In any language, phraseological units exist, the understanding of the meaning of which causes a lot of problems for foreigners. To translate them, you have to look for analogues in other languages. As an example, let's find out the meaning of phraseology “cannon fodder”. In addition, we consider its history and what options this idiom has in other languages.
What does the expression "cannon fodder" mean?
This phraseology in the modern world is called soldiers whose lives are absolutely not appreciated by the leadership. Such people are often sent to combat missions with a high probability of a fatal outcome. Moreover, such a finale is usually known to their command.
In addition to the military, in the modern world the cannon fodder idiom is also often used by gamers (computer game players). So they call the weak, but numerous characters who are not sorry to send to the enemy for slaughter in order to weaken him or distract attention.
What is called this phrase in chess
In addition to military affairs and computer games, the cannon fodder idiom is also used in chess.
In this ancient and complex game, all eight pawns are named that way. They got a similar name due to the fact that during the game they are most often sacrificed. This is done in order to save more powerful pieces or outwit the enemy and attack his king. There is only one thing that pleases in this situation: although pawns are cannon fodder, they are the only of all the pieces that have the ability to obtain the queen's abilities.
The etymology of this phraseology
The idiom “cannon fodder” does not apply to the original Slavic ones, such as “put your teeth on the shelf” or “beat the bacilli”. It first appeared in English in the XVI century.
William Shakespeare can rightfully be considered the progenitor of this expression. It was he who, in his historical play Henry IV, first used this expression.
One of his heroes, speaking of ordinary soldiers, said this phrase: food for powder (literally translated as “food for gunpowder”). It is possible that this expression was used before Shakespeare, however, it was he who owned his first written mention.
With the light hand of a British classic, this phrase has become very popular not only in his homeland, but also far beyond its borders. However, the idiom fell into Russian and other Slavic languages thanks to the French writer Francois de Chateaubriand, who lived almost two hundred years after Shakespeare.
At that time, a natives came to power - Napoleon Bonaparte, which was negatively accepted by fans of the monarchy, to which Chateaubriand belonged. Therefore, the writer composed a very witty pamphlet criticizing the Napoleonic regime.
In particular, in this work the military policy of the future emperor and his disregard for the lives of his own soldiers were tartly criticized. Allegedly, Napoleon treated them as "raw and cannon fodder."
Since the great commander had many enemies, this pamphlet soon after publication became very popular, as did the expression itself.
In fairness, it is worth noting that in reality Napoleon had a phenomenal memory and knew almost every of his soldiers by name. However, due to the huge number of wars conducted by him, the military really died a lot.
It is worth remembering that despite the war of France with Russia in 1812, most Russian nobles spoke French better than their native language. Thus, the caustic but accurate expression of Chateaubriand soon became popular among Russians and firmly entrenched in this language, existing in it today.
What idioms-analogues does the considered phrase in other languages have
If you try to translate the phrase "cannon fodder" through any online dictionary into French, you get the expression fourrage au canon. However, in fact, the French do not say that, because they have their own idiom: chair à canon.
The British in the past (even under Shakespeare) used the phraseology food for powder. But today it’s common for them to use a different cannon fodder expression.
The Poles "cannon fodder" is thus called: mięso armatnie. Ukrainians say “harmonica meat”, Belarusians say “harmonious meat”.
Computer game "Cannon meat" (Cannon Fodder)
Also considered phraseological unit is the name of a popular computer game released in 1993.
At its core, its genre can be defined as a strategy with action elements.
This computer toy was quite popular among children, adolescents and even adults in the nineties, so for many years its sequels and additions came out (the latter dates from 2011).
This game got such an unusual name because of its features. Unlike others, in its first version, each player had the opportunity to choose from 360 draftees. Moreover, each of them had a unique name and ability. In the event of death, data about him was recorded in the so-called “Memory Hall”. That is, in fact, like pawns in chess, cannon fodder in Cannon Fodder could not only survive, but also achieve success in his career.
In future releases of the game, such sophisticated technology was simplified and adjusted.