Phraseologism "do not have a soul", appeared in the Russian language a few centuries ago. This revolution is not only actively used in colloquial speech, but also occurs in classical literary works. Without knowing its meaning, it is easy to misunderstand the essence of what has been said or read. So, what does the person using this stable expression mean, and where did it come from?
Do Not Soul, Meaning
The obsolete verb "tea" is not familiar to the ear of a modern person, since it has not been used for a long time. It is not surprising that the speech turn of ânot aspiring to the soulâ may seem strange and even devoid of meaning to someone who does not know its meaning.
Remembering the meaning of a stable expression is easy, because it is one. Expression means strong attachment, love, trust in someone: children, parents, husband or wife, and so on. It is understood that a person is so disposed towards someone that he notices certain advantages in him, unconsciously ignoring the shortcomings.
It is interesting that not only people can act as objects of love, but also, for example, pets. Whereas in relation to inanimate objects such an expression is not accepted. It cannot be said, for example, that a girl does not like the soul in this dress, even if she really likes it and she constantly wears it.
Positive and negative meaning
As a rule, the phraseological phrase âdonât have a soulâ is used in a positive sense. For example, a mother, admitting to the adoration that she has for her only child, can say that she literally does not have a soul in him.
However, the phrase in which this speech construction is present can theoretically contain reproach, complaint, and discontent. For example, the speaker is not satisfied that someone is loved too much, although the object of love does not deserve it. Or suppose he doesnât like someoneâs excessive obsession with the object of love. Turn of the tongue in a negative sense can be used when it comes to a naughty, ill-bred child who is overly spoiled by loving parents.
Also, the expression can be used to describe love that has long remained in the past or even escalated into hatred. Suppose we can say that the brothers did not cherish the souls of each other until they began to share the parental inheritance, which led to the conflict.
Origin
The origin of the phraseology âdonât dwell on the soulâ is also interesting. The significance of this speech construct is explained above, but where did it come from? To understand this, you first need to understand the meaning of the obsolete verb "chayat". Once this word was actively used in colloquial speech, it was mainly loved by representatives of the lower layers of the population. It came from the ancient verb "chati", which disappeared even earlier, which meant "think, believe, expect."
Many philologists, reflecting on the origin of the expression âdonât have a soulâ, came to the conclusion that it could not do without the word âsmellâ. In the old days, this verb was very popular, meaning "to feel." It is likely that it was a mixture of the verbs "to chay" and "to smell" that led to the emergence of phraseological units, the particle "not" in it took on an amplifying role.
Use in literature
As already mentioned, not only in colloquial speech is this original speech construct, the origin of which is still the subject of heated debate. The turn of speech appealed to many famous poets and writers, who often used it in their works.
Flipping through novels, tales and short stories written in the 18-19 centuries, reading poems created during this period, people regularly meet the steady expression "do not drink your soul." The meaning of phraseology does not differ from that in which it is used in the speech of our contemporaries. For example, speech circulation can be found in the story of Ivan Turgenev âThe Noble Nestâ. The author writes that âMarya Petrovna didnât have a soul in himâ, trying to describe the characterâs strong love. Melnikov-Pechersky also uses it in the work âGrandmother's Talesâ, the character of which says that âfather and mother did not see souls in Nastenkaâs only daughterâ.
Synonyms-phraseological units
Of course, the original speech revolution is easily replaced by a variety of synonyms that are appropriate in meaning. It can be not only words, but also expressions. Suppose, from the point of view of meaning, the construction of "love without mind." This phrase does not mean at all that someone literally deprived reason of love, made it crazy. This is what they say when they want to describe a strong feeling that plunges a person into a state of enthusiasm, adoration.
The speech revolution âlight wedge convergedâ may also act as a synonym. Using it in relation to someone, a person actually says: "I donât have a soul in him." What does âwedge convergeâ mean? Of course, we are talking about strong love, which forces one to see only positive aspects in the chosen one, excludes the possibility of exchanging him for someone else.
Another synonym that, if desired, can be used instead of the steady expression "do not cherish the soul," discussed in this article, is "fall in love without memory." This speech construct has nothing to do with amnesia, traditionally used to describe strong love.
Interesting fact
In colloquial speech, many well-known phraseological units are often used in a somewhat modified state. Often, the value that is invested in them also changes. This fate also did not pass this speech revolution. During informal communication, you can hear how the interlocutor says: âI donât have tea in my soulâ. The meaning of this expression is absolutely not connected with love, adoration, trust, admiration. Using it, the speaker implies that he has no answer to the question asked to him. Often this turn of speech is used when a person wants to show that he is tired of questioning and even communication itself, he wants to say: "Leave me alone."
The synonyms of this design, which managed to gain great popularity among the people, are as follows: âI have no ideaâ, âI have no ideaâ, âI donât know at heartâ. Of course, in dictionaries and reference books the design âI donât drink tea in my soulâ is absent, because it is wrong to say that.