Today we have a very difficult topic. It is difficult, first of all, for its ambiguity. But we'll get through it, as always. We interpret the phraseological unit "give odds". It will be analyzed carefully, and, hopefully, the reader will not need other sources to clarify information on the meaning of a set phrase.
What does the explanatory dictionary say?
The first feature that catches your eye: there is no separate meaning of the word "handicap" in the dictionary. The noun is only in the composition of the phraseological unit. However, let's give a word to the dictionary: to give a head start is "in some games: to give an advantage in advance (also figurative)".
One could well define handicap as the initial advantage given to the weaker side in any sport. For example, in chess, you can remove a certain number of pieces from the board of a strong opponent. In tournaments where there is a competition for time, the weaker ones are given a bonus in the form of minutes or seconds. This does not happen in professional football, but its yard appearance may well begin not with the classic and traditional twozeros, but with a handicap for one of the teams.
And here it turns out to be interesting: to give a head start means to recognize one's original superiority. By allocating extra points to that side, a person or team is not doing the opponents a favor, but rather equalizing the chances so that the competition is exciting, interesting and complete.
Portrait and sentences
This is the rare case when, parting with something, a person does not become poorer. After all, a gift is usually associated with loss, especially when it comes to sports. But it's not just professional tournaments. For example, people can say about someone: "He will give everyone a head start." Such an assessment is very flattering, it means: a person who is so good at his job that he can give a known advantage to his opponent and still win, moreover, easily and naturally. Let's look at the offers:
- Yes, Nikolai Ivanovich may be long overdue for retirement, it's true. But when it comes to repairing cars, he can outdo any young mechanic.
- Don't look at the fact that my car is old, it is still able to give a light, and at the same time a head start in addition to any foreign car.
- Despite the fact that the woman was middle-aged according to her passport, she looked excellent and could give odds to any first-year student of the institute.
The examples are chosen in a certain way to get to a very important point, the wording of which gives the title to the next section.
A compliment for those who are out of circulation?
To give a head start means to give an advantage in order to equalize the chances, we understood that. But a very interesting question remains: maybe such an expression is a form of consolation prize for those who are really about to leave the tournament. And the last metaphor does not imply, for example, the death of a person. No, it's just that such respectful treatment deserves veterans who are either forced to work somewhere, or are about to give up their jobs to young specialists.
There is by no means a false impression of the veracity of this state of affairs. But the validity of the statement depends on the field of activity. For example, when they say that a forward in football or hockey can give odds to young people, this is only partly true. Because youth in sports is an undeniable advantage. But experience does have its merits:
- position selection;
- intuition, or scoring instinct;
- technology.
Youth can really lack the above due to the small number of years lived in sports. But more often such a turn is only a compliment to a veteran.
If we are talking about a writer, a person of intellectual labor, then he, like wine, only gets better with age and, if no illness happens, he can produce a high-quality product for the rest of his life. True, writers have their shortcomings. They are captured by their style or way of thinking and cannot go beyond them. As a result, the manner becomes boring to the consumer, the reader, and he refuses the author's books. But the writer is vulnerableprofession in principle: no one can guarantee market demand.
And what is the result? The conclusion is as follows: a phraseological unit can express both a true compliment and emphasizing the still present strength, and a consolation prize - a compliment out of politeness. The nature of the statement is determined by the situation.
Phraseologism flattering anyway
Yes, someone may be offended by being complimented and talking about the strength that is in the past. But if you think about it, the following will come out: a person worthy of such a compliment has achieved a lot in life. What's the difference - you are honored for past merits and a little lie or emphasize real strength? After all, if you are still working, then this is a victory over years, time. And generational change is inevitable. And yes, it is not necessary that the view of the problem and the phraseological unit be exactly like that. The expression is also used in other contexts and meanings. What? This is already the topic of the reader's essay, and ours has come to an end.
