That's where the dog is buried. How to understand the expression "where the dog is buried" Where did the expression come from that's where the dog is buried

The history of the origin of the phraseological unit "that's where the dog is buried" is ambiguous.

And to find out the truth, we will have to parse several versions. The most interesting thing is that the meaning of the expression "that's where the dog is buried" completely coincides with what we have to do, namely, to find out the truth, to find out what's the matter.

• This story took place at the end of the 16th century. I don’t know how reliable this is, but there is a legend about Sigismund Altensteig, an Austrian military man and his faithful dog, who was always with him, wherever he was.
  

Once, while on the territory of what is now Holland on a military campaign, Sigismund was in mortal danger. A devoted dog saved him from imminent death at the cost of his life. In gratitude for the rescue, Sigismund buried his four-legged friend with honors, and erected a monument on his grave.

Over time, centuries later, the legendary burial place was lost and curious travelers had to make a lot of efforts to find this grave. Only a few local residents could indicate the location of the monument to the heroic dog. And so this phrase "that's where the dog is buried" appeared with the meaning "to find what you are looking for."

• The next story is connected with the Battle of Salamis, which took place in 480 BC. e. near the island of Salamis in the Aegean Sea. There was a Greco-Persian war and the Greeks decided to give a sea battle to the Persians under the leadership of Xerxes (521 (or 519) - 465 BC). On the eve of the battle, all the children, old people and women were transported to a safe place on the island of Salamis. Belonging to Xanthippus, the father of Pericles, the dog could not endure separation from the owner and, throwing himself into the sea, swam to the island, where he died of fatigue and exhaustion. Delighted by the deed of his dog, Xanthippus erected a monument on the shore of the island as a symbol of devotion and friendship.

• The next version of the origin of this phrase is associated with treasure hunting. According to some philologists, the treasure hunters, because of the fear of the evil spirit, which, as they believed, was guarding the treasures, as well as for conspiracy, came up with conditional words and phrases, the meaning of which was clear only to them. So the word "dog" meant a treasure, the expression "black dog" meant evil spirits. And under the phrase "this is where the dog is buried" in the language of treasure hunters, the following meaning was hidden: "This is where the treasure is buried."

Some scientists believe that the expression "that's where the dog is buried" came into the Russian language from the German language. The literal translation of the expression "Da ist der Hund begraben" is "this is where the dog is buried."

There is also an opinion that the dog and its burying have nothing to do with it. And the origin of the expression originates in Arabic. Close in sound to the word "dog" the word "sabek", which means "preceding", and to the word "buried" the word "zariat" - an occasion, a motive, create such an expression: "This is the reason that preceded this phenomenon."

I don't know which version is correct, but the first two versions are more romantic and beautiful. And "that's where the dog is buried," that is, the truth, you decide.

0 Russian speech is simply replete with various sayings and phraseological units, and many feel like ignoramuses when they realize that they are unable to interpret their meaning. Therefore, on our website, we have created a separate section in which we will add transcripts of such expressions. Today we will talk about one of these tricky phrases, this is where the dog is buried, you can read the meaning a little lower.
However, before I continue, I would like to recommend you a couple more sensible publications on the subject of catchphrases. For example, what is the Augean stables; how to understand Arshin swallowed; who is Buridan's donkey; what does Versta Kolomenskaya mean, etc.
So let's continue That's where the dog is buried, the meaning of phraseology?

Synonym This is where the dog is buried: that's where the dog rummaged (iron.)

Origin That's where the dog is buried

According to the researchers, there is no information about this event, and this legend was invented by the villagers to attract tourists. After all, the local population vegetated in poverty, and every penny counted.

Second version. This version has its roots in the history of Ancient Greece. Before the attack on King Xerxes (the Persian king, ruled in 486-465 BC, comes from the Achaemenid dynasty. He was the son of Darius I and Atossa, daughter of Cyrus II), the cunning Greeks previously transported all women and children to the island of Salamis.

There is a legend that the dog, which belonged to Xantip, the father of Pericles (an Athenian statesman, one of the founders of Athenian democracy, a famous commander and speaker), was so attached to his master that he rushed after the ship into the sea, and was able to swim to the island. However, the load on the dog's body was so strong that, having got ashore, she immediately died.

One of the most famous historians of the ancient world, Plutarch (ancient Greek writer, philosopher and public figure, born c. 46, Chaeronea, Boeotia - c. 127, the place of death is unknown) mentioned that a monument was erected to this dog on the shore of the island of Kinosem, which attracted attention for many years curious bystanders.

Third version. Among some German researchers, there is an opinion that the expression "Da liegt der Hund" (there lies a dog) was invented to confuse the evil spirit, which, as usual, guards every little valuable treasure. Therefore, the robbers of antiquities never mentioned the treasure aloud, but used the expression "black dog" for this, meaning "devil" by it, and the word dog meant "treasure". Therefore, when German treasure hunters suddenly exclaimed - "that's where the dog is buried," they meant "that's where the treasure is buried."

By reading this article, you have learned That's where the dog buried the meaning phraseologism, and you will no longer get into a mess if you suddenly find this catch phrase again.

There is no consensus on the origin of this catchphrase. At least three "dogs" are spoken of, and only in two cases is this actually referred to.

Xanthippus dog

One of the versions refers to the times of antiquity, more precisely, to the era of the Greco-Persian wars. In 480 the Persian king Xerxes marched on Athens. The Greek fleet resisted, concentrating in a narrow strait separating the island of Salamis from the mainland. It was commanded by the Athenian Xanthippus, the son of Arifron. This man is also known for the fact that the famous Athenian and statesman Pericles was his son.

Being in Athens was very dangerous, and it was decided to evacuate civilians to Salamis. Together with them, Xanthippus sent his beloved dog. But the devoted animal did not want to leave the owner. The dog threw himself from the ship into the sea and swam back to Xanthippus. Such a feat turned out to be beyond the dog's strength, she was immediately exhausted.

Xanthippus, shocked by the loyalty of his four-legged friend, erected a monument to the dog. There were many who wanted to look at him, and they exclaimed: “That's where it is buried!”, Having reached the goal of their journey.

Sigismund Altenscheig's dog

A similar story is told about the Austrian soldier Sigismund Altenscheig. This man also had a beloved dog, who accompanied the owner in all military campaigns. Once the dog even saved Sigismund's life, but she herself died in the process. It happened in Holland. The grateful owner solemnly buried his beloved dog and - just like Xanthippus once - erected a monument on his grave. But it was not easy to find him later, and when the next traveler did succeed, he enthusiastically exclaimed: “So this is where the dog is buried!”

Was there a dog?

The hypotheses outlined above suggest that the origin of this phraseological unit is associated with some very real dogs. How historically reliable the stories associated with them are is another question. But some researchers are convinced that the catchphrase is not really associated with any dog. She could come from the jargon of treasure hunters.

Treasure hunts have always been surrounded by a mysterious halo. It was believed that spells were cast on the treasures, threatening the kidnapper with all sorts of troubles, that they were guarded by evil spirits. And here the ancient rule came into play: the less the spirits know about human affairs, the less likely they are to do harm. In order to deceive the evil spirits guarding the treasures, the treasure hunters discussed their deeds allegorically, in particular, the treasure in their speech was called a “dog”. Thus, "this is where the dog is buried" means "this is where the treasure is buried."

There are unique means in the language - phraseological units. V. Belinsky called them the "physiognomy" of the Russian language. To date, linguists have studied 1.5 thousand of these expressions.

Phraseologisms are incredibly diverse. They are used in spoken and written language. Set expressions reflect the life, culture, history of the Russian people. There are also catchphrases that are found in many languages ​​and are not "born" in any of the cultures of these countries. Such phraseological units are called international. Most often they reflect ancient culture (Achilles' heel, Annibal's oath, etc.).

Phraseologisms are...

Other terms are also used to define this phenomenon: catchphrases, aphorisms, idioms. The last option is closest to the truth. Many identify the idiom and phraseological unit. But if you look, it's not quite right. The fact is that an idiom is one of the types of phraseological unit. He is the most "strong" of all. It can be called "ancient" due to its early formation. These include, for example, "beat the buckets", "pull the rigmarole", "pig in a poke", "where the dog is buried", etc. Idioms can tell a lot about the era in which they appeared.

However, there are other types, which include, for example, "spinning like a squirrel in a wheel", "putting sticks in wheels", "falling for the bait", etc. They do not require such a detailed study, as they have imagery.

To study phraseological units, especially idioms, special aids are used: phraseological and etymological dictionaries, various reference books and encyclopedias.

Under these terms in linguistics they understand stable expressions. Once they met in speech in their direct meaning, and soon - in a figurative one. The form itself was fixed in the language in its original form. This is how phraseological units appeared.

Why did certain expressions acquire a figurative meaning? It is in the nature of people to compare, to oppose. First, a metaphor appears, and then, on its basis, a phraseological unit.

It is important to note that the set expression is not divided into constituent parts. It conveys meaning only when it is holistic. This distinguishes it from simple phrases.

Here, for example, the phraseological unit "to break firewood", which means "to make mistakes." Earlier in Rus', firewood (often brushwood) was broken with bare hands. Since it was done in a hurry, the twigs had broken, crooked edges that looked careless.

We see that at first the expression was used in its direct meaning. Then people transferred it to other life situations. This is how phraseologism appeared in its current sense.

Meaning

Phraseologism "that's where the dog is buried" is used in modern speech to indicate any real reason for what is happening, the essence of the issue.

The meaning of the expression is to find what you are looking for; reveal the essence.

In terms of meaning, "this is where the dog is buried" is similar to the famous catchphrase "Eureka" uttered by Archimedes. Although the meaning is still slightly different.

Example: "Aha! So that's where the dog is buried! And how did I not guess right away?".

Initially, the phrase sounded like this: "this is where the dog is buried." It has been translated from German.

There are several versions about the origin of the expression "here is where the dog is buried". We will introduce you to them further.

Austrian history

Legend has it that there was a warrior who spent his whole life in battle. And he had a beloved dog, which he took everywhere with him. And then one day, while in Holland, danger warned the warrior. The dog protected the owner, but died herself.

The unfortunate warrior buried his beloved, faithful dog, and erected a memorial on the grave. This monument stood for two centuries, until the beginning of the 19th century.

Soon, tourists became interested in him, who, with the help of locals, found a monument to the dog. When the memorial was found, the famous phrase "here is where the dog is buried" sounded, which later became winged.

History of the Greeks

Linguists have the least confidence in this version of origin. However, the expression "where the dog is buried" also has the right to life. The Persian king Xerxes was about to attack Greece. He had the advantage in the navy. The Hellenes decided to fight. Before giving battle, the Greeks took care of their loved ones: on ships they transported women, children and the elderly to the island of Salamis.

Among the elderly was Xanthippus, the father of the famous orator and general Pericles. He had a dog that could not come to terms with separation from the owner. She jumped into the water and swam after the ship. Having exhausted herself off the coast of Salamis, the "four-legged" fell dead.

The philosopher and historian Plutarch wrote that a memorial was erected to the dog on the shore of one of the islands of Hellas.

Version about treasure hunters

You have probably heard the expression "no fluff or feather", which hunters came up with superstitious fear. Allegedly, the spirits will hear about their request and ruin everything.

According to one version, such fear existed among treasure hunters.

In order to "encode" information from evil spirits, search engines began to replace the "treasure" with the word "dog". Whether there was any meaning behind it, history is silent.

Thus, some linguists believe that the idiom "that's where the dog is buried" originally sounded "that's where the gold is buried."

Examples from the literature

Phraseologisms need to be studied in context. It is important that the texts are artistic or journalistic. So you can trace the meaning and at the same time increase your cultural level.

Here is a fragment from the "City of the Doomed" by the Strugatsky brothers: "... Fritz probably would not have missed it, ... I immediately understood where the dog was buried."

This is one of the heroes - the German Friedrich. Here, phraseology achieves a description of the characteristics of the character and the image of a resident of Germany. The author shows the ability to reach the truth, the responsibility that is often attributed to the German mentality.

Very often, popular expressions contain in their composition, it seems, words that are not related to their general meaning. We say “this is where the dog is buried,” meaning not at all the place where the pet is buried.

Expression value

Trying to understand the problem that has arisen, a person puts forward various versions, considers all possible aspects. And when the insight happens, it's time to exclaim: "That's where the dog is buried!" The meaning of this idiom is “deciphered” as “to understand the essence of this or that event, fact”, “to get to the bottom of the truth”.

This expression can also determine what is the most important, fundamental in some problem, i.e. already understood its essence, reason, motive of what is happening. Let's say, a man thought and thought about what was bothering him in some situation or phenomenon, and then, as if his eyes were opened, and it became clear where the dog was buried.

However, this may not be a household question at all: where, for example, did the son's school diary disappear. And if it suddenly turns out that it was he himself who hid it, because he simply earned a record of unworthy behavior, then it will become clear to you where the dog is buried. The meaning of phraseologism in this situation is expressed by establishing the truth.

Etymology

It is rich in the version of origin - one is more interesting than the other.

Some researchers believe that the phraseologism is a tracing-paper from the German Da ist der Hund begraben, literally translated and meaning “this is where (or in what) the dog is buried”, “this is where the dog is buried”.

The Arabist scholar Nikolai Vashkevich is generally convinced that this phrase is neither about a dog nor about burying it at all. In Arabic, the word "zariat" means motive, reason, reason. And the function word “sabek” consonant with “dog” is “preceding” (like the English perfect). this expression: "This is the cause that preceded this phenomenon."

There is an opinion among linguists that this is a phrase from the lexicon of treasure hunters. Allegedly, those, fearing the evil spirits that are known to guard the treasures, veiledly, in order to mislead, called them "black dogs", and the treasures themselves - dogs. Thus, from the language of treasure hunters, the expression is “translated”: “This is where the treasure is buried.”

However, there are other points of view. Two more etymological explanations of the phraseologism "that's where the dog is buried" are much more romantic. The origin of this idiom is "dedicated" to the devotion of dogs.

The oldest version dates back to the battle of the island of Salamis. Before the decisive one, the Greeks put all the "civilians" who were not able to take part in it, on ships and sent them to a safe place.

Xanthippus, the father of Pericles, had a beloved dog, who, not wanting to part with his owner, threw himself into the sea and swam after the ship. And when she reached land, she died of exhaustion. Shocked, Xanthippus buried the dog and ordered a monument erected to her - in commemoration of true devotion. This sign, where the dog is buried, was shown to those interested for a long time.

The second legend is connected with the dog of the Austrian commander Sigismund Altensteig, who accompanied him on all campaigns. In one of them, the warrior got into a dangerous bind. But the devoted dog at the cost of his life saved the owner. Altensteig also decorated the grave of his favorite and savior with a monument. However, over time, finding the monument became very difficult, since only a few people knew this place and could show it to tourists. And so the expression "that's where the dog is buried" was born with the meaning "find out the truth", "find what you were looking for."

Synonyms

An interesting interpretation of phrases similar in meaning to the one under consideration can be found both in literature and in colloquial speech. Surprise about the same phenomenon is expressed in different ways. Let's say the investigator wants to find out where the dog is buried, regarding the income of the person under investigation. He is tormented by this question, speculates, wonders who can tell “where the legs grow from” these capitals.

The expression “because of which all the fuss flared up” has a less transparent meaning, but in a certain situation it can also be used in the meaning of “buried dog”: “Deuce in physics? Well, then it’s clear why the fuss flared up. ”

In V. Yelistratov's "Dictionary of Russian Argo", the phrase is recorded: "That's where the dog rummaged" - with appropriate notes that the expression is a) jargon-youthful, playfully ironic; b) a punning transformation of a well-known literary idiom. The authorship of this phrase is attributed to M.S. Gorbachev, who at one time uttered it either by inadvertently making a reservation, or by deliberately distorting it. In any case, later the expression acquired an additional connotation: they say, where the dog rummaged, something is hidden and there is a stink from there, and there one should look for the cause of what is happening.

Antonyms

If the idiom “that's where the dog is buried” means the background of an event or phenomenon, a certain level of their clarity, then “legitimized” phraseological expressions can serve as “let (let) fog”. This idiom is used when, on the contrary, it comes to making something unclear, if someone wants to confuse something, mislead someone.

In modern colloquial language, especially among young people, the expression with the word “fog” is also common and with the same meaning of uncertainty in some business: “solid fog ». In a similar sense, the running “dark forest” is also used: “Well, have you figured out what is the joke with this problem? - Yes, well, her! Dark forest…"

Use of the expression in literature

There are much fewer phraseological units under the heading "bookish" in Russian than colloquial ones, nevertheless they form a certain stylistic layer. Such expressions can represent terms used in scientific, journalistic, official business speech. For example, in an article about the idioms of the Russian language, the authors write: "That's where the dog is buried" - a phraseological unit that is a tracing paper from the German language.

It is interesting that the use of this expression is noted in the journalism of V.I. Lenin. Addressing his written opponent, he writes: “... you have forgotten how to apply the revolutionary point of view to the assessment of social events. That's where the dog is buried!

However, the most widespread use of the phrase "that's where the dog is buried" is found in fiction. It is used in different variations. There is, for example, the form "what is the dog buried in here."

Using the expression in colloquial speech

Very often, in order to achieve a certain effect, it is necessary to increase expression. Ordinary words of the language are not enough for this purpose. Speech will sound more capacious, clear and emotional if winged expressions are used in it.

Often they are pronounced as if by themselves, without much effort. This only confirms and affirms the natural place in the language that these combinations occupy.

In colloquial speech, no, no, and the phrase “where the dog is buried” will sound, and this does not depend on the education, nor on the age of the speaker - its use is so organic.