"On the village of Grandfather": the meaning of phraseology, its origin

Steady expressions, with which the Russian language is so rich, make our speech expressive and capacious. Thanks to them, we can convey our thoughts more deeply and vividly, so they are so valuable.

In addition, each of them has an unusual history of origin. Thanks to phraseology, we not only expand our vocabulary. When we study them, we become more erudite, learn a lot about history and literature.

In this article we will consider the stable expression "to the village of grandfather." Note that it means where it is appropriate to apply. And, of course, we will plunge into the history of its origin. Although, most likely, it is known to many readers, because the expression is still relevant and has not become outdated with time.

"On the village of grandfather": the meaning of phraseology

To interpret this expression, we turn to authoritative dictionaries. They most accurately convey their meaning. Let us first turn to the explanatory dictionary SI. Ozhegova. When considering the word "village", he did not forget to mention the expression "on the village to the grandfather". The meaning of the phraseology in it is "according to a notoriously incomplete, inaccurate address". It is noted that the expression has a conversational style.

Let us also turn to a more specialized dictionary, a phraseological dictionary, edited by M. Stepanova. In it, the author also did not miss the steady turn "to the village of grandfather." The meaning of phraseology in this dictionary is "not known where." It is noted that the expression is ironic.

Both interpretations are similar. Undoubtedly, the expression means an unknown address.

"On the village of Grandfather": the origin of phraseology

The etymology of stable expressions is diverse. Some turns are folk sayings, others are related to legends and historical events, and others - to literary works.

The expression we considered appeared in 1886. It was then that Anton Chekhov's story "Vanka" was published. From there, and this expression went.

In this sad story, the main character - the orphan Vanka - writes a letter to his grandfather. In it, he describes his hardships of life with the shoemaker, to which he is attached. Asks to take him, he recalls the happy moments of life in the village. However, Vanka does not know the address where to send the letter. He simply writes "On the village to grandfather Konstantin Makarych." So this phrase appeared and immediately caught on.

It is worth noting that many remember this heartbreaking story due to this expression. It shows the hopelessness of the orphan's position. The boy does not even know the address of his native home and can not return there. The reader understands that Vanka's hopes that his grandfather will read the letter, take pity on him and take him away will not be justified. His words will not reach the old man, and he will have to live in such difficult conditions further.

Application of phraseology

After the appearance of this expression, other writers began to use it in their works. It can be found in various media, blogs. Even in colloquial speech one can hear "to the village of grandfather." The meaning of phraseology capaciously transfers the focus to nowhere.

That is why it remains relevant, does not die, like some other sustained turnover.