laundry and the Ministry of Culture.

The colonel, his eyes bulging, looked at the front door of the office. If there had been a convoy there, he would have been surprised, probably incomparably less... In the entire opening of the considerable doorway stood the seasoned Mitry Kuzmich, monumental as a monument to Comrade Stalin.

Boss!!! – He thundered, “The whole brigade is already bullying me!” All the small fry, rascals... I'm not a midget, whatever... What are you doing? Are you laughing?!

The petty colonel, who had not yet fully recovered from the general’s scolding, was sincerely perplexed and with both hands accepted Sutulov’s crowbar and shovel, which he gave him with two fingers. For some time they stared at each other in silence: the boss was completely confused, and the navvy production issue in blue aspen eyes. Unable to bear the honest gaze of the huge junior worker, the senior officer sat down in his chair, without letting go of the brand new “instrument”, a toy for Sutulov.

This is some kind of children's scoop! What do I need it for? By God! – continued to roar, thundering like a bear, “God!” “Normal “instrument”, come on! and knock out one and a half rates, I want to work normally! And receive... I, a Stakhanovite! Have you heard? Read it, guess?? - echoed throughout the office.

The clerks, intrigued by the unprecedented noise, began to look out into the corridor: The accountant pulled off his black satin armlets and put aside the accounts, although it was still far from evening. The security guard of the gold box looked in the door and recoiled in horror, seeing the size of the speaker, as if at a meeting, a truth teller, caring for the common cause.
The senior officer somehow suddenly became haggard and wilted - two shocks in less than a quarter of an hour, this is too much even for seasoned MGB fighters.
Taking advantage of the pause, Sutulov, with the air of a winner, thrust into left hand the leader, in his right hand he held a brand new shovel with a crowbar, a sketch he had drawn by hand. When and where did he get a pencil and paper, and also learned to draw and oratory skills, this story is silent...
The sketch depicted the “tool” of a drummer of the first five-year plans: A shovel - three times the size of the standard one; A crowbar pike, forged, as thick as a hand and with a heel for beating with a sledgehammer; The already mentioned above, a pound sledgehammer-nurse. Kylo for Gulliver! And finally... CAR!!! A masterpiece of Mantulin's engineering thought! Three hundred kilograms of dumped rock! No less!!! On a forged, huge wheel with spikes...
Severely punishing the engineer human souls fire mine, not to delay in fulfilling the order, the innovator received from him an advance for forced absenteeism in the amount of two hundred rubles - the boss simply did not have a larger amount in his safe. In those distant, epic times, a thousand rubles was considered a very good monthly income, even for Stakhanovites. Handing over the advance to the freeman, the boss was ready to pray to God for him, if only he would work for three, for one and a half times. Even to the order at the end of the season, of course, when the state plan was fulfilled by the mine, he promised, as a farewell, to present... Sutulov shed a lot of tears, took out a not quite fresh handkerchief from the pocket of his brand new sweatshirt and dabbed his blue, honest, childish eyes. Having received the money in advance, Mitry Kuzmich, as the colonel had already called him, left for lunch...
Three days later, with an opportunity from Severo-Yeniseisk, an urgent mine order arrived, causing considerable surprise and commotion in the workshop of the Sovetskaya mine. But an order is an order, and the mine delivered the “tool” on time and with excellent quality. Products of non-standard sizes were piled up in the corner of the mine manager’s office around an exorbitant Mantulin wheelbarrow.
In three days, very urgent matter Chief Ogni was impatient to go to Velmo... Having strictly ordered his deputy to find Sutulov, even from underground, give him a “tool” and send a powerful digger to a breakthrough, to the most golden area, the colonel left on a business trip a hundred kilometers away... The road lay ahead for him through supervised mines, so he arrived at the Velma office only late in the evening. In the office of the NKVD major - the head of the mine under construction, the light, as usual, did not go out at night: you never know who might want to call?! There were no civilians in the office anymore. Walking to the end of the corridor, he energetically, with both hands, opened the double doors to the office... and was dumbfounded! In the far corner of the office, under a thousand-candle lamp - Ilyich, proudly, like a dreadnought on a roadstead, sat a twin CAR! Around Her Majesty stood her entire retinue at attention: a crowbar, a shovel, a pick, a sledgehammer... The mine has mastered the production of new products!

Was there Sutulov? – asked the colonel, sullenly tired from the road. - How much did you give in advance?

Three hundred rubles... - answered the major, who still did not understand anything.

I, thank God, are two hundred... - the senior in rank breathed out a sigh of relief.

Mitrich, with the air of a winner of a competition of masters of artistic expression, looked around at the young, completely stunned overnighters. He talked his listeners out and almost finished them off at the end... Triumphantly he finished:
- All over the Yenisei Ridge they were looking for Sutulov to present him with a well-deserved order... With a twist on the back! Not found. Taiga is big. Maybe he went to Norilsk, went to the mines, ordered some special picks, or jackhammers - who knows, the cunning Mitri? Or maybe a cop, or a fireman... Anyway, I don’t think he started working! Why else were people given brains? – The seven-father “son” concluded thoughtfully, wondering for tomorrow what high labor tasks to assign to the youth...
They carefully swept away the coals and set up a tattered, faded tarpaulin tent. They packed tightly into it and calmed down. Learn student! He who doesn't work eats! Everyone sleep!!! Back to work tomorrow!
Norilsk. January 30, 2016. 04 o'clock,
- 25 degrees, Quiet. Calm. Everyone is sleeping.

Many of us have heard the expression: “Order of the Slouch.” However, not everyone knows the history of its origin. But we often use this phrase in everyday speech. But how can you say a word without fully understanding its meaning?! This is at least strange.

Let's try to figure this issue out.

Where did this expression come from?

Historians of the language are still arguing where this expression originated. However, most of them agree that this phrase appeared recently - about 50-60 years ago. It belongs to the non-literary varieties of the Russian language and is included in the so-called group of slang expressions.

Moreover, the phrase “Order of the Slouch” can be attributed both to professional words and to youth slang.

What it has in common with professional jargon is that the expression denotes an award given for long service in the military, navy, and even in a factory. What this expression has in common with youth slang is that it has an ironic overtone.

Well, how can you be proud of the fact that you were awarded the Order of the Stooped One with a twist on the back?

Why is there a twist on the medal on the back?

Answering this simple question is not so easy. Well, firstly, the twist on the back indicates that a person is stooped. He served faithfully for so many years, and now he has become stooped and decrepit.

Secondly, this expression means that there is nothing good in this order. It’s somehow embarrassing to even wrap it around your chest, so they hang it on your back. As they say, out of sight.

Perhaps this expression is also connected with the personality of the famous Secretary General L.I. Brezhnev. As a famous person, he had so many awards that they simply did not fit on his chest. Witty dissidents suggested making twists on the leader’s back, because there was simply nowhere to hang orders and medals. And so it seems possible...

Therefore, this stroke rather indicates the low significance of this so-called award.

Would you like to receive the Order of the Slouch?

If you ask passers-by on the street such a question, you will most likely receive a negative answer. Indeed, the prospect of receiving such an “award” does not make anyone happy. That is why people have developed an ironic attitude towards this order. It seems to have been given, but this thing does not please the heart.

Thus, we briefly examined the question of what the Order of the Slouch is and why such an award is given. As we can see, a rather mocking attitude towards this thing is due to the fact that this award as a whole does not mean anything and rather brings negative emotions to those who are awarded it.

I never cease to be amazed at the insanity of the authorities. So what not to do, just not to do anything!!! Any bad idea that has nothing to do with solving pressing problems is quickly sought out and extolled to the skies.

Well, you have to go to such insanity as establishing the “Title of Hero of Capitalist Labor of the Russian Federation.” There are no words. And they found strikebreakers from among the workers, and forced them to voice this idea. I wonder if they even realized when they voiced how idiotic they looked at that moment? Or is that all, the soul has atrophied, and you can carry any nonsense?

For the first time - last August - the idea to return the title of Hero of Labor was voiced by Igor Kholmanskikh. Like, it’s time to pay attention to the working person! In December, Vladimir Putin met with his confidants, and the topic came up again. Then Putin made it clear that he was not against the establishment of an award. “In general, I think it would be nice to revive the title of Hero of Labor, but you can’t do a complete copy of the Soviet era,” he said. “We all need to think together and consult with society, with public organizations“, there must be clear and understandable criteria - not just for the number of years worked, but for the result, for the contribution to the development of the country.”

And at the recent conference of the All-Russian Popular Front in Rostov-on-Don, worker-deputy Trapeznikov again spoke about the need to establish the title. And Putin gave in. “In the Soviet Union we had the title of Hero Socialist Labor, and in general, in my opinion, it justified itself. I know that this is not only the position of representatives of those who work at the machine and in general just do something with their own hands and their heads... I agree with you, and not only agree, but I think that your proposals will be implemented today before end of the day,” the president promised during his speech to ONF activists. And on the same day he signed the corresponding decree.

But the officials failed to adequately “comb” this idiocy. They proposed a type of hard worker, so that they would be rewarded for their hard work for the benefit of the capitalists’ profits, but everything turned out completely wrong, and now the initiators of this high-profile initiative can wipe themselves out; they will never receive this tchotchke.

Many wondered what the new award would look like. The reality exceeded the wildest forecasts. The gold medal of the Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation combines the seemingly incompatible: in the center of a five-pointed star (an exact copy Soviet star Hero of Socialist Labor) turned out to be a “relief image State emblem Russian Federation" In other words, a double-headed Russian eagle. As a result, the main symbol Soviet Union met with the main symbol of the royal and new Russia. However, mixing symbols is not so bad.

The bad thing is that “clear and understandable criteria”, as the president wanted, were never developed - either in a hurry, or deliberately. The only specific parameter spelled out in the presidential decree is this: the title of Hero of Labor of the Russian Federation will be awarded to citizens “whose labor distinctions, as a rule, were previously awarded the Order of Merit for the Fatherland.” However, it is precisely this “clear and understandable criterion” that makes the chances of representatives of the working class and working peasantry to receive a high award minimal.

“Profile” carefully studied the twenty-year history of awarding the Order “For Merit to the Fatherland” and came to a disappointing conclusion: workers and peasants almost never received it all these years. Higher degrees orders - I, II and III - were not awarded to these citizens at all. Representatives of working professions were awarded only the Order of the IV degree, and even then extremely rarely.

There is no strength left to laugh, no matter how hard it is not to cry!!!

It was not possible to find a real image of the new Order of the Slouch on the Internet; I think that this is a sketch, not far from reality.