Many actions can lead to both good andand to bad consequences. Not everything is explicit. In this regard, wise ancestors came up with the expression "double-edged sword", the meaning of which will be discussed in more detail in this article. Also here you will find the history of the origin of this statement.
"Stick about two ends": the meaning of a phraseological unit
In order to give a precise definition of thisexpression, turn to authoritative dictionaries. In the sensible Sergei Ivanovich Ozhegova given the following value. "A double-edged sword" - "that which can end both good and bad." The author in his dictionary puts a stylistic mark "razg.".
In the collection of phraseology editedStepanova M.I. gives the following definition to the expression: “that which may entail both favorable and negative consequences allows for a good and bad outcome”. The author puts such stylistic marks as "simple. Express.".
Thus, based on the definitions obtained,it can be concluded that the expression we are considering means the possibility of both a negative and a positive outcome in connection with something, some actions.
The origin of the expression
This idiom is a popular saying. This means that we cannot find the specific author of this expression.
How did such a phraseological unit form?The preposition "o", which is present in it, was used in the meaning of the preposition "c". That is, we can assume that this expression is equal to the expression "a stick with two ends".
This maxim appeared by chance.With the word "stick" formed a lot of idioms. After all, what is this item? A stick has, as a rule, two ends similar to each other. They are diametrically opposed. Can get as one end, and the other, the opposite. Figuratively ancestors meant that you never know what will happen, there are always two options for events: positive and negative.
Also, the etymology of expression is associated with the fact thatwhen someone was beaten with a stick, the one who was under the blow could grab the stick and strike the offender with the other end. It turned out that the result was exactly the opposite of expectations.
Regardless of etymology, what can end well and badly reveals meaning. The “double-edged sword” has precisely this interpretation.
Use
Where does this expression occur? Everywhere!It refers to the spoken style, is expressive expression. With the help of it, any text can be made more expressive and bright. That is why most often this phraseologism is found in the media: print media, radio and television. It is put in the headings and in the text itself. And all because the idea of the possibility of a different outcome clearly conveys its meaning. The "double-edged sword" is found in journalistic work on politics and other serious areas.
In fiction, there are many examples of the use of this phraseologism by writers.
Publicists, public figures, and simply people who resort to stable phrases in their speech, often use this turn.
In the dialogues of the characters of various films, you can also hear this expression.
Often there is the use of this phraseological unit in publications about lies. After all, a lie can both help someone and open up at the wrong moment, thereby only aggravating the situation.
Conclusion
В этой статье мы узнали, что значение «палка о two ends "(idiom) has the following. This idiom characterizes the possibility of both good and bad outcome. Such an expression was formed due to the fact that the stick has two ends. Our ancestors turned this simple description into a figurative utterance, which is still not obsolete. It is relevant to the present day.
