Despite the amazing number of opportunities, ways to achieve the goal, many contemporaries are not able to do anything without additional motivation. Some require financial support, others are chasing a dream, and others need to be regularly urged. This allows you to set the desired direction and not slow down until a person fulfills the plan. What does the original term mean, how did it happen? And why does it sometimes sound insulting? You will find all the answers in the Russian village!
Peasant Lexicon
The word was formed in a very unusual way from the prompting cries of "But!" and “Well!” with which the peasant drives the draft animals or drives the cattle out of the way. The resulting verb denotes the fact of pronunciation, and the prefix “by” is responsible for the direction of the commands to a certain object. The concept is widely dispersed in everyday communication. However, linguists still classify it as colloquial, inappropriate in small talk or in official negotiations.
Basic interpretations
First of all, it is about interaction with cattle. Then, “to tell” the meaning is the most ordinary and harmless for those around: animals are not the most reasonable and require external control. Otherwise, it is easy to wander somewhere in a swamp or a ravine, causing a loss to the peasant farm. Over time, the definition has spread to people in two figurative versions:
Do not be offended! The interlocutor does not imply resemblance to a cow. The reason is the use of the same interjection “well”, which came out in moments of impatience and a desire to quickly deal with the issue. When I wanted to rush a cabman or drive out from the road a crowd of students walking around idle.
If the conversation is about coercion to action, the negative subtext is also minimal, in contrast to expressions with “push”. Since in our case, the conditional commander does not demand to fulfill his desires, but certain duties. For example, in matters of upbringing, to push is to make the child brush his teeth before going to bed, learn lessons, put on a hat, and not jump in puddles. Children are insulted and do not want to, but fulfilling the requirements will ensure their own future.
Everyday use
The word is not considered obsolete, which is why it periodically appears in communication. It is used along with “force” or even “drip on the brain”, therefore it declares a certain negative attitude of the speaker to the current situation. Include fearlessly into the vocabulary, but if you want to circumvent hints of psychological pressure, it is better to replace it with a harmonious synonym!