How many of us do not know what phraseological units are ?! Almost everyone knows, because all of us use them in our speech. And what is the meaning of the phrase “Seventh water on jelly”?
We will try to answer this question in this article.
What is phraseology?
Phraseology is a science that deals with the study of stable phrases, frozen in the language and implying one specific concept.
There are a lot of such expressions: “build eyes” (lure someone), “heaven with a sheepskin” (hard trials), “bite your tongue” (shut up) and so on.
Most phraseologisms today are commonly used expressions that people use in their everyday speech.
Modern phraseology studies a large number of such frozen phrases. Among them are antique phrases (“apple of discord”, “Hercules work”, “white crow”), biblical (“stumbling block”, “beating babies”, “not of this world”), Western European (“on a big foot” , “Back to our sheep”, “devil’s advocate”, “but she’s spinning”), Russians (“chop on the nose”, “clumsy work”, “versta Kolomenskaya”, “bear service”, “red line” )
The group of Russian phraseological units also includes the frozen "seventh water on jelly" that we are studying, which this expression means, we will consider in more detail.
First of all, it is necessary to consider the history of the origin of this phrase.
The meaning of phraseology "Seventh water on jelly": the history of origin
This expression denotes a very distant relative: for example, your fourth cousin or second cousin uncle. You cannot even accurately determine the degree of relationship with a given person.
The meaning of the phrase "Seventh water on jelly" has its roots in Russian history.
Today, there are three main theories of its origin:
Hypothesis one. Unsuitable water
In Russia, kissel was very much loved, it replaced many drinks. However, when it was overexposed, a liquid separated from it, which did not at all look like the original drink. This liquid was called "the last water of jelly."
The second hypothesis. Starch Kissel
When Peter the Great ordered the peasants to plant potatoes, potato starch was used to produce jelly. At the same time, the water that remained from the cooking technology was called “jelly water”.
The third hypothesis. Kissel on oats
Another technology for the preparation of jelly suggested insisting it on oats. Water was drained from the grains. The seventh change of water and received the name "seventh water on jelly."
Phraseologism in Russian literature
In domestic literature, the expression "seventh water on jelly" is quite common. The meaning of phraseology is often not described, but it is understandable to native speakers of the Russian language.
The existence of this expression in the works of Russian literature indicates that it was already actively used in the 18th and 19th centuries. This statement is found in the novel by I. Goncharov “Oblomov”, in the text of the novel by F. Dostoevsky entitled “Uncle's Dream” and in many others.
By the way, sometimes the meaning of the phraseology “Seventh water on jelly” may also imply another phrase. A different numeral is used - not the seventh, but the tenth water on jelly.
However, this means one and the same thing, since this number is used not specifically, but generally symbolically.
Is it good to be “the seventh water on jelly”?
The expression itself suggests some neglect. "Seventh water on jelly" (the meaning of phraseology is clear to us) is an appeal to distant relatives, with whom one does not really want to know. These people are not particularly needed, so they have already become strangers, relations with them is an extra burden.
In general, this expression is used when you do not want to communicate with relatives.
Therefore, no one is pleased when he is called such a phrase. It is better to be a complete stranger than to hear such an offensive name. Apparently, this indicates that second cousins do not consider themselves relatives.
We examined the meaning of the phrase “Seventh water on jelly”, this frozen expression is little understood by foreigners, but for those for whom the Russian language is native, it is clearer than clear.