Phraseologism "mutual responsibility" has become popular, thanks to the group "Nautilus Pompilius" and their song "Chained together." And if there are no questions about the word "circular", then the meaning of the word "guarantee" is not so simple.
Meaning of the word “bail”
The term “bail” has several meanings. The first of these means a guarantee to someone, providing a guarantee, reliability, or as confirmation of something. So, Pushkin’s Eugene Onegin writes to Tatyana in a novel of the same name: “Believe me (conscience is that bail), marriage will be torment for us.” In this case, the word "guarantee" is used in the meaning of the guarantee.
The second meaning of the outdated word "bail" is a promise to do something with putting a surety. A vivid example of this is the Russian folk tale "Cross-bail". According to the plot of the tale, one merchant takes money from another, and indicates a cross on the church as a guarantor. In this case, the meaning of the word “bail” in the tale is used precisely as a guarantee to fulfill the promise, to return the money.
Another semantic meaning of this term is an obligation to bear responsibility for someone. Even today in colloquial speech you can hear "bail", that is, take care of someone.
Examples of use
The meaning of the word “bail” in P. Ershov’s fairy tale “The Little Humpbacked Horse” is used as a promise to fulfill what was said. The king, inviting Ivan to serve in his stable, said: "The royal word is in that bail."
Tatyana in her letter to Onegin writes the lines: "But I am your honor, And I boldly entrust myself to her." In a specific case, this term is used as a guarantee and confirmation of something.
In the song “Chained by one chain” this word is also used: “Coworker smears like soot ...”.
Mutual responsibility
"Bail" - the most used phrase with this outdated word. This term is used to emphasize that everyone is responsible for everyone, and everyone for everyone. The famous phrase "one for all and all for one" from the novel by Dumas "Three Musketeers" is the clearest example of mutual responsibility.
And although the example of collective responsibility in the novel about the adventures of a young Gascon and his friends is positive, it is actually a rarity. As a rule, the phrase "mutual responsibility" is used with a negative, disapproving shade. This attitude to the term has developed historically for the following reasons.
The very phenomenon of mutual responsibility in Russia a long time ago, some historians claim that it can be seen even in the contract of Prince Oleg with the Greeks after their surrender in the war of 907. However, the term was most widely used in the Middle Ages. In the XV-XVI centuries. Residents of Russian communities were charged with the responsibility of eradicating and preventing offenses, and in the event that the perpetrator was not found, each member of the community was punished. A similar situation occurred if insufficient taxes and taxes were collected - arrears were collected from each participant. The state actively supported mutual responsibility, and it was canceled only in 1903.
Today, this phrase is used quite often, but in a slightly different context. This is what they say about violators of the law who, for fear of being brought to justice, cover accomplices.