The Russian language is extremely rich in phraseological units and sayings. These expressions help him to be imaginative and unique, because many of them are difficult to translate into a foreign language. Here, for example, to explain to a stranger why the Russians say “get lost” in cases of falling into an absurd situation, in an unsuccessful position, you need to look into history. And the expression “two boots - a pair” may seem like an unsuccessful tautology to a person who is not familiar with the Russian language. However, we very often use it in speech, apart from tautology.
What does this phraseologism mean?
Dictionaries explain this expression in such a way: in a figurative sense, a pair of boots means people who are suitable for each other, similar in views, behavior, and especially in terms of shortcomings. Most often, special emphasis is placed on shortcomings.
“Oh, these gossip gummies, each other’s friends! Two boots - a pair, in a word! ” - the neighbors condemn their compatriots. Yes, and the newlyweds from the ubiquitous grandmothers will get it. “Tank went for Ivan - both loafers, sluts. Found, in a word, each other, two boots became - a pair! ” - say the neighbors, as if they were printing.
Etymology of expression
The proverb “Two boots - a pair” appeared a very long time ago, when the shoes were sewn the same on both legs, and the right boot did not differ from the left. These today are felt boots (simple, without decor) and some ugg models, although they often have differences in the location of firmware, emblems, buckles, locks and other jewelry.
The wits even on this occasion came up with a ridiculous proverb: "They are friendly and as alike as two boots - uggs."
Origin of proverbs today
People tend to joke, coming up with the most unexpected options for using established expressions. The saying “Two boots - a pair” did not go unnoticed.
Some humorists continue this phraseology, adding the second part and changing the meaning of expression. So the proverb appeared: “Two boots - a pair, yes both on the left foot!” Yes, often people very similar in appearance cannot get along, interfere with each other, and cannot make a couple.
Sometimes witty people use the addition of two parts from different verbal formulas to get a new one. For example, taking for the second part the proverb about Avoska and Nebo, holding each other, and combining it with the phraseologism considered here, they put out a new saying: "Two boots are a pair, but both fell into the river." Its meaning is that boots are worthless people who, relying only on each other, will certainly fail.
Jokes on the topic of phraseology about a pair of boots
Many jokes appear thanks to our quick-witted students. As an example, we give a short story that tells about the exam in Russian, which passes the poor fellow, all night preparing for the surrender of geography. When asked what the expression “Two boots is a pair” means, the young man replies that this is a picture of Italy on the map, which is seen in the eyes of a drunk ... You can’t imagine it!
The anecdotal situation in a conversation between two people, where one thinks like this: “Tandem is an interesting word ... What is it like“ two boots - a pair ”?” And he receives a “smart” answer from the interlocutor: “Like, yes, two boots ... But the pair is from another opera. This, like, is already an assessment ... ". Oh, youth!
Friendship and partnership, love and family - what does the boots and couples have to do with it?
It turns out that it is precisely in these areas of human relations that this expression is most often used. Considering the possibility of a feeling of affection and compatibility, psychologists deduced two mutually exclusive provisions.
- Opposites can attract, complementing and interest each other.
- Two of a Kind.
The value of phraseology in this situation boils down to the fact that people may not be similar, but complement each other well. After all, the boots are essentially different - right and left, but you can only wear them in pairs. Try changing one boot to a shoe with a hairpin - and even a few steps will be difficult to pass.
Loving, understanding each other people are always comfortable together, they rejoice at the same things, experience the pleasure of the same thing. For example, one couple likes to ride bikes on weekends into the forest, and the other couple likes to run barefoot through puddles. But swap the fair sex - and the idyll will collapse, the barefoot rain lover will not want to pedal, and the cyclist will never take off her sneakers in the rain.
The modern proverb about some spouses of this content is filled with deep meaning: "There are spouses who are said to be two boots of the pair, and there are those who are said to be just two boots."
Synonyms of an established expression about a pair of boots
The phraseological unit considered here can sometimes be replaced by other formulations that are similar in meaning. Those are: on one block; each other is worth; one world of mazan; one cut; one cloth of epancha; a couple to become one; sweet couple; from one test; one apple tree apple; like twin brothers; one to one, the same; incubator; one ass laid out; sewn with one bast; stamped on one machine; one flight of a bird; one oak acorns; the same suit; one field of berries; the same suit; look like sheep in a herd.
Although, of course, only sheep can seem to a stranger “on one face”, and the owner will immediately distinguish his own, and even tell about the character of each.
The same applies to berries from one field, apples from one apple tree, acorns from one oak. Of course, even in one field, berries of various sizes, ripeness, shape, sweets grow. And in phraseologism, this is not about external similarity, but about compatibility!
Tale-joke about a pair of shoes
Interesting and instructive may seem like a fairy tale about how once a boot fell in love with a wedge heel. He suffered for a long time, then could not stand it and confessed his love. Naturally, she only laughed at the rude, awkward and simple boot, because she was graceful, light and so elegant!
All summer sad sad boot, suffering and experiencing from unrequited love. But autumn came, wedges were removed on the mezzanine, and the boots were put on together with another boot, which was just as simple and rough. But the partner of the unfortunate lover did not mock him, but patiently waited for him to understand the inappropriateness of his feelings, creaking on the move to the beat of his steps.
And sometimes it happens in human life: we fall in love with personalities of a different level, not noticing a number of people like us who are able to understand and console and help, in a word, those who can make a successful pair with us without much effort.