The Russian language is extremely rich in phraseological units and sayings. These expressions help him to be figurative and unique, because many of them are difficult to translate into a foreign language. For example, in order to explain to a stranger why the Russians say “get into trouble” in cases of getting into an absurd situation, into an unfortunate situation, one needs to look into history. And the expression "two boots - a pair" may seem like an unsuccessful tautology to a person who is not familiar with the Russian language. However, we use it very often in speech, not considering it as a tautology.
What does this idiom mean?
Dictionaries explain this expression this way: in a figurative sense, a pair of boots means people who are suitable for each other, similar in their views, behavior, and especially in their shortcomings. Most often, special emphasis is placed on the shortcomings.
“Oh, these gossip gossips, each other is standing! Two boots - a pair, in a word! - neighbors condemn their countrywomen. Yes, and the newlyweds will get from the ubiquitous grandmothers. “Tanka married Ivan - both are loafers, sluts. Found, in a word, each other,became two boots - a pair! - the neighbors will say, as if they will seal it.
Etymology of expression
The proverb "Two boots - a pair" appeared a long time ago, when the shoes were sewn the same on both feet, and the right boot did not differ from the left. These today are felt boots (simple, without decor) and some models of uggs, although they often have differences in the location of firmware, emblems, buckles, locks and other decorations.
Wits even came up with a funny saying about this: “They are friendly and as similar as two boots - ugg boots.”
The origin of proverbs today
People tend to joke, coming up with the most unexpected uses of established expressions. The saying "Two boots - a pair" did not go unnoticed.
This phraseological unit is continued by some comedians, adding the second part and changing the meaning of the expression. So the proverb appeared: “Two boots - a pair, but both on the left foot!” Yes, often people who are very similar in appearance cannot get along, interfere with each other, cannot make a couple.
Sometimes witty people use the addition of two parts from different verbal formulas, getting a new one. For example, taking for the second part the end of the proverb about Avoska and Neboska holding each other, and combining it with the phraseological unit considered here, they released a new saying: “Two boots are a pair, but both fell into the river.” Its meaning lies in the fact that boots are worthless people who, relying only on each other, will certainly suffer a majorfail.
Jokes about a pair of boots
Many jokes come from our smart students. As an example, let's take a short story about an exam in Russian, which is taken by a poor fellow who has been preparing all night for the geography exam. When asked what the expression “Two boots - a pair” means, the young man replies that this is a double image of Italy on the map in the eyes of a drunk … You can’t imagine it on purpose!
The anecdotal situation in a conversation between two people can also make you laugh, where one thinks like this: “Tandem is an interesting word … Is it like “two boots - a pair”?” And he receives a “smart” answer from the interlocutor: “Like, yes, two boots … But a pair is already from another opera. This is, like, already an assessment … . Oh, youth!
Friendship and partnership, love and family - what does it have to do with boots and pairs?
It turns out that this expression is most often used in these spheres of human relations. Considering the possibility of a feeling of likeness and compatibility, psychologists have deduced two mutually exclusive positions.
- Opposites can attract, complementing and intriguing each other.
- Two boots - a pair.
The meaning of phraseology in this situation is that people may not be similar, but complement each other well. After all, boots are, in fact, different - right and left, but they can only be worn in pairs. Try swapping one boot for a stiletto heel and it will be hard to walk even a few steps.
Loving, understanding people are always comfortabletogether, they enjoy the same things, experience the pleasure of the same things. For example, one couple likes to ride bicycles into the woods on weekends, and another couple likes to run barefoot through puddles. But swap the positions of the fair sex - and the idyll will collapse, a barefoot lover of rain will not want to pedal, and a cyclist will never take off her sneakers in the rain.
A modern proverb about some spouses is filled with deep meaning: “There are spouses who are said to be two pairs of boots, and there are those who will be said to be just two boots.”
Synonyms of the established expression about a pair of boots
The phraseologism considered here can sometimes be replaced by other wordings similar in meaning. These are: for one block; one is worth the other; smeared with one world; one cut; one cloth epancha; a couple under one; sweet couple; from one test one apple tree; like twin brothers; one to one, identical; hatchery; one ass laid out; sewn with one bast; stamped on one machine; one flight of a bird; one oak acorns; the same suit of sherochka; one field of berries; the same suit; look like sheep in a herd.
Although, of course, only a stranger can see all the sheep "on one face", and the owner will immediately distinguish his own, and even tell about the character of each.
The same applies to berries from one field, apples from one apple tree,acorns from one oak. Of course, even in the same field, berries of various sizes, ripeness, shapes, and sweetness grow. And in phraseological units, we are not talking about external similarity, but about compatibility!
Fairy tale joke about a pair of shoes
An interesting and instructive tale about how once a boot fell in love with a wedge heel may seem interesting. He suffered for a long time, then could not stand it and confessed his love. Naturally, she only laughed at the rough, clumsy and simple boot, because she was graceful, light and so elegant!
All summer the boot was sad, suffering and experiencing from unrequited love. But autumn came, the wedges were removed on the mezzanine, and the boot was put on in a pair with another boot, just as simple and rough. But the partner of the unfortunate lover did not taunt him, but patiently waited for him to understand the inappropriateness of his feelings, creaking to the beat of his steps.
So it sometimes happens in human life: we fall in love with personalities of a different level, not noticing nearby people similar to us, who are able to understand, console, and help, in a word, those who, without much effort, can make up with us lucky couple.
