How many human destinies were corrupted due to human doubts! Unbelief prevents you from taking a decisive step that can change your whole life. Therefore, it is not always necessary to doubt, or, figuratively speaking, summing up nothing. We believe some are puzzled by this phrase. What does it mean to “add nothing”? You will learn this in this article.
“Summing up nothing”: the meaning of phraseology
Perhaps this phrase seems incomprehensible due to the fact that it is expressed in Church Slavonic. If you pronounce it in modern Russian, then it is a phrase "without any doubt." Thanks to such a translation, the meaning of phraseology becomes immediately understandable. It means "no doubt." It is also interpreted in synonymous words: without hesitation, resolutely, without hesitation, without thinking for a long time, etc.
Where this phrase came from in our speech, we learn further.
The history of the origin of the expression
Faith plays a big role in the life of every person. It is especially significant in religion. It is no accident that the expression we are considering came to us from the Bible. In it, namely in the Gospel, in the Epistle of the Apostle James, it is said that he who asks must ask with faith, adding nothing more.
It is worth noting that in the Old Slavonic language there was no double negation, as in our time. Perhaps that is why the expression does not seem entirely understandable and at first it may seem that it translates as "somewhat doubtful." But it will be wrong. After all, there should be no doubt.
Expression Usage Examples
Due to the fact that phraseologism is in the Old Slavonic language, in modern speech it sounds somewhat comical. Perhaps for this reason it is used in a humorous, ironic form.
Phraseologism is found in the media and various literature. In colloquial speech it is not often used.
This stable combination of words can be found in everyday life among classic writers, in their works, as well as in contemporary fiction. For example, Anton Pavlovich Chekhov uses it in his letter of 1894. He writes: "... while pitching, I dine without any hesitation."
The Russian writer Nikolai Semenovich Leskov in his 1867 story “Cotin the Milkman and Platonid” also used this stable expression: “... they bound books, painted, panned pots - and all this was done without any hesitation, both cheaply and badly.”
Daria Dontsova also uses this phraseology in her ironic detective "Dollars of the Tsar of Peas". She writes: "... its owners renouncing themselves as nothing more than Clara."
And some writers use this expression as the name of their work. For example, the prose writer Ellina Akhmetova - “They break destinies without any doubts”. Journalists apply in their articles and headlines. For example, “The MTS Ukraine operator has taken no more steps and deprived Ukraine of Crimea” (the publication refers to the fact that the company published a map of Ukraine without Crimea).
Conclusion
Phraseologism “adding nothing together” refers to the winged expressions that came to our speech from the Bible (biblicalisms). However, over time, it lost the sacred meaning contained in its source. The expression of the apostle meant unconditional faith in God. The Bible said that there should be no doubt about religion; they do not lead to anything good. That is, the main meaning of the expression is not to doubt at all.
But in literature and other branches we find a playful, ironic tone in the application of this phraseology. Often it is used to denote confident, decisive and even rash acts. The practice of using phraseological units has expanded the scope of the application of a stable phrase.