Today we have a very complicated topic. It is difficult primarily because of its ambiguity. But we can handle it, as always. We interpret the phraseology “give a head start”. It will be disassembled carefully, and, hopefully, the reader will not need other sources to clarify information on the meaning of a stable phrase.
What does the explanatory dictionary say?
The first feature that catches your eye: in the dictionary there is no separate meaning of the word “handicap”. The noun is only in the phraseological unit. However, let’s give the floor to the dictionary: give a head start is “in some games: give an advantage in advance (also figurative)”.
You can completely define the head start as the initial advantage that is provided to the weakest side in any sport. For example, in chess, you can remove a certain number of pieces from the board of a strong opponent. In tournaments where there is a time competition, the weaker is given a bonus in the form of minutes or seconds. In professional football this does not happen, but its yard appearance may well begin not with the classic and traditional two zeros, but with the handicap for one of the teams.
And here it turns out interesting: giving a head start - this means recognizing your original superiority. By giving extra points to that side, a person or a team does not do a favor to the opponents, but rather equalizes the chances so that the contest was exciting, interesting and full.
Wearable Value and Suggestions
This is the rare case when, when parting with something, a person does not become poor. After all, usually a gift is associated with loss, especially when it comes to sports. But the matter is not only in professional tournaments. For example, people can talk about someone: "Give everyone a head start." Such an assessment is very flattering, it means: a person is so good at his job that he can give a deliberate advantage to an opponent and will still win, moreover, an easy and laid-back one. Let's look at the suggestions:
- Yes, Nikolay Ivanovich, maybe it’s time for retirement a long time ago, that’s true. But in the matter of car repair, he will be able to give odds to any young mechanic.
- Do not look at the fact that my car is old, it is still able to give a light, and at the same time a head start in addition to any foreign car.
- Despite the fact that the woman was middle-aged on the passport, she looked excellent and could give odds to any first-year student of the institute.
Examples are selected in a specific way to move on to a very important issue, the wording of which gives the title to the next section.
A compliment for those who go into circulation?
To give a head start means to give an advantage obviously in order to equalize the chances, we understood this. But a very interesting question remains: maybe this expression is a form of a comforting prize for those who are really about to leave the tournament. And the last metaphor does not imply, for example, the death of a person. No, it’s just that veterans who either have to work somewhere or are about to give way to young specialists deserve such respectful treatment.
It is by no means a false impression of the veracity of this state of affairs. But the validity of the statement depends on the field of activity. For example, when they say that a striker in football or hockey can give odds to young people, this is only partly true. Because youth in sports is an undeniable advantage. But experience does have its merits:
- position selection;
- intuition, or scoring instinct;
- Technics.
Indeed, the youth above cannot be missed due to the small number of years lived in sports. But more often, such a turn is only a compliment to a veteran.
If we are talking about a writer, a man of intellectual labor, then he, like wine, only gets better over the years and, if illness does not occur, he can produce a high-quality product for the rest of his life. True, writers have their own shortcomings. They find themselves captive to their style or way of thinking and cannot go beyond them. As a result, the manner is boring to the consumer, the reader, and he refuses the author’s books. But a writer is a vulnerable profession in principle: no one can guarantee market demand.
What is the result? The conclusion is the following: phraseologism can express both a true compliment and underlining of the force still present, and a consolation prize - a compliment from politeness. The nature of the statement is determined by the situation.
Phraseologism flattering anyway
Yes, someone may be offended that they give him compliments and talk about the strength that is in the past. But if you think about it, the following will come out: a person worthy of such a compliment has achieved a lot in life. What is the difference - you are honored for past achievements and a little tricked or emphasize real power? After all, if you still work, then this is a victory over years, time. A generational change is inevitable. And yes, it is not necessary that the view of the problem and phraseologism be just that. The expression is used in other contexts and meanings. Which ones? This is the topic of the reader’s work, and ours has come to an end.