All the variety of phraseological units cannot be described in words. Linguists count about one and a half thousand such expressions. People call them catchphrases, aphorisms, and even proverbs.
The prominent Russian critic of the 19th century, Vissarion Grigoryevich Belinsky, called phraseological units the "face" of the Russian language, its unique tools, as well as the cultural we alth of the people.
In this article we will introduce you to such a Russian expression as "beating babies". We will also select synonyms so that you can replace this phrase with a similar one.
What is phraseologism?
Linguists call expressions fixed in Russian with this word. They are distinguished from simple phrases by a number of features. There are many of these signs, but we will tell you about the most important - about integrity.
What is this? Under this word, linguists mean the ability of a phraseological unit to perform its function (transfer of meaning) only on condition that all the words in its composition, roughly speaking, are in their places.
Let's make sure with an example. In Russian wewe know the idiom "to play Vanka", which means "to mess around".
Once upon a time in Russia, this expression was used in the literal sense. "Vanka" is a roly-poly doll that the children "tumbled" effortlessly. Much later, this expression turned into a phraseological unit, which had the meaning of "to mess around", based on a metaphor. Now the meaning of the phrase can be learned from dictionaries, so its figurativeness has been "erased" over so many years.
Phraseological units are fixed expressions that carry one meaning and reflect the culture of a language.
Views
Linguists divide set expressions into three types. The lines between them are rather blurred, due to the complexity of this linguistic phenomenon.
The first type of idioms is fusion. They are called so because the words in them are tightly connected. "To play Vanka" is an example of fusion. The second type of phraseological units is unity. Here, the components can be diluted with pronouns, adjectives, functional words, etc. Phraseologisms retain figurativeness. An example of unity is the phrase "fall into (someone's/your/mine/fraudulent) bait". And finally, the third type - combinations. In them, words behave freely, they can be diluted and modified. An example of a combination is "bosom friend".
Meaning
Phraseologism "the massacre of babies" refers to the group of unities. The figurativeness of this expression is preserved, which means that we can independently guess about itssense.
One of the meanings of the idiom "beating babies" is an easy victory. This is what they say about competitions in which the strength of rivals is not equal, and one quickly overcomes the other.
The second meaning of the phraseologism "beating babies" is cruel treatment towards the weak, sometimes even reprisal. So they say, if defenseless people are oppressed by force.
Origin
Phraseologism "the massacre of babies" appeared thanks to the gospel legend. This biblical story is about the Jewish king Herod, who was afraid of losing power and ordered the priests to find the newborn Jesus. It was this boy who was prophesied to become the new sovereign. The Magi were supposed to come to him for worship, and then report to Herod about finding the baby. But the priests disobeyed the king and did not tell him where Jesus was.
The angry ruler, left with a nose, ordered to kill all Bethlehem newborns. The word "beating" then meant murder, but in our time these words have a different meaning.
Thus, the original meaning of the phraseologism "beating babies" is an inhumane attitude towards children. Soon the circle of persons subject to cruelty expanded. Phraseologism began to mean inhumanity in relation to all defenseless people.
In connection with the development of society and the decrease in violence in the world, phraseology has taken on a softer tonevalues (easy win).
Synonyms
"Massacre of the Innocents" is replaced by the word "reprisal". It has a more negative connotation than the idiom itself.
Since this is a literary expression, it is impossible to find a direct synonym for it. However, in the meaning of "cruelty" there are the following phraseological units:
- "Skin down". Such a promise is made in anger. Its meaning is to get along cruelly, rudely.
- "Set a spanking". It's also a sign of toughness. This phrase is often used by parents in relation to naughty children.
- "Give birch porridge" - literally flogged or strongly scolded.
