Phraseology "wet chicken": the origin and meaning of the phrase

In this article we will talk about the meaning of phraseology "wet chicken". Where did this expression come from and why did the chicken "get the honor" to be mentioned in this winged phrase?

The origin of phraseology

The Russian people are very observant. He observes all the phenomena of nature, the behavior of animals, correlates with one another the manifestations of living and non-living creatures in the environment. Watching nature, people come up with wise phrases that later become "winged".

As you know, a chicken is a poultry, which brings a lot of benefit to a person. It gives eggs and meat, so many people, having their own farm, keep these birds in their yard. The fact that when a hen gets in the rain does not go unnoticed by people, it gets a miserable look. Unlike waterfowl, its feathers quickly get wet and stick to the body. A wet chicken causes pity because it looks confused and drooping. The origin of this phraseology is due to the fact that the image of a damp chicken very accurately characterizes the state of helplessness and depression.

"Wet chicken": the meaning of phraseology

This phrase can be used in two ways. In the first, she means a weak-willed and spineless person who is not capable of independent decisions and deeds. In a word, it characterizes non-initiative people. Like a wet chicken does not produce the impression of a self-assured bird, so a person who is called a "wet chicken" is considered weak and spineless. In the second sense, a "wet chicken" means a person who is very confused and has a pathetic appearance, i.e. Looks like a chicken after the rain. Anyone, even the strongest and most self-assured person, can find himself in a position where unforeseen circumstances are knocked out of the usual rut.

In the first sense, the overall emotional color of phraseology is disparaging. Calling someone such a phrase, we show people their disrespect and disapproval, since weak-willed people usually do not enjoy honor in society.

In the second meaning, the emotional coloring of the phrase is more sympathetic, since a person who finds himself in a quandary, confused and depressed, causes pity.

Interesting Facts

Not everyone knows the fact that when a chicken wished to become a hen, and the hostess did not plan to breed chickens, a certain procedure was performed with the bird. She was dipped in a barrel of cold water, and did it several times. After all these unpleasant procedures, the bird became sluggish and apathetic. This state was maintained for a sufficiently long period of time. The chicken lost the desire to withdraw its offspring, it became depressed and weak-willed. This fact certainly also served as an impetus to the birth of phraseology "wet chicken", characterizing the lack of will.

There is also a proverb in the people about a wet chicken. It sounds like this: "A wet chicken, but also gets cocked." It says about a man who is pathetic and weak-willed, but tries to build from himself something significant. Such people have never been respected, so they are compared to a drooping wet bird, which besides pity does not cause any more emotion.

Conclusion

What makes people so wet in the soul of a wet chicken? Phraseologicalism, born of this phrase, helps to accurately characterize a person who is weak-willed or has a pathetic appearance. As soon as we pronounce this phrase, the image of an unhappy and drooping bird immediately emerges, the feathers of which are stuck together and adhered to the calf. No animal looks so miserable as a chicken caught in the rain. That's why this image became a household name and served as an impetus to the birth of phraseology.