Regarding a worthless, disrespected person in society, who survives by odd jobs, the semi-joking expression "retired goat drummer" is sometimes used. The meaning of a phraseological unit, despite the existence of several versions of its origin, remains unclear and vague. It is likely that there was a substitution of concepts or a mixture of consonances, and the original meaning of the saying was irretrievably lost.
Caller and accompanist in a troupe of itinerant artists
The main variant explaining the meaning of the phraseologism "retired goat drummer" is considered to be the tradition of keeping a person in a mobile theater entertaining the audience by playing the drum or tambourine. Such a simple art could be mastered by both an unintelligent boy and a weak old man. Oftenthe work was entrusted to retired soldiers, ready to play the role of musician and barker for the most modest pay. And where was the serviceman, who gave a quarter of a century to the army, who did not have time to start a family and learn a serious craft, to go?
The main character of the performance of comedians was usually a trained bear, controlled by a guide. The actor, dressed in a women's sundress and a mask resembling the head of a horned animal, amused the audience with jokes and jokes. With this impromptu "goat" was the accompanist, beating out a rhythmic fraction.
One can imagine such a scene: someone from the audience addresses a man in a dilapidated military uniform and with a drum in his hands: “Is it really a serviceman?”. To which the soldier, stretching out to attention and putting his hand to the band of his cap, replies: “No way - a retired goat drummer!” The meaning of the phraseologism is briefly and verbatim explained, most likely, precisely by this statement, thrown by chance or intentionally by a wandering artist. Self-irony clearly sounds here: “I used to be needed and in demand, but now I’m doing nonsense.”
Defunct position
Let's consider a slightly different meaning of a phraseological unit. A retired goat drummer is a person who claims imaginary merit, assuring others of his outstanding professional abilities, business connections and career achievements. “I am a director, boss, a tough businessman, I am friends with the Rothschild and Rockefeller families!” - this is how an individual characterizes himself. Butwhen it comes to specific actions, it turns out that he is zero without a wand, and all his stories are just the fruit of an irrepressible fantasy.
It is possible that by exposing such a lie, the meaning of the phraseologism "retired goat drummer" is interpreted. So they said, having learned the truth about a man who pretended to be an influential official, while working as a petty clerk or janitor. What about the goat and the drummer? Apparently, the popular heroine of Russian folk tales, along with the musician serving her, accidentally sneaked into a pun that depicts the ridiculousness of the position invented by the braggart.
Distrustful Judge
There is a version that the meaning of the phraseological unit "retired goat drummer" goes back to the custom in Eastern countries to accompany the appearance of a Sharia judge to the people with a drum roll. The judge (in Turkic "Kazi") sooner or later resigned, ceased to use his privileges. Accordingly, the drummer who was with him lost its former significance. Initially, the expression was about a retired qazi, over time, an unusual word, thanks to consonance, was transformed into a “goat”.
Equal! Attention! Alignment with a goat
Revealing the meaning of the phraseologism "retired goat drummer", one cannot fail to mention the tradition that has existed in Great Britain since the middle of the 19th century to enroll a real goat in the royal regiment of Fusiliers. The animal is assigned the rank of lance corporal, it is recorded under the name of William Windsor. Like any military man, a goat is en titled to a monetary allowance, uniforms, foodcontentment. When a goat appears, juniors in rank are obliged to salute him.
Accompanied by the "goat major", William takes part in military exercises and ceremonial parades. Upon reaching a certain age, the goat is retired with honors, and a special commission selects a new William Windsor in its place. How to know? Perhaps the phraseological unit about a goat and a drummer was born thanks to a horned corporal noticed by one of the Russian jokers in the ranks of the British troops?
