It's no secret that the Russian language is rich in phraseological units. Some of the stable expressions that are famous today arose several centuries ago, others appeared in the Russian language recently. For example, many phraseological units with the word "labor" are actively used in everyday communication. What is the meaning of these speech constructions, where did they come from? This information is useful for people who are looking to expand their vocabulary.
Phraseologisms with the word "labor": Sisyphean labor
Remembering the stable speech patterns containing this word, it is worth first of all to turn to the infamous misadventures of King Sisyphus. The meaning of a phraseological unit with the word "labor" is most often directly related to the history of its origin. The Corinthian ruler Sisyphus is one of the most striking characters in ancient Greek mythology. The king became famous throughout the world for such qualities as deceit and cunning. He repeatedly managed to mislead the Olympian gods when they tried to put an end to his free earthly existence, over and over again he deceived death. It was thanks to Sisyphus that he was bornthe famous phraseological unit with the word "labor", which managed to remain relevant today.
So, what does the stable expression "Sisyphean labor" mean? Once the Thunderer Zeus was tired of the behavior of the irreverent Sisyphus, who placed himself above the inhabitants of Mount Olympus. As punishment, he doomed him to endless torment in hell. The Corinthian king was forced again and again to drag a huge stone up a steep mountain. As soon as Sisyphus got to the top, his burden fell from his hands and rushed down. Tiresome, meaningless work - such a meaning has been embedded in the expression "Sisyphean labor" from time immemorial.
Monkey labor
There is another famous phraseological unit with the word "labor", which many people like to use in their speech. The stable expression "monkey labor" is interesting already because its inventor is known for certain, which rare phraseological units can boast of. More precisely, a well-aimed phraseological unit has two authors at once. The honor of his invention belongs in part to the fabulist Ivan Krylov, who wrote many wonderful works, including the Monkey fable.
The main character of the fable is the envious Monkey, who didn't like being praised by anyone but her. In an effort to earn the compliments of passers-by, she tried to portray a frantic activity, for several hours dragging a useless log back and forth. It becomes obvious that the idiom "monkey labor" defines meaningless work that no one needs. However, it was not the author of the Monkey fable who introduced it into use, but the literary critic Pisarev, describing vain efforts.
Herculean labor
Of course, there are other wonderful phraseological units with the word "labor" that are known to many people. An example is the stable expression “Herculean labor”. Unlike the two speech constructions described above, this turnover is traditionally given a positive meaning, in some cases it can be ironic.
As is known from ancient Greek mythology, Hercules (Hercules) is the son of not only the mortal woman Alcmene, but also the most powerful god Zeus. The titan was mortal, but was endowed with extraordinary power inherited from his father, which allowed him to amaze the world with his twelve deeds.
Thus, the expression “Herculean labor” (or “Herculean labor”) indicates that some person coped with a task that seemed impossible, implied incredible efforts (moral and physical). In addition, the construction is sometimes used as a description of hard work, and also as a joke if someone greatly exaggerates their own merits.
Titans work
What other original phraseological units exist with the word "labor"? Some people like to use such an expression as "titans' work." The debate of linguists on its origin still does not stop. Most researchers believe that it came from the speech construction "Herculean labor",accordingly, a similar meaning is invested in it.
There is another point of view, less popular, which says that the phraseologism "titans work" came from the speech turnover "Sisyphean work". If we dwell on this theory, then its meaning is useless exhausting work.
Labor callus
Many phraseological units with the word "labor" are of folk origin, in other words, linguists have not yet been able to establish their author. This category, of course, includes the popular speech construction “labor callus”. It's no secret that calluses are small hard bumps that appear on hands that are tired from hard work. Sometimes it's enough to shake a person's hand to understand that he has to work hard physically.
It is not surprising that some joker guessed to make a phraseological unit with the word "labor", which mentions corn (the result of labor). "Labor callus" is ironically called a bulging belly. Unlike real calluses, it's easy to get, all you need to do is eat a lot and move little.
Non-existent idiom
Often in everyday speech there are also stable speech constructions in which the word "labor" is erroneously used. "Phraseologism", officially non-existent in Russian, but loved by many people: "it's hard to drag your feet." In reality, this steady speech turns looks like "barely dragging one's feet."
The above expression has values immediatelysome. So they say about a person who walks very slowly, while he needs to hurry for one reason or another. Also, this phraseologism is remembered when they talk about how someone falls down from fatigue, gets sick. Finally, it is used when describing the he alth of older people, most often with a negative connotation.
Composing by ourselves
To come up with a phraseological unit with the word "work" is a task that many people who study Russian (schoolchildren, students, foreigners, and so on) may face. It is easy to do it, for example, using the word "sleeve". It's not a secret for anyone that you can work either "rolling up your sleeves" or "rolling up your sleeves". By replacing the verb "work" with the verb "work", you can complete the task.
What does the speech construction “to work, rolling up your sleeves” mean, what kind of sleeves are related to work? Women's and men's outfits in Russia traditionally had long sleeves. Of course, it was difficult to perform everyday duties in such clothes, so before work, the interfering sleeves were rolled up so that the worker would not be distracted by them. Therefore, phraseologism is used when a person works hard, sparing no effort.
You can also say "work carelessly". It is obvious that the exact opposite meaning is embedded in this speech construction. So they say, when a person treats his own duties carelessly, performs them reluctantly. How to make a phraseological unit with the word "labor", based on othersdesigns? For example, instead of the expression "clumsy work" (rough work), you can say "clumsy labor". Or substitute the word "labor" in the phrase "Penelope's work", describing an endless occupation. We are talking about the wife of Odysseus, who, in anticipation of the return of her husband, rejected numerous suitors, promising to consider their marriage proposals when she finished spinning the canvas. Of course, the canvas unraveled every night, and in the morning the work began anew.
Popular sayings
Original and bright can be not only a phraseological unit with the word "labor". The aphorisms in which it is involved are also actively used in everyday speech. For example, "work wears out, but laziness destroys much faster" - this beloved aphorism by many is the fruit of the invention of President Franklin Roosevelt.
The same opinion about work as the aforementioned president was held by the famous artist Leonardo da Vinci, whose paintings the whole world admires with fascination to this day. The aphorism, which entered the people with his light hand, says that "happiness becomes the lot of only those who work hard."
Proverbs
Remembering interesting phraseological units with the word "labor" and their meaning, one should not ignore folk proverbs. Almost every inhabitant of our country learns in childhood that “you can’t get a fish out of a pond without difficulty.” The meaning of this proverb is obvious - it is impossible to finish this or that business and enjoy its fruits without at least minimal effort.
Proverbs likeand phraseological turns with the word "labor", are a reflection of folk wisdom, convey life experience accumulated by many generations. For example, we can recall the following statements: “judge a person by his work”, “laziness spoils, and work feeds”, “heroes are born in work.”
Interesting fact
Stable turns of speech that describe a person's labor activity may not contain the word "labor". It is quite easy to give examples of phraseological units, one way or another devoted to work, for example, you can recall the popular expression among the people “beat the thumbs.”
The speech construction has been preserved since the times when the representatives of the common people used only wooden spoons during meals. The quality of these products directly depended on the skill of the manufacturer, some turned out great, others did nothing. The latter were traditionally entrusted with only rough work - cutting chocks intended for spoons, which were called "baklushi". This task was regarded as one of the easiest, even a child could cope with it. Therefore, "beating the thumbs" means an idle pastime.
The expression "to spin like a squirrel in a wheel" is also associated with work, although this is not an idiom with the word "labor". Other examples can be recalled, for example, “chasing a quitter”, “easier than a steamed turnip.”
