Inaccuracy, fragility, fuzziness of any enterprise or plans can be expressed in different words and ways. Let us ask ourselves what expression may be suitable in such a situation. The answer is this: we are exploring the meaning of phraseology "written with a pitchfork on water." This is what we need.
We begin not with meaning and origin, but with two images preceding any analysis and consideration.
Wrong image - “a man with a pitchfork”
Any person who is not familiar with the history of the study of phraseological units under study, when mentioning pitchforks on the water, will imagine such a picture. A peasant on a fine, sunny day resting on the banks of the river. Of course, with him his favorite pitchfork, i.e. agricultural tool.
Further, our hero, suddenly imbued with an inexplicable yearning for the fullness of life, in response to some of his secret thoughts, went to the river and began to write intensely, forking signs on the water with a pitchfork. The latter, in turn, obeying the inertia of the elements, immediately disappeared from the surface.
In principle, if we say that the meaning of phraseology “written with a pitchfork on water” indicates, first of all, the fragility, unsteadiness of anything, then this image will do. But then we sin against history and truth.
The correct image and origin of phraseology. "Water circles"
A child stands by the river and throws pebbles into the water, and from them go the forks, i.e. circles. Here's a simple clue. It turns out that this expression came to us from ancient times. And “pitchforks” in the meaning of “circles” go back to some archaic language (dialect). However, he, one way or another, has long been lost.
Thus, the meaning of phraseology “written with a pitchfork in water” has been clarified. It turned out to be quite unexpected not so much the meaning of the expression as its origin. Let's move on to the examples.
“If you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans”
Everyone knows this modern saying or saying. Meanwhile, her meaning is about the same as that of the expression in question.
Imagine a schoolboy, inspired by the fact that he passed the final graduation exams, comes home and shares plans for how he will go to college, will shine in him as a student.
Perhaps the father, who, despite his son’s festive mood, is not in a good mood, will say: “Wait, all this has been written with a pitchfork on the water.”
We found out the meaning a little earlier.
In principle, a not too affectionate parent could say: “Well, well, if you want to make God laugh, tell him about your plans.” True, both of them are still rude to the child.
Suppose a large part of our life is a book written on water, so what? It does not at all follow from this that a person should not live. But what he should do, we will analyze in the next section.
What does phraseologism about fragility teach us?
The meaning of phraseology “written with a pitchfork on water” indicates to a person that much in his life is ephemeral. Our fellow man is a being, dwelling rather in the future than in the present. Therefore, many people plan and talk about their plans. And they kind of write monograms on the water. There is little that can be done about it, but there is a way out: it is necessary to oppose the eternal projection (in this case, this word is not endowed with any negative meaning) action.
Dreaming is not a crime. It is important that a certain desired result is not just a utopian daydream, but involves a plan of action. And then no one can reproach a person for building castles in the air.
It is necessary not only to desire, but also to create. You can’t give a reason to say: “Yes, it’s all written with a pitchfork on water” inaccurate, blurry, fragile and generally unrealistic. Action above all, only it makes sense.
We hope that the reader understands what it means to write with a pitchfork. It is also important to understand: the agricultural tool, which almost everyone has in the country, does not relate to the essence of phraseology.