Many different phrases that are incomprehensible to a foreigner are kept in the Russian language. In the focus of our attention today, one of them is "sit on the neck." The meaning of phraseology and its possible interpretations will be considered in this article. Of course, this expression will be analyzed in situations of use.
Can this be expressed at an official event?
Of course the answer is no. Just imagine, at some meeting, our venerable president will tell the prime minister: "You, my friend, allow yourself to sit on the neck of our Western partners." What is noteworthy, according to the word "partner", a Russian person unmistakably recognizes his president. This word is often used by V.V. Putin
Game of tennis
However, we were distracted. No and no again. Such a turn of speech as “sit on the neck” (we will find out the meaning of phraseologism a bit later) can be used only in an informal setting. For example, our prime minister and president play tennis, and during a rest after the next set of V.V. Putin says D.A. Medvedev: "A colleague, in my opinion, you allow yourself to sit on the neck of our Western partners." And this is quite appropriate. Moreover, V.V. Putin is sure that D.A. Medvedev will understand him correctly. We move on. We have come close to understanding the phraseology “sit on the neck”, to determine its meaning.
Kaleidoscope of interpretation. Lecturer at the university
Although the Russian language is not English, but with regard to phraseological units, it also determines a lot of context.
For example, a teacher at a university does not want to bother with a large number of students and very peculiarly eliminates "unfit material", that is, troechnik. He tells them: "For those who need a troika, please come to me." And then a stormy stream of not too ambitious students flowed to the teacher's desk. Thus, the latter simply saved himself from a very boring routine - listening to inarticulate answers. He left in the audience only those who consciously prepared and wanted to receive “4” or “5” in the subject.
But this method also has a flip side. After the exam, our hero is met by his friend and colleague, grabs his elbow, takes him aside and says: “You know, Pyotr Yakovlevich (like Chaadaev), you let students sit on your neck. Now they will think that your credit is easier to get. ” The case of Pyotr Yakovlevich either laugh it off or seriously object that his method of taking the exam has its advantages. But at this place we leave two friends. The main thing for us was to find out the details about the phrase "sit on the neck": the meaning of phraseology and its meaning. In this case, its content boils down to the fact that a person allows someone too much for something.
Parent and child
Parents should love their children - this is a fact. Otherwise, it makes no sense to start them. But there is one point: the upbringing of a person is entirely and completely limited. To educate is to show the limits of what is permitted. When the parent is too soft towards the child, then others can say to him: “Look, your child can sit on his neck.” The meaning of phraseology is gradually revealed to us. In this context, this means that someone spoils his child too much. You can, of course, say: “You allow too much,” but with respect to the child and upbringing, such a turn will not be entirely accurate, because the little son (or daughter) is not doing anything yet. Parents personally choose certain methods of education.
From these examples it is clear that the phraseology “sit on the neck” can have different interpretations, but always the same: it means that a person allows himself or others to do something that will later be answered with bad consequences.
K.-G. Jung
First backstory. There was some meeting at which K.-G. Jung and some man argued fiercely. In the end, Jung said that he did not care. On the night of the same day, the psychologist has a dream in which his daily interlocutor rides on his back. In Switzerland there is such phraseology: “You can jump onto my back”, it means: “I don't care”.
Thanks to this example, we see a bizarre connection between Russia and the country of banks and chocolate. Agree that there is not such a big difference between such actions as sitting on your back and sitting on your neck. Their meaning is the same: one person skates (uses) another, and the interpretation is almost the opposite. Here, in Russia, this is bad; in Switzerland, the saying is neutral.
Language and National Psychology
From the previous section, it became clear that Russian phraseological units (in particular, “sit on the neck”) are directly related to the national character. For example, conscience will not allow a European to ride a brother, but with us, please. If a person in Russia shows that he is kind to weakness, then people immediately begin to use it. Regrettably, but a fact.
From this it is not at all worth making the conclusion that one should never help anyone, but it is worth, on the one hand, to control the process, and on the other, to remember the rational framework. The latter is better not to violate anyone. In other words, everything is good in moderation.
Why, when people sit on their necks, is it not good for them? Let us explain with an example. Some two-year-old found a compassionate classmate, and she helps him with homework. In fact, the girl decides everything that he would like to do for himself. Thus, the quartet does not learn anything, and most importantly (God be with him, with examples), he does not gain experience in overcoming difficulties. And it faces a wide variety of consequences. The most general conclusion can be made this way: he will not achieve anything in life.
Russian phraseological units, as could be understood from the above, are bottomless in meaning and are a mirror of a national character. We hope that the reader enjoyed the article a bit and will now easily answer the question about the meaning of phraseology “sit on the neck”.