Phraseologism is a stable speech circulation, meaning comparable with a single word. The components of this turnover are perceived only together. Phraseologisms are characteristic for a particular language and do not have an accurate translation into others, since this may make the meaning of the statement impossible. Such statements add brightness and brilliance to speech.
Russian speech is rich and full of various phraseological turns. They are used when they want to give an additional emotional coloring to speech, to emphasize their attitude to a person or event. Among the Russian stable expressions there is such as "Anika the warrior." The meaning of phraseologism, its etymology is quite interesting, but known to few.
Where did this expression come from
The origin of the phraseology "Anika-warrior" dates back to the Russian folklore plot. The hero, a warrior named Anika, boasted of his heroic strength, but only fought with people weaker than he did. One day he met death, which reproached him for excessive bragging. Anika decided that he would overcome, and challenged her to a duel. Of course, Death was stronger. Realizing that he was losing, the warrior repented of excessive boasting and asked Death for at least a little time, but she was adamant and killed him.
This plot of Russian folklore itself dates back to the translation work “The Story of the Debate of the Belly with Death”, the original of which came to us from medieval Germany in about the 16th century and was a dialogue of man with death.
The meaning of phraseology "Anika-warrior"
In addition to independent semantics, this phrase is also included in the saying: "Anika the warrior sits and howls." It is used in cases where an overly boastful person is not so strong and courageous as he showed himself. In the event of a real danger, he is unable to resist it, but only cowards and laments the situation.
As for the independent meaning of the phraseology “Anika-warrior”, it also applies to bouncers who position themselves as brave people only in words, until they face a real threat. Such a person can show his strength only in relation to people who are weaker than him and cannot give a worthy rebuff.
An additional meaning to the phraseology “Anika-warrior” is given also by the name of the main character. It was taken, presumably from the ancient Greek language, where "a" denoted the prefix "not", and "nick" - "victory". According to another version, this name came from ancient Byzantine legends about the hero Digenis, who was often characterized by the definition of anikitos - invincible. Probably, Russian translators could take this adjective as a proper name.
The use of phraseological units in the literature
Nikolai Aleksandrovich Nekrasov in the poem "Who Should Live Well in Russia" uses this phrase in the third chapter about the hero Saveliy. "Brandy", "convict" grandfather Savely, reflecting on the fate of the new generation, says:
Oh you Aniki warriors!
With old people, with women
You only have to fight!
Anika the warrior is also the hero of a folk drama about Tsar Maximilian. There he is depicted as a tall and fat, formidable hero. According to the plot, he defeats the ambassador from Rome, however, he is unable to protect the king from death, which comes to the palace and destroys Maximilian.