"Mutilate water": the meaning and origin of phraseology

Some resistant expressions appear through the rituals of certain people, conducted to achieve some goals. Someone has to muddy the water in the literal sense of these words. After that, the same expression appears, but in a figurative meaning.

This article is devoted to the phraseology "muddy water". We will explain it and tell you how it appeared in our lexicon.

The meaning of a stable phrase

To interpret the expression, let us turn to the large phraseological dictionary edited by Roza T. V. The author of this edition gives the following meaning of the stable phrase we are considering: "confusing, misleading". This is the definition of the expression "muddy water". Phraseological means a bad thing, therefore it has a disapproving color. They are characterized by "muddy" people who, by cunning, deceit, entanglement of others, benefit, achieve their own selfish goals.

The history of the origin of this expression is astonishing and at the same time simple. Let's consider it.

History of origin

What the fishermen did not invent for more fishing success! Once upon a time, in the good old days, the following ritual was practiced before fishing. Water, where they fished, mutilated. It was not accidental. The fishermen believed that in this way the fish would not see the nets and would fall into them. Such was the fishing savvy, cunning. Whether this method really worked, can only guess.

Gradually, the expression "muddy water" began to acquire a different, negative meaning. Perhaps this is due to a fable of the ancient Greek poet Aesop. It described how one fisherman deliberately muddied the water in order to annoy his neighbor. Since then, the expression we are considering characterizes people who are pursuing their goals in a dishonest way, by entangling others, hiding some important points, lying.

The use of expression

This phraseology is often used in both literary and colloquial speech. Writers like to characterize "muddy" heroes with this expression. It can be found in the media.

It is in journalism that the expression "muddy water" is most often used. In particular, in publications on politics, banks, fraud, this phraseology is an excellent tool for describing unclean cases and conveying the discontent of such a state of affairs. It is used at the call to stop deceiving others, to bring people evil for personal gain.