The Russian language includes many stable expressions, the meaning of which is perfectly understood by its speakers, but it puzzles foreigners. “Hack on the nose” is a vivid example of a catch phrase , the translation of which is hardly given to linguists from other countries. The origin of phraseology, as is typical for such expressions, has a simple and at the same time interesting explanation.
Hack on the nose: the meaning of the phrase
The winged expression is so well-established that it is used by native speakers unknowingly. Phraseologism “to cut one’s nose” comes to the rescue of a person when he wants his interlocutor to remember his words forever. For example, this statement can be made by parents or teachers who report naughty children. Also, adults who quarrel with each other resort to it.
This phrase is one of the clear evidence of the emotional richness of the Russian language. The expression "hack on the nose" better conveys the speaker's emotions and the importance of his words than a simple request to remember something. However, it does not at all carry the threat of physical violence, as it may seem to a foreigner trying to translate a statement verbatim.
The origin of phraseology
Oddly enough, the winged expression initially did not have any emotional coloring. It was absolutely not associated with damage to the human body. Offering a hack on the nose, the speaker did not mean the organ of smell, as you might think. This name was popularly acquired several centuries ago by tablets that served as a lifesaver to a person who was not trained in literacy.
How are these devices connected to one part of the body? Absolutely nothing, since their name came from the verb “wear”. Given the importance of writing materials, many residents of that time practically did not part with them. In fact, “hacking on the nose” meant putting nicks on the “notebook-noses” that were always with you.
Why do we need "noses"
Almost until the overthrow of imperial power, which took place in 1917, literacy remained the privilege of high society. Most of the Russian population did not even have basic writing skills. Serious gaps in education did not prevent people from actively participating in the trade that flourished in the country. New trading houses were constantly founded, fairs were launched, caravans flourished. Transactions were made every minute and sometimes were associated with large amounts.
The boards, to which the phraseological unit “cut off on the nose” owes its own existence, were invented to help illiterate traders. With their help, they recorded in memory their own financial transactions, causing nicks. Decryption of the "notebook" was carried out by counting the number of created "sticks". This does not seem convenient, but it is worth recalling the lack of electronic gadgets in people at that time.
Interestingly, such adaptations were also widespread in medieval Europe, since the situation with the literacy of the population in those days was deplorable.
Emotional color
Why do people threaten an opponent these days, jokingly or seriously, when they ask to be chopped on the nose? Emotional color acquired significance in connection with the main purpose of the tablets, which successfully replaced modern notebooks. They have become a means of fixing debt obligations.
An example of recording such an operation on a commemorative tag is easy to give. A man lends a friend three bags of flour. In order to remember the fact of the loan and repay it in a timely manner, three notches are applied to the board. A partial return of the resulting debt was not excluded. In this case, the “notepad” was divided into parts between partners, and on each half of the cuts were saved.
Obviously, debt obligations can be fraught with a certain threat to the debtor. This is the reason for the gradual acquisition of a harmless exposition of emotional coloring.
Other phraseology "with a nose"
There are other original catchphrases that seem to be connected or really connected with the organ of smell. Among them there are phraseological units that have a simple explanation, and expressions formed in a complex way. An example of a “lightweight” stable phrase is the “with gulkin nose” characteristic, which means a small amount of something. Under the gulkin nose, the speaker means the pigeon beak, which has a small size.
The phrase “leave with a nose” has a history as long as “cut off with a nose”. The offer has remained from the time when bribery flourished in the country. For example, it was difficult to hope for a positive solution to your question in court if a gift was not prepared for the representative of the authorities. Of course, such a gift was not called a bribe: it was designated as a nose, a bringing. If a person stays with his nose, it means that his gift was refused. Therefore, achieving the goal seems unrealistic.
Many catchphrases from the past were forgotten, but the phraseology “hack on the nose” continues to be actively used in the Russian language.