Undoubtedly, you have already heard such a funny phrase as "veal tenderness". Do you know what it means? If so, are you sure you understand this set expression correctly?
Stop doubting or overthinking. Read the article and find out how literate you are.
Phraseological units - stable expressions
Before you find out what is at stake when your interlocutor pronounces the idiom "veal tenderness", figure out what lies under the strange word with the letter "f". After all, it is so interesting in itself that its meaning is also unusual.
So, what is "phraseologism"? Perhaps the last time you heard this word was in school. It seems that it was at the Russian language lesson, isn't it? Do you remember what this term means? Not? Then read and wind on your mustache.
Phraseologism is a stable expression that has been formed for many years. Now it is passed down from generation to generation. It is called stable because the words that make up it cannot be changed. Otherwiseall meaning will be lost.
Phraseologisms are very poorly perceived by foreigners, because a direct translation turns out to be real nonsense of a madman.
Where did phraseologisms come from?
It's hard to pinpoint where an expression comes from. It just arose by itself and suddenly took root in the lexicon of people? Most often, phraseological units are some literary lines or replicas of actors, politicians, correspondents, etc.
These are popular expressions from songs or works. The author put a certain meaning into them, and readers liked his wording so much that over time it began to be used in colloquial speech as a general name for a situation, problem, etc.
There are so many idioms in the Russian language that you can't remember them right away and count them. These are stable expressions:
- "The cat cried" - not enough.
- "Bite your elbows" - annoy.
- "Freeze the worm" - eat, have a bite.
- "A dime a dozen" - a lot.
- "Write - gone" - the end, the inability to do something.
- "Hit a nerve" - it hurts to hurt, offend.
- "Like water off a duck's back" - nothing.
This is not a complete list of phraseological units. In fact, there are a lot of them. After all, it is not for nothing that the Russian language is often called figurative. It sometimes uses fixed expressions that have a figurative meaning much more often and more than ordinary sentences.
What does "veal tenderness" mean?
This set expression is also a phraseological unit. And therefore,naturally, it is not about a cow or her babies. The animals themselves have nothing to do with it, but their behavior makes a certain contribution.
Have you ever seen a calf? So small, defenseless, with huge eyes and thick eyelashes. What epithet (adjective) comes to mind when looking at this wondrous creature?
Yes, you are absolutely right! It's an adjective "cute". When the calf is not yet fully grown, but already, slightly staggering, confidently stands on its legs, it begins to show its love and joy, licking almost everyone who gets in its way. And it doesn't matter who it is: other animals, or maybe the first person you meet and a complete stranger.
Now think about how the expression analyzed in this article is related to the behavior of a calf? If it becomes easier and easier for you to think, then the synonyms of calf tenderness are sensitivity and affection. Sometimes, when it comes to a boy who shows such feelings, they say that he is a sissy and a weakling.
Do you have any thoughts on this yet? If not, or you just want to know the answer as soon as possible, then it will appear in the next sentence.
Phraseologism "veal tenderness" is a stable expression. It is used in relation to boys and girls, adults and adolescents. It denotes an excessive or inappropriate manifestation of tenderness and affection.
Where did the expression come from?
It is not known exactly, and therefore linguists do not dare to claim that this is true. It is believed thatthis phraseological unit first appeared in the famous novel by Fyodor Mikhailovich Dostoevsky "The Brothers Karamazov".
Previously, this expression (or similar to it) was not found either in the lexicon of ordinary residents, or in multi-volume dictionaries. Perhaps the public only read it in Dostoevsky. But I understood anyway. And this means that the thought, meaning, meaning conveyed in it were familiar and understandable to people. That is why the funny phrase "veal tenderness" has taken root among the people.
