Today we’ll talk about the expression “bash on bash”. We will touch upon history, meaning and think about the role that money plays in the exchange process.
Origin
Sources say that the word “bash” came to us from Turkic, in it it means “head”. There are, of course, other translations, but they have nothing in common with the theme of our study.
If translated into Russian, it will be "one head after another." There is a version that the saying appeared among cattle traders, because it is cattle that are measured on the head. Therefore, we can assume the existence of such transactions once in the past. One, for example, changes a cow to another bull. Here you have the bash on the bash.
Value
Now, of course, if cattle change, then this does not have such wide circulation. But the saying lives on and means a fair deal, in which the parties bet on equally valuable goods.
The easiest way to demonstrate the principle of "bash on bash" on the example of modern sports industry in the West. For example, it is known that in football they prefer to let players go for monetary compensation, and in hockey and basketball (we are talking about the NBA and NHL) they change mainly by players, and monetary compensation may be present in the transaction, or maybe not. So, in hockey and basketball they change in full agreement with the phrase “bash on bash”, if we forget about the possible money involved in transactions. Athletes are modern gladiators. They give their lives to the crowd to enjoy their skill. True, unlike Roman slaves, athletes are respected members of society, they live much better than the average fan obsessed with them. Sport remains virtually the only social elevator in Russia that is still in good working order. Others, unfortunately, have long been in need of repair.
What can be changed?
If we distract ourselves from the subject matter of “live goods”, the exchange of which is still taking place, but, of course, in different forms and with the rights of the parties, then the use of the proverb is extremely extensive. There is still a forgotten word that can almost completely reflect the meaning of the phrase “bash on bash” - this is barter.
Barter means “exchange of goods, exchange of goods” (from the explanatory dictionary). Oddly enough, but children's games can serve as an excellent example of such transactions. Children often change toys, stationery. Which is quite natural, because a small child does not yet know what money is and why it is needed.
Money is not the place here
Probably, the exchange of "bash on bash" does not imply coins, because the value of money is constantly changing. Let's get back to sports topics and think about this. When Ronaldo is even exchanged for 100 million, then this is not an absolutely equivalent exchange, because the player in the previous club brought benefits: he scored goals, assisted and, most importantly, was built into the game model. When, instead of a person, money comes into the account, then you need to find a replacement, train, build. In a word, a lot of additional work, which only partly pays off with money and is not a fact that will bring profit. Therefore, hockey and basketball clubs are wiser, but differences in management exist due to the specifics of sports, that is, you can’t just transfer basketball and hockey trading strategies to the football field.
Money is generally a rather strange thing. If each person remembers his feelings when he receives a salary for a month, he will understand, or rather, be aware of the feeling of deceived hopes that accompanies this joyful process. It seems that the money is not commensurate with the effort spent on it. And imagine that a salary would be paid out immediately fulfilled by desires: food for a month, TV and books. For some reason, an imaginary picture warms the soul. But for this it is necessary to profess an individual approach not only in words, but also in practice. Therefore, it is easier to give a man his coins and notes, and there he let him as he wants.
As a result, one can only be surprised at how multifaceted the meaning of phraseology “bash on bash” is. It has not lost its charm and relevance for a modern person, which is probably why it is still in use.