In the Russian language, you can find a sufficient number of mysterious phraseological turns, the meaning of which is hard to guess. The speech construction "hair on end" is definitely one of those. Fortunately, the origin of this expression helps to instantly understand the meaning that lies in it. So, where did this turnover come from, in what situations is it appropriate to use it, what does it mean?
Phraseologism "hair on end": origin
In order to understand the meaning of this speech turnover, you must first break it into separate words. So, “hair on end” is a phraseological unit consisting of two words. If the meaning of the first of them is not a secret for those who know the Russian language, then the second is not so easy. What does the mysterious "dub" have to do with the hair of the human race?
Stand on end means stretching out on your fingertips, standing at attention. Researchers link the origin of this speechdesigns with an instrument of torture, which was actively used in times past. We are talking about a rack - a terrible device with which the executioners stretched the body of the victim during interrogation.
Hence, "hair on end" is a condition in which the hair is pulled out. Why is this happening?
Fear, anxiety
When the amygdala in the brain, which is responsible for processing emotions, recognizes danger, a signal about it is sent to the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus provides activation of the sympathetic nervous system, as a result, the body goes into stress mode. In the sympathetic nerves located in the skin, the production of the stress hormone begins. This leads to increased heart rate, respiratory failure. Adrenaline secreted by the adrenal glands reaches the dermis.
Is it possible for "hair to stand on end"? Phraseologism describes a stressful state, which is one of the consequences of the processes described above. Stress hormones, reaching the dermis, interfere with the work of the whole organism. They also affect the hair muscles attached to the follicle of every hair that is on the body.
When contracting, the hair muscle affects the follicle (root), forcing the hair to literally "stand on end".
Biological response
Hair on end is a condition faced by our distant ancestors. Once upon a time, there was much more hair on the human body than it is now. It is not surprising that they served as a kind of protection tool, whichactivated in moments of danger.
Hairs stood on end when their owner discovered a threat to their safety, whether it was imaginary or real. The appearance of a person became intimidating, he seemed to potential opponents more massive, therefore, stronger. This defense mechanism can be observed, for example, in cats. Noticing a dog on the street, the animals arch their backs, their hair rises. Due to this, their natural size visually increases, which allows you to catch fear on the enemy and force him to abandon the attack. Porcupines behave in a similar way, only instead of hair, needles.
Meaning
So, in what situations do people usually use the speech construction "hair on end"? It is primarily used to describe a strong fright. It doesn't matter if a person was afraid of real danger or experienced fear while watching a horror movie, thriller. In all situations, this phraseological unit can be used to talk about a nightmare experienced.
In some cases, this stable turnover is also used to describe the strong surprise experienced by a person. For example, if what you saw or heard shocked you. Feeling fear is not necessary at all.
What are the synonyms
Phraseologism "hair on end" has many synonyms that can be successfully replaced without the slightest damage to the meaning of what was said or written. Let's say the speech construction "frost on the skinruns through” is also ideal for talking about the fear experienced. "The blood runs cold" is another suitable fixed phrase to describe such a situation. At the same time, the blood in the veins can not only freeze, but also get cold, freeze, and so on.
What other options are there to replace the expression "hair on end"? The meaning of the phraseological unit indicates that it tells about fear. Therefore, the speech construction “the soul went to the heels” is quite suitable. You can also say that "goosebumps run (crawl) on the back."
In addition, you can use other stable expressions in which the word "hair" is present. For example, it would be appropriate to say that "the hair on the head moved", this phrase has a similar meaning. Finally, the phraseological construction “the hamstrings are shaking” is also relevant, which also helps to describe someone's fear.
