The meaning of the phraseological unit "the sky seemed like a sheepskin", its origin

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Phraseologisms are one of the main treasures of the treasury of the Russian language. Knowing their interpretation, you can significantly expand your vocabulary and make your speech more expressive and sharp.

In this article we will consider the meaning of the phraseological unit "the sky seemed like a sheepskin". Let's replenish our vocabulary with this steady turn.

"The sky seemed like a sheepskin": the meaning of phraseology

For the most accurate definition of this expression, let's turn to authoritative linguists and their works.

In the dictionary of S. I. Ozhegov, the following meaning of the phraseological unit “the sky seemed like a sheepskin” is indicated: this is how they say about a feeling of strong fear, pain. It is noted that the expression refers to the conversational style.

The meaning of the phraseological unit "the sky seemed like a sheepskin" in the phraseological dictionary of M. I. Stepanova: "someone will be very frightened, stunned, shocked (from pain, horror, despair, etc.)", that is everything around will seem disproportionate. The author notes that this stable turnover is expressive and is used in colloquial speech.

Based on these definitions, the following conclusion can be drawn. Phraseologism characterizes a strong feeling of fear, pain, horror and despair. But how did it form? We will find out later.

Origin of expression

As you know, sheepskin is the same as sheepskin - sheepskin. But how can the sky seem the size of her?

The thing is that in the old, dark times, the guilty were put in a deep hole, punished in this way. The prisoner could see from it only a small piece of the sky, quite a bit, like a sheepskin, the size of a sheep's skin. That is, what was actually big and immense seemed small. This is how the expression we are considering appeared.

The meaning of the phraseologism "the sky seemed like a sheepskin" is associated with a state of fear, shock, pain, when the environment is perceived not as it really is.

Expression synonyms

As we have already noted, the meaning of the phrase "the sky will seem like a sheepskin" is a strong fear. The following idioms have the same interpretation: "the soul went to the heels", "goosebumps ran down the back", "frost ran down the back", "the hair on the head stirred", "the hair stood on end", "the blood in the veins froze".

Also, the expression characterizes severe pain. In this regard, the following expressions can be cited as synonyms: “at least shout with a cry”, “at least climb the wall”, “neither gasp norsigh", "white light is not nice".

If we talk about the feeling of engulfing horror, then the stable turnover “even take out the saints” will be close in meaning.

Use phraseology

The expression is found in fiction: in "The Captain's Daughter" by A. S. Pushkin, "First Year" by K. M. Stanyukovich, "Uncle's Dream" by Dostoevsky, "Kutuzov" by L. Ranovsky and other works.

Phraseologism is used in print media. Journalists like to resort to stable combinations of words for more vivid and accurate coverage of the topic raised.

Having considered this phraseological unit, having learned its meaning, you can safely use it in your speech, making it more expressive and diverse.