I really like this phraseology. It has existed for more than one century. And, I’m sure, it will be relevant until the end of the world.

IN in ancient times talent was a monetary unit of measurement, which has been in circulation for a long time. A parable has survived to this day about how the owner left home for a long time. He left money for his household, in particular three slaves, so that they could live in his absence. He gave each one one talent - one coin. The two slaves turned out to be very enterprising. They invested money in the business and increased their capital. The third slave, to prevent anything bad from happening to the money, simply buried it in the ground. Upon the owner's return, the slaves returned his talents. Two slaves gave him even more money than initially, and the third gave him the same coin, the talent that he dug out of the ground.

In our time, the monetary unit - talent - has long gone out of circulation. This word has acquired a completely different meaning - a person’s special abilities in some area of ​​science, culture, sports, etc.

The phraseological unit “bury talent in the ground” means:

Bury your talent in the ground- do not allow talent to develop, let it die out. ( Dictionary Russian language (1992), N. Yu. Shvedova, "Talent")

Bury your talent in the ground- without caring about the development of talent, let it die out, destroy it (Explanatory Dictionary, 1935-1940, “Talent”).

The expression comes from a parable that is set out in the Bible. Initially, the expression “talent” meant an ancient coin:

A rich man, going to a distant country, distributed the treasury to his servants. One received five talents, another two, and the last one. The first two invested money in the business, and upon their return the owner praised them for this and gave them the money. The last servant said that he was very afraid of losing the talent he had received, so he buried it in the ground. The owner took away his talent, gave it to the one who earned 5 talents for 5 invested, and ordered the most fearful servant to be put in prison.

This story is told in the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 25, vv. 15-30):

"Matthew 25:15 And he gave to one five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability; and immediately he set out.

Matthew 25:16 He who received the five talents went and put them to work and acquired another five talents;

Matthew 25:17 In the same way, he who received two talents acquired another two;

Matthew 25:18 And he that received one talent went and buried [it] in the ground, and hid his master's money.

Matthew 25:19 After a long time, the master of those servants comes and demands an account from them.

Matthew 25:20 And the one who had received five talents came and brought other five talents and said: Master! you gave me five talents; Behold, I acquired another five talents with them.

Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” You have been faithful in small things, I will put you over many things; enter into the joy of your master.

Matthew 25:22 He who had received two talents also came up and said: Master! you gave me two talents; behold, I acquired the other two talents with them.

Matthew 25:23 His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” You have been faithful in small things, I will put you over many things; enter into the joy of your master.

Matthew 25:24 He who had received one talent came and said: Master! I knew you that you were a cruel man, reaping where you did not sow and gathering where you did not scatter,

Matthew 25:25 And being afraid, you went and hid your talent in the ground; here's yours.

Matthew 25:26 And his master answered him, “You wicked and lazy servant!” You knew that I reap where I did not sow, and gather where I did not scatter;

Matthew 25:27 Therefore you should have given my money to the merchants, and when I came I would have received mine with profit;

Matthew 25:28 Therefore, take his talent and give it to him who has ten talents,

Matthew 25:29 For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance, but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away;

Matthew 25:30 But throw the wicked servant into outer darkness: there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Having said this, he exclaimed: “Whoever has ears to hear, let him hear!”

Examples

“Talent, absolutely talent! You know what, brother? Quit your job and write! Write and write! It’s vile bury talent in the ground!"

“There’s only one pity: I don’t have time to hunt! The dog is dying without doing anything, burying his talent... That's why I'm selling."

Every person on this planet is looking for happiness. Some people enjoy socializing with friends, some enjoy sports, and some enjoy reading books. But you can become happy only when all areas of life are in harmony. For many, it is not difficult to establish relationships with friends and loved ones, and today everyone can play sports. And yet, finding your calling in life is an overwhelming task for some. But there are also people who find their path, and for some reason do not follow it. How not to bury talent in the ground, the meaning of phraseological units and practical advice you can find out by reading the article.

Talent - myth or reality?

Before explaining the meaning of the phraseological unit “bury talent in the ground,” we will tell you what talent is. This is such an abstract concept that it is simply impossible to describe in a nutshell. Talent is not something that is given to a person from birth. It is a combination of skills that are gradually mastered. For example, children at school learn to draw. Among them there is a fourteen-year-old boy who draws very well.

Most likely, he has the same abilities as his classmates. However, this boy's life turned out differently. As a child, his parents did not take away his album and did not forbid him to create the way he wanted. He may have painted all over the wallpaper, but he wasn't scolded for it. And when the boy grew up, he was sent to art school.

Now the teenager has the opportunity to hone his skills every day. He does this with pleasure, and his parents encourage his success. And someone, looking at how a 14-year-old boy draws, will say: “Yes. He is talented.” It’s just that this “someone” didn’t see how much work went into developing this “talent”.

Origin of phraseology

Like many catchphrases, the phrase “bury talent in the ground” is taken from the Gospel. It was there that the expression was first used, but, however, not in the meaning in which we use it today.

Translated from ancient Greek, the word "talanton" means measure, and the largest one. It looked like a piece of silver weighing 30 kg. So, the Gospel story tells how one rich merchant gave his talents to his slaves for safekeeping. He divided them like this: the first slave received 5 talents, the second - 2 and the last - 1.

The slave who had only one piece of silver decided to bury it so that nothing would happen to him. But his friends turned out to be more enterprising and put their talents to use. When the owner returned, his two slaves were not only able to return their silver, but also additional profit. But that slave who had only one talent was able to return only that.

The meaning of the phraseological unit “bury talent in the ground”

By looking at the context where the phrase is taken from, you can understand its meaning. Of course, what was meant there was not quite the meaning of “talent buried in the ground” that we are accustomed to, but still the essence does not change.

What does it mean to “bury talent in the ground” in the modern sense? Today they say this about a person who spent a lot of effort and time to develop a skill, but then decided to leave further studies in this matter. This can happen to an artist whose paintings are not in demand, or a musician whose concerts do not sell tickets.

Many people associate talent with recognition, but this is not always the case. There are many examples in history where the work of great musicians, artists and writers became in demand only decades after their death. So what is the meaning of the phraseological unit “bury talent in the ground”? This phrase means that a person abandoned his calling and took up an unloved occupation. An analogue of this expression is: “to waste oneself on trifles.”

A person can do anything if he really wants to

The phraseology “bury talent in the ground” is incredibly lifelike. After all, many people practice this proverb in their daily lives.

Few people can truly reveal their talent. And not because some people are more capable than others. It’s just that some people have the courage to realize their dreams, while others prefer stability. Yes, stability is good, but you can’t sit in your comfort zone all your life. After all, if no one came out of it, then people today would still live in caves and eat mammoths.

It is thanks to talented people who were not afraid to develop their natural inclinations that today we have a computer, the Internet, electricity, etc. So, you, most likely, also have a unique talent. So don't bury it in the ground! Let him work for you.

Nowadays, the word talent is used exclusively as the degree of giftedness of a person, usually in the arts, sciences or crafts. Where did the expression come from bury talent in the ground?

The origin of this expression is a fairly well-known and instructive ancient (biblical) parable.

Talent among the ancient Jews it was called a measure of weight, which was used to measure precious and other metals, and also to weigh coins. Hence the word talent had meaning as a unit of measurement for something valuable. So, according to legend, one man, leaving for a while, gave three of his servants a talent of gold with permission to use these talents and return the money to him with a profit. Two put their received talents into circulation, and the third, afraid to take risks, buried his talent in the ground

. When the owner returned, one of the servants could not return his talent, as he had wasted it as a result of inept actions. The second multiplied his talent and returned ten talents to the owner instead of one. Well, the third dug up and returned the same talent to the owner. had meaning as a unit of measurement for something valuable. So, according to legend, one man, leaving for a while, gave three of his servants a talent of gold with permission to use these talents and return the money to him with a profit. Two put their received talents into circulation, and the third, afraid to take risks, Since then, they have been talking about a person who failed to take advantage of the opportunities presented - he

. An unskillful person is said to have wasted his talent. And they say about a skillful and successful person that he has multiplied his talent.

Know by heart - this expression is familiar to everyone from school. Know on

The expression tit for tat is quite simple and understandable, like Newton’s third law. Means One of the main versions of the origin of the expression

If the mountain does not go to Mohammed, Expression There is life in the old dog yet With to a large extent

probabilities gone

One more, last legend, and my chronicle is finished... From the Bible. In the Gospel of Matthew (chapter 25, vv. 15-30), where this expression originates, we're talking about

about money. Talent is the name of an ancient Roman silver coin (from the ancient Greek talanton - a coin of high denomination).

The Gospel parable tells how a certain man, when leaving, instructed his slaves to guard his property. He gave one slave five talents, another two, and a third one. The first two slaves put the money to work, that is, they gave it away at interest, and the one who received one talent simply buried it in the ground in order to preserve it in the best possible way.

Subsequently, the word “talent” began to mean abilities, gifts, and the biblical phrase “to bury talent in the ground” received a different, allegorical meaning - “to neglect one’s abilities, not to develop them,” etc.

Canonized (textbook) logoepistems. The concept “canonical” is interpreted in dictionaries as 1. Corresponding to the canon. 2. Taken as a model, firmly established. The sources of logoepistemes are classical (textbook) works of science, literature and art, familiarity with which is carried out in the process of special education (school and higher education etc.).

Almost always the source of replenishment of canonized PFs is classic literature: works F.M. Dostoevsky, A.P. Chekhov, W. Shakespeare, Dante etc. In the post-Soviet space, first place in the row works of art, which became a source of precedent statements, certainly belongs A. S. Pushkin. Suffice it to remember: “All ages are submissive to love”, “Genius and villainy are two incompatible things”, “The servant of the muses does not tolerate vanity”, “Staying with nothing”, “There is a Russian spirit, there it smells of Russia”, “Yes, the one in whom unclean conscience" and a huge number of others.

Quotes from the works of A.S. have long become popular expressions. Griboyedova ( I would be glad to serve, but being served is sickening), N.V. Gogol ( And what Russian doesn’t like driving fast?), A.N. Ostrovsky ( So don’t let anyone get you!), V.V. Mayakovsky ( I take it out of my wide trousers...), I. Ilf and E. Petrov ( I will command the parade!), M.A. Bulgakov ( Manuscripts don't burn. They themselves will offer everything, they themselves will give everything) and some. etc.

In addition, quotations from the works of classics of Western European literature became logoepistemes, for example, "Appetite comes with eating"(F. Rabelais), “To be or not to be - that is the question”, “Everything was rotten in the Danish kingdom”(W. Shakespeare).

The source of precedent statements is ancient culture, which, together with the biblical one, constitutes the international core of the logosphere European culture: “adding fuel to the fire”, “making a mountain out of a molehill”, “catching a fish in muddy water", "cross the Rubicon", "sing praises", "the work of Sisyphus" and many others.

3.Non-canonized logoepistemes do not match the sample. They are not included in the educational canon educational institutions, are not textbook ones, but have firmly entered our consciousness. The sources of non-canonized logoepistemata are either widely famous works art or literature, or any other cultural objects (anecdotes, parodies, advertising texts, performances by comedians and satirists, popular television and radio programs, etc.) not traditionally classified as classical works art or literature. They act as precedent statements for a short time (from 3 to 7 years). Their list is always open, they have varying degrees of stability. The source is often unknown.

It seems possible to identify several sources of replenishment of the speech of contemporaries with non-canonized precedent statements:

1) mass media, incl. television, for example program titles Our Russia, SpotlightParisHilton, Evening Urgant, Big Races etc.;

2)cinema: East is a delicate matter…; Gulchatay! Show your face!("White Sun of the Desert"); It's just you who are smart, and I just went out for a walk. I don't serve on Fridays. Stubbornness is the first sign of stupidity(words by Zheglov from the film “The meeting place cannot be changed”);

3) pop: from the songs of Viktor Tsoi (group “Kino”): Those who have nothing to wait for go on their way. The worst thing is to be a target at a shooting range with bad shooters. Death is worth living, but love is worth waiting... If there is a flock, there is a shepherd, if there is a body, there must be a spirit. I don’t like it when people lie to me, but I’m also tired of the truth. We waited for tomorrow, every day we waited for tomorrow... Remember that there is no prison, worse than in the head... I free man because I have always done what I like and did not do what I don’t want. You could be a hero, but there was no reason to be. You could die if you knew what to die for;

4) Internet: Smart people They are not offended, but immediately begin to plan revenge. Courage, honor and bravery are three signs alcohol intoxication. The most influential person after the holiday is the one who has the photos...

Phraseological units (PU), including logoepistemes, have wide possibilities for creating a stylistic effect. For stylistic purposes, phraseological units can be used either unchanged or in a transformed form, with a different meaning and structure, or with new expressive and stylistic properties. Transformation is understood as any deviation from the generally accepted norm enshrined in linguistic literature, as well as an improvised change for expressive and stylistic purposes. Transformation expands the boundaries of the author's thought, helps the writer to express Creative skills, helps to express thoughts more clearly and concisely.

As already mentioned, a phraseological unit has the integrity of a figurative meaning and an unchanged structure. Satirists violate all these requirements.

One of the most common methods of transformation of phraseological units in their works is semantic, which does not affect the lexico-grammatical structure (external form) of phraseological units, but destroys semantic integrity. There is a “literalization” of a phraseological unit, “realization of a metaphor”, i.e. phraseological unity used as a common phrase. An example from the works of M. Zadornov: Peter I cut a window to Europe, although it was necessary to cut through a window, peek and throw out garbage(M. Zadornov): “Cut a window to Europe” - a catchphrase from the poem by A.S. Pushkin " Bronze Horseman", characterizing the founding of the city of St. Petersburg by Peter I as the first seaport of the Moscow state. The metaphor of “cutting a window,” i.e., going beyond the borders of the state, is used as a free phrase against the background of “cutting a window.”

Examples from the works of M.M. Zhvanetsky. (1) If the listeners don't laugh, I get upset I'm withdrawing into myself and I'm sitting there(“How do I write?”). Phraseologism “to go to<самого>myself; go to<самого>yourself” has two meanings: 1. To be absorbed in one’s thoughts; go deeper into your thoughts without noticing your surroundings. 2. Become withdrawn, stop communicating with people, avoid them. MM. Zhvanetsky uses it in the literal sense, realizing the meaning of the verb leave‘walking away’. (2) At airports smelled fried– people stay for a long time("Autumn"). “It smells fried” - ‘about impending danger’. The reader first thinks that passengers are in danger (according to the phraseological unit), but then understands that we are talking about products - the direct meaning of the word fried.

The comic effect can arise as a result of a collision in the context of antonymous elements: (1) He went to bed and fell asleep with all his might ( M. Zhvanetsky) . “With all my might” – ‘With utmost strength, very strongly. = With all my might (in 1 value). Usually with verb. owls like: hit, knock, shout... how? with all my might.’ Verb fall asleep is associated with a state of rest and contradicts the semantics of the phraseological unit.

Among the structural-semantic transformations, the most common are: 1) replacement of one or more lexical components of a phraseological unit; 2) expansion of phraseological units due to the introduction of additional components; 3) truncation of a phraseological unit; 4) contamination of phraseological units is a combination of parts of two or more phraseological units.

Let's consider one of the structural-semantic transformations - replacing one of the components of a phraseological unit (with an occasional variant), in this case, the semantics may remain unchanged: (1) M. Zhvanetsky Learning is light, and ignorance is pleasant twilight (instead of “darkness”). (2) Everything mixed up in our earthly home: The best rapper is white, the best golfer is black. France accuses America of arrogance. Germany and Russia do not want to fight. Ukraine sends humanitarian aid to Iraq American soldiers. And China has implemented a new social formation. Developed capitalism under the leadership of the Communist Party.Everything interfered in the Oblonskys’ house – catchphrase from the novel by L.N. Tolstoy's Anna Karenina. Ironic meaning catchphrase- ‘confusion, disorder, confusion, etc.’ Instead of the Oblonskys - in our earthly home. (3) What is our life : if you don’t get used to it, you’ll die, if you don’t die, you’ll get used to it(M. Zhvanetsky) . (4) - Of two evils I I choose something that I haven’t tried before... (Wed: Of two evils, I choose the lesser). (5) Don't bring out the Zverev in me(M. Zadornov) - cf. “Don’t awaken the beast in me” (paronomasia is used). (6) Born to crawl - will fit everywhere (Cf.: Born to crawl, cannot fly. Maxim Gorky. “Song of the Falcon”). (6) Share your smile, and you will be reminded of her more than once (Cf.: Share your smile / and it will come back to you more than once - Shainsky’s song). (2) Until you measure seven times, others will already cut it off (cf.: Measure seven times, cut once. - Proverb).

Merlot is a French technical grape variety used to produce red wines.

Another method of transformation is the expansion of the component composition of phraseological units. Expansion can occur both due to individual lexical units ( What a pity that you finally go away...), as well as phrases and predicative constructions – the latter in the works of M.M. Zhvanetsky prevail: (1) You can't stop living beautifully. But you can interfere... (see You can’t forbid living beautifully: 1) about unnecessary waste; 2) an expression of envy. (2) There is always a place for heroic deeds in life. You just need to stay away from this place (introduction of a new predicative part. Source - Maxim Gorky, story “Old Woman Izergil”).

Inversion – reverse word order: Don't covet your neighbor's wife(change of word order in biblical catchphrase led to a change in the meaning of the statement).

By the time you measure seven times, others will already cut(Zhv.) Wed: Measure seven times, cut once. In addition to lexical transformation, the imperative mood of verbs is replaced here by the indicative one.

Cases of contamination of set expressions, i.e. combining parts that are completely different in meaning, but with a common component: (1) All people are brothers, but not all are wise(cf.: “All people are brothers” and “brothers in mind”). The common component is “brothers”. M. Zhvanetsky(2) He doesn't have time for personal life (M. Zhvanetsky “Cholera in Odessa”) . 2 phraseological units “no time” and “no personal life” merge based on the common component “no”. From M. Zadornov: It is considered a terrible omen if black cat breaks the mirror with an empty bucket!

Reducing the composition of phraseological units: - Tell me, uncle... - I won’t tell(cf.: Tell me, uncle, it’s not for nothing that Moscow, burned by fire, was given to the French - M. Lermontov. Borodino) .

In addition to structural-semantic transformations, defhraseologization is possible - such a degree of transformation in which the traditional structure, constant lexical composition, and usual forms of phraseological components are absent in the context (researchers often call such destruction of phraseological units " phraseological fragments»). Microbes slowly crawled over Lefty's body, hardly dragging the horseshoes behind them...(shoe a flea – ‘to skillfully perform the most intricate, especially delicate work’.).

Wed: If the mountain does not come to Magomed, then Magomed goes to the mountain.

LITERATURE

1. Gabidullina A.R. Phraseologisms as a means of creating an ironic effect in the works of modern satirists / A.R. Gabidullina. ‑ // Pushkin Readings 2012: “Living” traditions in literature: genre, author, hero, text: materials of the XVII international conference. – St. Petersburg: Leningrad State University named after. A.S. Pushkina, 2012. – P. 340-347

2. Shansky N.M. Phraseology of the modern Russian language [Text] / N.M. Shansky. – 3rd ed. – M.: Higher. school, 1985. – 160 p.

3. Guseinova T. S. Transformation of phraseological units as a way to implement newspaper expression [Text]: diss. ...cand. Philol. Sciences / T.S. Guseinova. – Makhachkala, 1997. – 200 p.

4. Ozhegov S.I. Dictionary of the Russian language / S.I. Ozhegov.‑ M.: Sov. encyclopedia, 1984.‑ 846 p.

5. Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Language / Ed. A.I. Molotkov. – 4th ed., stereotype. – M.: Russian language, 1986. – 543 p.

6. Live speech. Dictionary of colloquial expressions // Access mode: website phraseologiya.academic.ru. . - Title. from the screen.