There are many meaningless things in life, that's why there are proverbssayings and all sorts of sayings, reflecting the futility of life, too abound. Let's talk today about one of them: the meaning of the phraseologism “to put water in a mortar” is the focus of this article.
Proverb "Water in a mortar to pound - water and will"
One of the ways to form phraseological units is extremelysimple: they arise on the ruins of proverbs and sayings. This case is just like that. The proverb, which is placed in the subtitle, dying, gave birth to the expression "to pound water in a mortar." According to sources, this phrase is very ancient and has analogues in different languages. She was known in antiquity.
By the way, for reference:stupa - is a clay or metal container, designed for grinding something. Of course, lovers of fairy tales immediately recall Baba Yaga and her aircraft, but the usual stupa is a small one.
Here is a rich and ancient origin of the saying, familiar from childhood. Consider the meaning of the phraseological unit "to crush the water in a mortar."
Meaning
It is not difficult to understand that this is a deliberatelymeaningless exercise that does not and cannot have any result. We can easily find a more universal analogue of such activity - this is Sisyphean labor. By the way, the gods punished Sisyphus for his cunning and forced him to engage in another world in a useless business. The meaning of a phraseological unit “to crush water in a mortar” has not only a figurative meaning, but also a direct one: this is how monks were punished for their faults.
Useful and harmful activities
Of course, everyone can give some definition.rich content of life or the empty existence of man. But the thing is that when diving into a thoughtless existence, a person rests (especially in our insane time). But when it comes to schoolchild or child, and he still can not fully distinguish the good from the bad, we can talk about waste of time.
For example, a schoolboy instead of reading books orpreparing homework watching cartoons or playing video games. What does he do? The meaning of the phraseologism “to crush the water in a mortar” is quite suitable for describing its occupations. As the classic wrote: "The soul must work day and night, and day and night."
But sometimes you still need to rest.
Outcomes
“Water in a mortar to pound” - the meaning of a phraseological unitimplies aimless work that has no personal or public benefit. The expression in itself contains some moral condemnation of senseless work and a hint that it is necessary to engage in what will bring results.
