Lay behind the collar - what does it mean?

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:40

The Russian language is full of winged expressions and phraseological units, but it is far from always clear why they began to speak like that, and where such a statement came from, and what exactly it means. However, it is extremely interesting to study such phrases and their origin. For example, what does it mean to pawn by the collar?

Meaning of the catchphrase

This phrase means "to drink", "to drink alcohol". So, for example, when they say about a person "he often pawns his collar," it means that he suffers from alcohol addiction. The meaning of the phrase is clear, but why did they begin to say so? And here is the collar, and what is laid for it? The answer can be found in history.

Origin of the phrase

Laying behind the collar began under Peter I. The fact is that during his reign, the emperor ordered to put a brand on the left collarbones of shipbuilders. This was done so that the artisans did not run away to other work. Such a stigma allowed them to drink a glass of vodka in a tavern absolutely free. To do this, the shipbuilder simply had to unbutton the collar and show the branded area of \u200b\u200bthe skin. Were subjected to suchprocedure only the best masters. However, this is a reward or punishment is still a very big question. This theory is one of the most widespread, but there is not a single documentary evidence of its reliability.

Alternative versions of the origin of the expression "pawn by the collar"

There is another theory that the saying also appeared under Peter I, but already because of drunkards. A medal for drunkenness was hung around their neck, which could not be removed. The owners of such an "award" were also en titled to a glass of vodka free of charge, it was only enough to show the medal.

Perhaps the phrase appeared due to the manner of tucking a napkin into the collar before drinking before a meal. There is another opinion about the origin of this statement, and it is directly related to the appearance of this piece of clothing. Previously, the collar was sewn with a stand, and from the side it really seemed that when eating or drinking, a person throws something for him.

A similar phrase - pawn behind a tie - is attributed to Guards Colonel Raevsky.

Pyotr Andreevich Vyazemsky in the "Old Notebook", describing Raevsky as a joker and ringleader, emphasizes that this man managed to enrich the lexicon of the guardsmen with many phrases that never went out of use. For example, in addition to "pawn for a tie," he introduced into use "podshofe", "framboise". It is curious that all these statements are somehow connected with alcohol or withthe consequences of its use. This is most likely because the military of that time rarely denied themselves a drink.