The Russian language is rich in all kinds of phraseological units and expressions for all occasions. Here, for example, an unexpected guest came to someone. And the owner was so taken aback that he was unable to utter a word. And we will tell you exactly what to say in such cases! Reader, do not lose your speech, but welcome and unwanted guest with a speech turn: “Oh! He fell like snow on his head! " It is easy to understand that the meaning of phraseology “like snow on our heads” we consider and analyze today. Let's start, as usual, with origin.
Origin
The history of the formation of the expression in question has its roots in peasant life. The fact is that, a long time ago, people also believed that winter comes unexpectedly. It turns out jokes M.N. Zadornov even in a sense has a historical meaning.
Imagine a peasant preparing his field for winter. Naturally, a man leads you freely on his land and may even take off his hat. Here he works, works, thinks that he will manage to do everything and suddenly ... the first snow began, and he landed on the bare head of a peasant.
From what has been said it is clear: not too much is a good sign. If someone has forgotten, then we are still talking about the topic "the meaning of phraseology" like snow on his head ""
When the original meaning is lost
It is interesting to imagine such a situation. Imagine that we do not know anything about the peasant, his field and other delights of village life. Is the meaning of phraseology clear? Sure!
Because a picture immediately arises of how a person in a huge metropolis goes out into the street, and snow falls from his visor (or, perhaps, from the roof of a private house) onto his head and behind a collar. Not too good feeling, right? But this resident of the metropolis has neither a field, nor seasonal obligations. His life does not change much depending on the time of year and the weather outside. However, enough about the origin. By the way, the meaning of phraseology “like snow on one’s head”, of course, seems to be clear from the context, but we specify: speech turnover is a substitute for the dialects “suddenly” and “unexpectedly”. Let's move on to examples that will help clarify the essence of the issue.
Ambivalence of expression
As can be seen from the previous reasoning, the expression is disapproving. But, as we know, the Russian language is not English. In the first, there may be a free arrangement of the components of the sentence, but besides this, intonation plays a great and powerful role in the great and powerful. And almost any phrase can be endowed with both negative and positive subtext. You can also voice the expression "like snow on your head" (the meaning we examined a little earlier).
Teacher and student
Of course, the student is eager to pass the test. But for some reason (students always have them), he could not get to the time appointed by the teacher. And then, when the teacher already wanted to go home, Petrov appears and says:
- Nikolai Ivanovich, I really want to pass the test! And this time I learned everything from cover to cover. When I rewrote your lectures, I enjoyed your mastery of the Russian word.
- Okay, that's enough. Not only does your behavior make me recall the phraseology “like snow on my head”, but you also flatter awkwardly and clumsily. If you're really ready, then let's go, I'll take 15 minutes, but no more.
Illustrating the ambivalence of the studied expression, it should be said that, despite the severity of the teaching tone, Nikolai Ivanovich still allowed Petrov to pass the test. This means that phraseology was used as a means of describing student behavior and did not pursue the goal of disapproving of him. Another thing is if the teacher refused the student, then it would be possible to say that the student fell under the hot hand and the teacher’s bad mood, and the expression would have clearly negative meaning.
Son and parents
Take another example. A son comes from the army or on a long business trip without warning his parents.
The call. Mom opens the door:
- Oh, son, you have arrived! Well, as always, like snow on his head! Why didn’t you call, would you and my father meet you?
- Come on, mom. I wanted to make a surprise - my son answers with a wink.
He probably managed to please his parents. In any case, there is no aggression or disapproval in the mother’s greeting, on the contrary, she’s very happy.
We hope that the meaning of phraseology “like snow on your head” no longer causes difficulties for the reader, and we move on to the tonality of the expression in question.
Tone
Initially, as history has shown, verbal circulation had a negative meaning, because for a peasant not to prepare for winter was like death. Then, over time, when people forgot history, the saying almost lost its negative meaning and became simply synonymous with the adverbs “suddenly”, “unexpectedly”, “suddenly”. It is also analogous to the expressions “from floundering bay” and “devil from a snuffbox”.
Nevertheless, one should remember the original meaning, and if possible, do not apply this “abusive” expression to good events and welcome guests.
The history of phraseology “like snow on your head” teaches us, first of all, the careful handling of a seemingly well-known expression.
In spite of the original negative meaning of phraseology
Whatever folk wisdom and peasant life may say, there is no planned happiness! If we turn to Soviet cinema and recall the beloved comedy “The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath” by Eldar Ryazanov, who recently left us, we will see that in the picture the main character fell down on the love of his life in full accordance with folk wisdom. But in the end it all ended very well. True, the heroes went, like all true lovers, through a state of war and hatred for each other. But some believe that this is an absolutely necessary stage of a strong and healthy relationship.
And if the heroes were offered a joke or seriously such a task: “Like snow on your head” - a sentence illustrating phraseologism, could you make up? ” That they, without a doubt, would write the story of their own acquaintance, there was not a single sentence.
Harry Potter and Hogwarts Owls Like Snow
Anyone who is not close to the Soviet classics can remember the hero of our time - Harry Potter. Yes, the boy didn’t know that he was a wizard. In some ordeals of the boy Harry, we recognize the suffering of Cinderella. It seems that the new and very old story has one thing in common: the children did not think that they would be very lucky, but fate had already prepared a surprise for them.
The latter fell to the modern hero exactly like snow on his head (a synonym, meaning and origin of expression were considered a little earlier). If this suddenness had not happened, then Harry's life would have been rather dull.
Okay, leave Cinderella alone. Now we are haunted by owls. Owls who brought the coveted letter from the school of witchcraft and wizardry - is it snow? You can even say more: the phenomenon of night predators on a quiet Tisova street is a snowfall!
The moral of the story is that sometimes it’s snowing on your head - it’s not so bad, especially when it brings with it some changes. It is clear that change is bad only for those who are completely satisfied with their lives, but how many are there? We don’t think.
Of course, we will object that there are also adults who find it difficult to readjust and taste the charm of new life circumstances. Yes indeed. But it is gratifying that now some pensioners are more active than young people, and this inspires some optimism.