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Seventh water on jelly origin. The meaning of the seventh water on jelly in the reference book on phraseology. Why does water in a deep-sea lake appear blue, but clean tap water appears colorless?

SEVENTH WATER ON KISSEL

about a person who is extremely distantly related to someone. The origin of this turnover is associated with the production of jelly, which is a liquid gelatinous mass. If the jelly sits for a long time, it loses its taste and a layer of water appears on it. The seventh water is water that has appeared on jelly that has been standing for a long time for the seventh time, which is why its taste no longer has anything in common with jelly. The numeral seven is used here in a generalized and symbolic way, as in other Russian proverbs and sayings, so it varies. The option of tenth water with jelly is also possible.

Handbook of phraseology. 2012

About jelly

The history of the phraseological unit “seventh water on jelly” originates from the very distant past. Kissel is a significant food in the cultural history of the Russian people, and it is also nourishing and economical. This product has been brewed since ancient times from cereals - oatmeal, wheat, rye, barley, pea. It was everyday, holiday, and funeral food. Yes, from time immemorial to this day they have been preparing jelly for funerals, so that the deceased would have a good time in the next world where milk rivers with jelly banks flow.

But sweet jelly, a wonderful delicacy for children and old people, appeared at the same time as potatoes on the tables of the Russian people. Starch became the basis of such a drink - thick, with the flavors of all kinds of berries and fruits. After all, the delicacy began to be prepared from raspberries and strawberries, from rhubarb and pumpkin, from cranberries and blueberries.

People have composed many proverbs about jelly, many of which are still in use today.

The guy is simple, the jelly is thick.
I went seven miles away to slurp some jelly.
The same dough, but a different jelly.
Jelly will not spoil your teeth.

The meaning of the phraseological unit “seventh water on jelly” has its justification based on the recipe for preparing this dish, but it does not imply culinary delights at all.

About relatives

Relatives, family are the basis in the life of any person. And although there is a saying “Ivan, who does not remember his kinship,” family ties still bind even the most distant by blood. The meaning of the phraseological unit “seventh water on jelly” just applies to those who have the most distant relationship with blood relatives. They can also say this: “The seventh water is the tenth jelly.” Therefore, when talking about some relatives, whose relationship by blood is no longer entirely clear even to the grandmother, they use just such a phrase so as not to have to explain for a long time.

About jelly, water and relatives

A sentence with the phraseological unit “seventh water on jelly” is used in colloquial speech to denote a very, very distant relationship, perhaps not even by blood, but by marriage.

An interesting explanation for such ties, but, if you think about it, it is quite logical for old Rus'. A nourishing, cheap, practical dish was oatmeal jelly, which was present on the menu of every person all his life - from infancy to funeral services. That’s why he was especially revered. And paying a kind of tribute to him, they composed a lot of sayings and proverbs about him. And about relatives as well.

We cooked jelly by washing the oatmeal in water after a day of ripening. The oatmeal water was boiled, but the dried residue could be used several more times to prepare an everyday dish. Only each time the water became thinner and thinner, and the jelly was not as thick as it should be. This is where the association with blood relatives is visible, who got married and gave birth to children, and they also created their own families, diluting the related “blood” with strangers. So the result was “seventh water on jelly” - completely different from what it should have been initially - and the jelly is not the same, and there are practically no relatives.

And again about relatives

The meaning of the phraseological unit “seventh water on jelly” is the simplest, about distant relatives. And it is not the only one that talks about distant, distant kinship. For example, there is also a saying: “Our fence has a cousin’s fence.”

There are also many interesting sayings that many people don’t want to know their relatives, and they don’t remember them."Other relatives only until a rainy day." There are also humorous sayings about those who become relatives - “Yes, our relatives are close - our Masha to your Katerina, like cousin Praskovya” or “Yes, they are relatives - they dried their bast shoes in the same sun.”

An easy oatmeal jelly recipe

Well, it turns outthe meaning of the phraseological unit “seventh water on jelly” has nothing to do with cooking, it is about relatives. But how did they cook jelly, the mention of which was preserved in folklore for many centuries?

Pour oatmeal (300 grams) into a jar or bowl and add 1.5 cups of water at room temperature. Add a crust of black bread. Cover with a towel and put in a warm place, protected from sunlight. Stir occasionally. After two days, strain the resulting starter through a small sieve or gauze bandage. Throw away the flour or use it for pancakes. But put the liquid on low heat to boil to the desired thickness, adding a little salt. Then pour into plates and leave to cool. They eat oatmeal jelly with butter, pies, or just like that.

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Our fence is a cousin's fence, our locksmith's cousin is a blacksmith, seventh water on jelly, fourth cousin, relative Dictionary of Russian synonyms. tenth water on jelly noun, number of synonyms: 5 ... Synonym dictionary

Seventh (tenth) water on jelly- Razg. Express A very distant relative. Yes, what kind of heirs are they: second cousins, seventh water on jelly (Goncharov. Oblomov). Explain to me well your relationship with the prince! Do you call him uncle? By God I don’t know, Marya Alexandrovna, how and what I did... ... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Literary Language

Cm … Synonym dictionary

seventh water on jelly- about a person who is extremely distantly related to someone. The origin of this turnover is associated with the production of jelly, which is a liquid gelatinous mass. If the jelly sits for a long time, then it loses its taste and on it... ... Phraseology Guide

Distant relatives (almost like Adam) Wed. ...And your Who is your father? It is a great honor that by virtue of your seventh wife you are the king’s brother-in-law. Gr. A. Tolstoy. Death of Ivan the Terrible. 1. Wed. In Siberia... kinship, property and nepotism are considered... almost until the twentieth... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary

Seventh water on jelly is distant relatives (almost like Adam). Wed. And who is your father? It is a great honor that by your seventh wife you are the king’s brother-in-law. Gr. A. Tolstoy. Death of Ioann the Terrible. 1. Wed. In Siberia... kinship, property and... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

People's Iron. About a very distant relative, distant relationship. F 1, 68; DP, 389; BTS, 139; ZS 1996, 281; Jig. 1969, 173; FSRY, 73; BMS 1998, 86; SPP 2001, 21 ...

For water charges Arch. In the absence of anyone AOC 4, 153. Mad water. Alt. Spring flood. SRGA 1, 65. Big water. 1. Arch., Sib. High water. AOC 4, 147; SBO D1, 38. 2. Arch. Tide. AOC 4, 147. Breaking water. Don. Beginning of ice drift. SDG 2, 31 ... Large dictionary of Russian sayings

Almost everyone knows, because all of us use them in our speech. What is the meaning of the phraseological unit “Seventh water on jelly”?

We will try to answer this question in this article.

What is phraseology?

Phraseology is a science that studies stable phrases that are frozen in language and imply one specific concept.

There are quite a lot of such expressions: “make eyes” (to lure someone), “the sky is like a sheepskin” (hard trials), “bite your tongue” (to shut up) and so on.

Most phraseological units today are commonly used expressions that people use in their everyday speech.

Modern phraseology studies a large number of such frozen phrases. Among them there are ancient phrases (“apple of discord”, “Hercules’ work”, “white crow”), biblical (“stumbling block”, “massacre of infants”, “not of this world”), Western European (“on a grand scale” , “let’s go back to our sheep”, “devil’s advocate”, “but still she spins”), Russians (“hack on the nose”, “hatchet work”, “mile of Kolomenskaya”, “disservice”, “red line” ).

The frozen “seventh water on jelly” that we are studying also belongs to the group of Russian phraseological units; we will consider what this expression means in more detail.

First of all, it is necessary to consider the history of the origin of this phrase.

The meaning of the phraseological unit “Seventh water on jelly”: history of origin

This expression denotes a very distant relative: for example, your fourth cousin or second cousin. You can't even pinpoint with a given person.

The meaning of the phrase “Seventh water on jelly” is rooted in Russian history.

Today there are three main theories of its origin:

Hypothesis one. Unsuitable water

In Rus', jelly was very popular; it replaced many drinks. However, when it was overexposed, a liquid separated from it, which was not at all similar to the original drink. This liquid was called “the last water of jelly.”

Hypothesis two. Starch jelly

When Peter the Great ordered the peasants to plant potatoes, potato starch was used to produce jelly. At the same time, the water that remained from the preparation technology was called “jelly water.”

Hypothesis three. Kissel on oats

Another technology for preparing jelly suggested infusing it with oats. The water was drained from the grains. The seventh change of water received the name “seventh water on jelly”.

Phraseologism in Russian literature

In Russian literature, the expression “The seventh water on jelly” is quite common. The meaning of a phraseological unit is often not described, but it is understandable to native speakers of the Russian language.

The existence of this expression in works of Russian literature indicates that it was already actively used in the 18th and 19th centuries. This statement is found in I. Goncharov’s novel “Oblomov”, in the text of F. Dostoevsky’s story called “Uncle’s Dream” and in many others.

By the way, sometimes the meaning of the phraseological unit “Seventh water on jelly” can also be implied by another phrase. A different numeral is used - not the seventh, but the tenth water on jelly.

However, this means the same thing, since this numeral is not used specifically, but in a generalized, symbolic way.

Is it good to be “the seventh water on jelly”?

The expression itself suggests some disdain. “The seventh water on jelly” (we understand the meaning of the phraseological unit) is an appeal to distant relatives with whom you don’t really want to get to know each other. These people are not particularly needed, so they have already become strangers, relationships with them are an extra burden.

In general, this expression is used when you don’t want to communicate with relatives.

Therefore, no one is pleased when they are called such a phrase. It’s better to be a complete stranger than to hear such an offensive name. Apparently, this indicates that the sisters no longer consider themselves family.

We looked at the meaning of the phraseological unit “Seventh water on jelly”; this frozen expression is little understood by foreigners, but for those for whom Russian is a native language, it is clearer than anything.