Expand the value. "A double-edged sword": what is this phraseology about?

Many actions can lead to both good and bad consequences. Not everything is clear. In this regard, wise ancestors came up with the expression "a double-edged sword", the meaning of which will be discussed in more detail in this article. Also here you will find the history of the origin of this statement.

"Two-edged sword": the meaning of phraseology

In order to give an accurate definition of this expression, let us turn to authoritative dictionaries. In the interpretation of Sergei Ivanovich Ozhegov the following meaning is given. "A double-edged sword" is "something that can end both good and bad." The author in his dictionary puts a stylistic mark "razg.".

In the collection of phraseological units, edited by Stepanova MI, the following definition is given: "what can lead to both favorable and negative consequences entails a good and bad outcome." The author puts such stylistic marks as "simple., Express.".

Thus, based on the definitions obtained, we can conclude that the expression we are considering means the possibility of both a negative and a positive outcome in connection with something, some actions.

The origin of expression

This phraseology is a popular saying. This means that we can not find the concrete author of this expression.

How did this phraseology come about? The preposition "about", which is present in it, was used in the meaning of the preposition "c". That is, we can assume that this expression is equal to the expression "stick with two ends".

This saying came about not by chance. With the word "stick" formed a lot of phraseological units. After all, what is this subject? The stick has, as a rule, similar to each other two ends. They are diametrically opposed. Can get both one end and the other, the opposite. Figuratively the ancestors had in mind that you never know what will happen, there are always two variants of events: positive and negative.

Also, the etymology of the expression is associated with the fact that when someone was beaten with a stick, the one who was under attack could grab a stick and strike the offender with the other end. It turned out that the result was directly opposite expectations.

Regardless of etymology, what can end both good and bad reveals meaning. "A double-edged sword" has this interpretation.

Use

Where does this expression occur? Everywhere! It refers to the colloquial style, is an expressive expression. With the help of it, any text can be made more expressive and vivid. That is why most often this phraseology is found in the media: print media, radio and television. It is put in the headlines and in the text itself. And all because the idea of the possibility of a different outcome capacitively conveys its significance. "A double-edged sword" is found in journalistic works about politics and other serious spheres.

In fiction there are many examples of the use of this phraseology by writers.

Publicists, public figures, and simply people who resort to stable phrases in their speech, often use this turn.

In the dialogues of the heroes of various films, you can also hear this expression.

Often found use of this phraseology in publications about lies. After all, lies can both help someone, and open up at the wrong time, thereby only exacerbating the situation.

Conclusion

In this article, we learned that the meaning of the "double-edged sword" (phraseology) has the following. This phraseological characterizes the possibility of both a good and a bad outcome. This expression was formed in connection with the fact that the stick has two ends. This simple characteristic of our ancestors turned into a figurative statement, which is still not obsolete. It is relevant to this day.