Barbed mittens bore his name. Keep on tight

We have all heard the expression "to keep tight grip on". The meaning of the expression is clear to most of us - it means treating someone strictly and harshly, keeping on a "short leash" and not allowing slack. And probably, many of us came up with an association with mittens made of hedgehogs, more precisely from their skins - of course, the feeling when you are held in mittens full of thorns can hardly be called free and pleasant ...

But what is the origin of this expression? And has there ever existed such an object as iron gauntlets, from where this image migrated into this phraseological turn, and if so, how did they look?

At the end of the first half of the twentieth century, after the era of the notorious Stalinist rule, it was widely believed that this expression came from the People's Commissar of the NKVD by the name of Yezhov, who became famous for his harshness and repression in the 30s. This image was additionally reinforced in the popular mind by the poster of the artist Efimov, which was called “Hedgehog's mittens”. This poster depicted the People's Commissar, holding a monster in the form of a multi-headed hydra in thorny (does it mean, hedgehogs?) Mittens - it embodied the "enemies of the regime" Trotskyists and Bukharinites.

But in fact, this expression is much older than the Stalinist repression. It has been known since much more ancient times, and has been repeatedly encountered in classical Russian literature - the expression "to keep in tight-knit gloves" can be found in the works of Pushkin, Chekhov, and Turgenev. It was used in a meaning close to the meaning of the modern - that is, "to press to the nail", not to give indulgence and the ability to break out of strict control. In the dictionaries of the 18th century, there is a proverb: “To be taken with hedgehog mittens and a soft body,” while its meaning was close to the one voiced above, although punishment was not meant.

Where did the image used in the expression come from? And how did those iron gloves look like?

The fact is that in the basements of houses and barns of peasants, mice were often found (which is not surprising, since it was there that the peasants kept their supplies). To combat them, not only cats were used, but also other predators that hunt mice, namely hedgehogs. But a cat is a domestic animal, tamed, but here's how to lure a hedgehog into the right room? Taking it in bare hands is problematic, precisely because of its prickly hide. What then is to be done? It was for this that iron gloves were needed, or the so-called golits. They were made of very thick leather and had no lining. It is with such and such mittens that you can take a hedgehog, curled up in a spiky ball, and take it to a barn or basement to new hunting grounds. And then, when he brilliantly fulfills his mission and copes with the mouse misfortune, take him free with the same mittens.

So, not a single hedgehog was harmed during the making of iron grip!

The role of phraseological units in the Russian language is difficult to overestimate. Thanks to their use, the speaker's speech acquires a special color, liveliness, imagery. The roots of a great many fixed expressions are to be found in the vernacular. It is he who is the storehouse of truly precious treasures of our modern dictionary.

The meaning of the expression "gauntlets"

When one person wants to characterize the methods or techniques of bringing up another, emphasizing their special severity, maybe even cruelty, he most often declares that he keeps his household in a black body. It is appropriate in the same sense to use the phraseological unit "iron fist".

Quite familiar phrases, say, "fox fur coat", "beaver hat", but what does a garment from a thorny mammal look like and does it really exist? We learn this by examining the etymology of the phraseological unit.

The history of the origin of the expression

It turns out that such mittens were made not from the skin of the animal, but to catch it. As you know, hedgehogs, along with cats, are good mouse-catchers. And peasants in former times very often used them for this very purpose, launching them into their cellars and underground.

And how is it more convenient to catch a prickly creature, so as not to hurt yourself and not injure him? This is where the iron mitts came to the rescue - specially made for catching mouse hunters. They were sewn without lining, from very rough leather, and they were called golits.

Use of expression in colloquial speech and literature

It is believed that "iron grip" denotes not just strictness in upbringing, attitude, but restriction of freedom, perhaps overstated, but from the best intentions - for the benefit of the person being educated.

The ancient expression, which was used more than once in their work by classic writers, unexpectedly acquired a new sound during the years of Stalin's repressions. These same mittens were associated among the people with the surname of the head of the NKVD Yezhov - which is much more eloquent!

If we note the use of the expression in literature, then an episode from Pushkin's "The Captain's Daughter" is immediately recalled. There, the main character, having handed a letter from his father to his future boss, tries to cheat, in his own way explaining to the German general the meaning of the words "to keep in tight knuckles." Say, it means to treat gently, without severity, but he quickly realizes that this is not so, continuing to read the letter.

In modern colloquial speech, this expression is not so common.

0 Our lexicon is simply replete with various proverbs and expressions, and the origin of many of them is rather vague. This circumstance pushes immature minds to crawl into explanatory dictionaries, in search of the required information. However, searching through these thick and dusty tomes presents a big problem, and therefore we decided to create this resource in which you will find transcripts on many topics. I strongly recommend to add our site site to your bookmarks so as not to miss useful and important information. Today we will finally analyze such a seemingly amusing saying like Keep on tight, which means you can read a little below.
However, before I continue, I would like to point you to a couple of our other popular publications on the subject of phraseological units. For example, what does Woe from the mind mean; the meaning of the expression Yoperny theater; how to understand the phrase Go through the forest; which means Seven Fridays per week, etc.
So let's continue Keep a tight hold of meaning? This proverb has a rather vague origin, but we will try to give the most detailed answer.

Keep on tight- means to deal strictly and tough, to keep in subjection, to make you completely obey yourself

This expression was first noted in the first half of the 18th century as part of the folk proverb - " Hedgehog mittens, but to be taken for a soft body"From here it is clear that these were really real mittens, and not some kind of euphemism. However, questions remain, what are these mittens, and could they have been sewn from hedgehog skin?

If we delve into dictionaries, we can find out that the word "hedgehog" does not mean " hedgehog"but rather means" hedgehog". Having studied the explanatory dictionary, we begin to understand that the" hedgehog "is the thing with which you can hold this hedgehog in your hands. As a result, we come to interesting information that in ancient times, there were special mittens that protect hands, they were named " naked"or" iron gauntlets. "They were made of rough leather without fur and lining, and they were excellent protection when working for the working people. However, grabbing hedgehogs in them was also easier than ever.

This phraseological unit acquired additional meaning during the Soviet era, when young Soviet Russia was just getting up from its knees, after the civil war, and comrade Yezhov was appointed head of the NKVD. It is with him that the rampant planting of enemies of the people is associated, as well as citizens who are not personally pleasing to him. Even in his entourage, they were afraid of this man, because he did not spare either his relatives or friends.
Many years later, and after the total propaganda of "liberda" it is now difficult to say how bad everything was, and whether those people were guilty. Of course, one cannot be guided by the information provided by such liars as Solzhenitsyn and other oppositionists. Since they, and others like them, were essentially the very enemies of the people, and having received power in their hands in the 90s, they began to actively throw some brown substance on our past.

After reading this informative article, you learned what is to keep tightly, and now you will not find yourself in a difficult position, discovering this phraseological unit in the future.

The Russian language is extremely rich in phraseological phrases and emotionally colored vocabulary. Our literature in bright colors will give any phenomenon or living creature an exact definition. So a well-aimed association was found to cruel treatment - a tight-knit gauntlet. But do we perceive this concept correctly and what did our ancestors really mean? Let's find out.

Where did the iron gloves come from?

This phraseological unit has its roots in the distant past. In the days of the peasantry, when, in addition to the dwelling, a barn with grain crops was also attached to the Russian man, he faced an acute problem: how to make sure that the harvest remained safe and sound? Invasions of mice became a real problem for the farmer. The most effective tactic against voracious rodents was predatory animals - at least cats. So where does hedgehogs have to do with it?

In our everyday life, cats have partially lost the function of catching someone, because the owners bring them food on a platter with a blue border. And hedgehogs do seem like wild, unmanaged animals. But resourceful peasants used live hedgehogs to catch mice in their lands. To catch such a valuable specimen for the economy, the villagers needed protective uniforms. So the golits were invented - the very prototype of the mittens. They were made of very thick leather, no lining was provided.

With an iron grip, the peasant was able to quickly cope with thorny needles. Hedgehogs perfectly performed their function as mouse-catchers. Therefore, this method of getting rid of mice was popular. So, these rough gloves were needed to solve a painful everyday issue, and they became a stable expression only many years later.

The Legend of Yezhov

The new life of this phrase began in the Soviet Union, during the reign of Stalin. There was such a people's commissar in the notorious NKVD - Nikolai Yezhov. In accordance with his position in the state apparatus, he was famous for his cruel, ruthless character. Artist Efimov even released a satirical poster. On it, Yezhov was depicted in thorny mittens, holding a three-headed snake in his hands. The monster was the personification of the enemies of the state - the henchmen of Trotsky and Bukharin.

Thus, the expression radically changed its meaning. From the mittens for catching hedgehogs in the minds of people, they turned into mittens made of hedgehogs. Earlier, the expression "iron grip" was used in classical literature by such authors as Pushkin, Turgenev, Chekhov, in its original understanding. But the language develops, does not stand still, therefore time and history sometimes change it beyond recognition.

Hedgehog mittens: value in modern times

In everyday life, everyone probably had to use the phrase "to keep tightly in hand" more than once. The meaning of phraseological units is understandable even to a schoolchild - this is a strict and cruel treatment to someone. It is often used in relation to oppressive bosses or even to naughty children who just strive to break parental rules. What kind of association does a person have at this moment? That's right, he imagines needle mittens that can literally strengthen his authority (using brute force, of course).

Initially, hedgehogs had nothing to do with it. Such mittens belonged to haberdashery leather goods. Although not for beauty they were worn, but for purely practical purposes. Well, now animal advocates would most likely be outraged by such treatment of poor hedgehogs. It's good that this is just a harmless pun. A coma of a smile, it is not able to cause any other emotions in the interlocutor.

Antonym for phraseological unit

The catch phrase "gauntlets" has several counterparts to it. It is quite natural that over time, for each stable expression, people find completely opposite ones. The method of antithesis is also used by writers and people of all professions who, in one way or another, relate to the study of the Russian language. What antonyms can be chosen for this phraseological unit? The simplest option is to not cherish the soul in someone or in something. It means infinitely loving and affectionate towards someone. So the opposite opinion can be expressed using this very expression.

Phraseologisms-synonyms

Phraseologism "in tight-knit gloves" also has several similar meanings. One of them is the stable expression "keep in a black body." Its meaning is to keep someone in absolute obedience or to be mistreated. This phrase appeared in the Turkic language. This people was engaged in horse breeding everywhere. It was customary for them not to feed the horses to their fill, so that they would not lose their physical shape. In this sense, the phrase should be interpreted as "black meat" - meat without fat.

The phraseological unit "keep on a short leash" is also close in meaning. This means that you should not give too much freedom to anyone.

Keep on tight whom... Spread. Express. Treat someone harshly, harshly. I was under the supervision of Kolka Maslov, a boy who was equally nimble both in his studies and in his mischief; it was only by a strange coincidence that this guy was away from the fighters, apparently, the strict dad kept his son in tight-knit gloves (M. Alekseev. Fighters).

Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M .: Astrel, AST... A.I. Fedorov. 2008.

See what "Keep in hand" is in other dictionaries:

Keep on tight - RUKAVI A, s, g. A piece of clothing that covers the entire hand and thumb separately. Fur mittens. Canvas gloves (working). Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

keep on tight - See crowding ... Dictionary of Russian synonyms and expressions similar in meaning. under. ed. N. Abramova, M .: Russian dictionaries, 1999 ... Synonym dictionary

keep on tight - to keep someone in strict obedience, to treat someone very strictly and severely. Hedgehog mittens (golits) - working leather mittens without lining and fur, they were intended for catching hedgehogs. Back in the 18th century, the expression is iron grip ... ... Phraseology reference

Keep on tight - whom. Spread. Deal with smb. strictly, severely; educate smb. in great severity. DP, 219; BTS, 252; FSRYa, 396; BMS 1998, 507; ZS 1996,227; SRGK 3, 173; F 1, 157; WWTP, 67 ...

keep on tight - see hedgehog ... Dictionary of many expressions

to keep (whom) in hand - Wed He constantly watched me, as if I was capable of all crimes and I should have been kept tight in hand. Turgenev. Unhappy. 17. Wed I am cruelly mistaken if, having learned by experience and barely escaping destruction, he inexorably did not hold ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary

Keep in tight sleeves - whom. Novg. The same as to keep in tight gloves (GLOVE). NOS 2, 85 ... A large dictionary of Russian sayings

Keep (whom) in tight-knit gloves - Keep (someone) in tight-knit gloves. Wed He constantly followed me, as if I was capable of all crimes and should have kept me in tight-knit gloves. Turgenev. Unhappy. 17. Wed I am severely mistaken if he, taught by experience, and ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

hold smb. in tight-knit gloves - decomp. Deal with smb. sternly, sternly ... Dictionary of many expressions

in tight-knit gloves - in the gauntlets Razg. Frenzy. Strictly, severely, in great severity. More often with the verb. nesov. kind: hold ... how? in an iron grip; take ... with a tight hand. Is it really necessary that they are peasants forever before Chichikov's eyes and that he keep ... Educational phraseological dictionary

Books

• Kind word and the manager's revolver, Konstantin Mukhortin. Quote Dismissing an employee violently, "like in the movies", you can put a pig on yourself and the company. According to statistics, an "offended" employee (like a client) spreads negative ...

Keep on tight whom... Spread. Express. Treat someone harshly, harshly. I was under the supervision of Kolka Maslov, a boy who was equally nimble both in his studies and in his mischief; it was only by a strange coincidence that this guy was away from the fighters, apparently, the strict dad kept his son in tight-knit gloves (M. Alekseev. Fighters).

Phraseological dictionary of the Russian literary language. - M .: Astrel, AST... A.I. Fedorov. 2008.

See what "Keep in hand" is in other dictionaries:

Keep on tight - RUKAVI A, s, g. A piece of clothing that covers the entire hand and thumb separately. Fur mittens. Canvas gloves (working). Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary. S.I. Ozhegov, N.Yu. Shvedova. 1949 1992 ... Ozhegov's Explanatory Dictionary

keep on tight - See crowding ... Dictionary of Russian synonyms and expressions similar in meaning. under. ed. N. Abramova, M .: Russian dictionaries, 1999 ... Synonym dictionary

keep on tight - to keep someone in strict obedience, to treat someone very strictly and severely. Hedgehog mittens (golits) - working leather mittens without lining and fur, they were intended for catching hedgehogs. Back in the 18th century, the expression is iron grip ... ... Phraseology reference

Keep on tight - whom. Spread. Deal with smb. strictly, severely; educate smb. in great severity. DP, 219; BTS, 252; FSRYa, 396; BMS 1998, 507; ZS 1996,227; SRGK 3, 173; F 1, 157; WWTP, 67 ...

keep on tight - see hedgehog ... Dictionary of many expressions

to keep (whom) in hand - Wed He constantly watched me, as if I was capable of all crimes and I should have been kept tight in hand. Turgenev. Unhappy. 17. Wed I am cruelly mistaken if, having learned by experience and barely escaping destruction, he inexorably did not hold ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary

Keep in tight sleeves - whom. Novg. The same as to keep in tight gloves (GLOVE). NOS 2, 85 ... A large dictionary of Russian sayings

Keep (whom) in tight-knit gloves - Keep (someone) in tight-knit gloves. Wed He constantly followed me, as if I was capable of all crimes and should have kept me in tight-knit gloves. Turgenev. Unhappy. 17. Wed I am severely mistaken if he, taught by experience, and ... ... Michelson's Big Explanatory Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)

hold smb. in tight-knit gloves - decomp. Deal with smb. sternly, sternly ... Dictionary of many expressions

in tight-knit gloves - in the gauntlets Razg. Frenzy. Strictly, severely, in great severity. More often with the verb. nesov. kind: hold ... how? in an iron grip; take ... with a tight hand. Is it really necessary that they are peasants forever before Chichikov's eyes and that he keep ... Educational phraseological dictionary

Books

• , Konstantin Mukhortin. Quote Dismissing an employee violently, "like in the movies", you can put a pig on yourself and the company. According to statistics, the "offended" employee (as well as the client) spreads in five more negative ... Buy for 376 rubles
• Kind word and manager's revolver, Konstantin Mukhortin. Duty managers are supposed to be one in two. One hypostasis is designed to motivate, inspire and encourage its employees, the other is to control their work, follow ...

The Russian language is extremely rich in phraseological phrases and emotionally colored vocabulary. Our literature in bright colors will give any phenomenon or living creature an exact definition. So a well-aimed association was found to cruel treatment - a tight-knit gauntlet. But do we perceive this concept correctly and what did our ancestors really mean? Let's find out.

Where did the iron gloves come from?

This phraseological unit has its roots in the distant past. In the days of the peasantry, when, in addition to the dwelling, a barn with grain crops was also attached to the Russian man, he faced an acute problem: how to make sure that the harvest remained safe and sound? Invasions of mice became a real problem for the farmer. The most effective tactic against voracious rodents was predatory animals - at least cats. So where does hedgehogs have to do with it?

In our everyday life, cats have partially lost the function of catching someone, because the owners bring them food on a platter with a blue border. And hedgehogs do seem like wild, unmanaged animals. But resourceful peasants used live hedgehogs to catch mice in their lands. To catch such a valuable specimen for the economy, the villagers needed protective uniforms. So the golits were invented - the very prototype of the mittens. They were made of very thick leather, no lining was provided.

With an iron grip, the peasant was able to quickly cope with thorny needles. Hedgehogs perfectly performed their function as mouse-catchers. Therefore, this method of getting rid of mice was popular. So, these rough gloves were needed to solve a painful everyday issue, and they became a stable expression only many years later.

The Legend of Yezhov

The new life of this phrase began in the Soviet Union, during the reign of Stalin. There was such a people's commissar in the notorious NKVD - Nikolai Yezhov. In accordance with his position in the state apparatus, he was famous for his cruel, ruthless character. Artist Efimov even released a satirical poster. On it, Yezhov was depicted in thorny mittens, holding a three-headed snake in his hands. The monster was the personification of the enemies of the state - the henchmen of Trotsky and Bukharin.

Thus, the expression radically changed its meaning. From the mittens for catching hedgehogs in the minds of people, they turned into mittens made of hedgehogs. Earlier, the expression "iron grip" was used in classical literature by such authors as Pushkin, Turgenev, Chekhov, in its original understanding. But the language develops, does not stand still, therefore time and history sometimes change it beyond recognition.

Hedgehog mittens: value in modern times

In everyday life, everyone probably had to use the phrase "to keep tightly in hand" more than once. The meaning of phraseological units is understandable even to a schoolchild - this is a strict and cruel treatment to someone. It is often used in relation to oppressive bosses or even to naughty children who just strive to break parental rules. What kind of association does a person have at this moment? That's right, he imagines needle mittens that can literally strengthen his authority (using brute force, of course).

Initially, hedgehogs had nothing to do with it. Such mittens belonged to haberdashery leather goods. Although not for beauty they were worn, but for purely practical purposes. Well, now animal advocates would most likely be outraged by such treatment of poor hedgehogs. It's good that this is just a harmless pun. A coma of a smile, it is not able to cause any other emotions in the interlocutor.

Antonym for phraseological unit

The catch phrase "gauntlets" has several counterparts to it. It is quite natural that over time, for each stable expression, people find completely opposite ones. The method of antithesis is also used by writers and people of all professions who, in one way or another, relate to the study of the Russian language. What antonyms can be chosen for this phraseological unit? The simplest option is to not cherish the soul in someone or in something. It means infinitely loving and affectionate towards someone. So the opposite opinion can be expressed using this very expression.

Phraseologisms-synonyms

Phraseologism "in tight-knit gloves" also has several similar meanings. One of them is the stable expression "keep in a black body." Its meaning is to keep someone in absolute obedience or to be mistreated. This phrase appeared in the Turkic language. This people was engaged in horse breeding everywhere. It was customary for them not to feed the horses to their fill, so that they would not lose their physical shape. In this sense, the phrase should be interpreted as "black meat" - meat without fat.

The phraseological unit "keep on a short leash" is also close in meaning. This means that you should not give too much freedom to anyone.

1935-1940, by the word "hedgehog").

Keep someone tight - (colloquial) to treat someone strictly, severely. (Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language (1992), N. Yu. Shvedova, by the word "mitten")

Many believe that the expression was formed on behalf of the head of the NKVD of the 30s of the 20th century, Nikolai Ivanovich Yezhov (1895 - 1940), famous for his repressions. In the middle of the 20th century, Boris Efimov's poster "Hedgehog's mittens", where the People's Commissar Ezhov N.I. takes a multi-headed snake, symbolizing the Trotskyists and Bukharinites, in an iron grip.

But, the expression was widely used in the 19th century, long before Yezhov's birth, for example, by a writer (1860 - 1904) and a poet (1799 - 1837).

In fact, iron gauntlets (or golits) are working leather mittens without lining and fur, they were intended for catching hedgehogs. Back in the 18th century, the expression "iron gauntlets" was recorded in the proverb: "To take hedgehog mittens for a soft body."

An expression with a close meaning:

Keep on a short leash.

Examples of

Catherine Ryan Hyde (born 1955)

"Don't Let Go" (2010, translated from English 2015):

"Usually Grace had to keep herself in tight-knit gloves and it is embarrassing to hide my talent, but sometimes there is still a reason to show it. "

“Are there cockroaches in your house?” Partanen said loudly:

If women keep on tight, then insects, rest assured, will not breed ... The women will devour them, but destroy them ... "