When friends and comrades spend a lot of time with each other and support in every possible way, people say about them - "do not spill water." The meaning of phraseologism will be clarified further.
History of phraseology
Still fresh in my memory are those times (90s of the 20th century in Russia), when a big fight was a common occurrence in the streets. Everyone fought with everyone. For example, a person lives in one area, but by mistake or due to various circumstances he wandered into a strange area, and there, as Yuri "Khoy" Klinsky sang, "they will be met by the locals." Perhaps there will be a mess. If we are talking about the 90s, then in 95% of cases there were disassemblies. Imagine that a person is not alone, but with a friend. And they bravely repel the attack of the hooligans.
An eager reader will say: “Well, what does“ do not spill water ”? The meaning of phraseology where? ” Moreover, the honorable reader, that the origin is directly associated with fights and water.
In ancient times, if a fight ensued, violent fellows were usually cooled with cold water. And here are those comrades who, despite such drastic measures, remained together and were recognized as true friends. Agree that cold water is a serious test for friendship. Indeed, “do not spill water” (the meaning of phraseology can be understood both directly and metaphorically in this case).
If we mentally return to our not-so-distant past, then we can say that a true friend never threw another when he ran into hooligans. The bandits in the streets were some analogue of cold water, a litmus test for friendship, its quality.
Value

Today, tough times, thank God, are left behind, and few now find out the relationship right on the street. The meaning of phraseology “you cannot spill water” is exclusively peaceful. Just two people spend all their free time with each other. They are like Siamese twins. It should be said that this type of relationship is not found very often in adulthood, but children and adolescents find themselves like friends of this kind quite easily. Sometimes an adult, looking at his child and his companion, sadly says: “friends,“ do not spill water ”” (we have already learned the meaning of phraseological unit, and also examined the history of the issue). He also thinks that he also had such close people, but now they have been gone for a long time. And it’s not that they died, but a similar model of relationships disappeared from life. The meaning of phraseologism “you cannot spill water”, it seems, is no longer a mystery to the reader. We highlight another aspect of the problem of friendship.
“A friend is in need” and friends- “do not spill water”
Most people think that a true friend is in trouble. Like, when a person is doing well, there are many friends next to him. If trouble happens, it immediately becomes clear who is friend and who just like that is buddy. And this judgment has, of course, its advantages. But it has its drawbacks. For example, the one that empathizing with the grief of another person is much easier than sincerely rejoicing in his luck. Friends, "Don't Spill Water": the meaning of phraseology just assumes that friendship is a 24-hour and a lifetime concept. A true friend, as a native person, will support, of course, in difficult times, but more importantly, he can sincerely rejoice for his comrade when he is really well.