Wolf Ticket: What Does It Mean?

The Russian language is known for speech, the meaning of which is difficult to unravel even its carriers. For example, you can recall the phraseology "wolf ticket". What does this mysterious expression mean, where did it come from and in what cases is it used in written and spoken language? You can read about all this in this article.

What is a wolf ticket?

So, what is the significance of this incomprehensible speech turnover? Phraseologism "wolf ticket" appeared in the Russian language even in the times of the Russian Empire. This name was worn by a document containing a mark about the unreliability of its owner. The people who received him could no longer get a job in the civil service, they were categorically refused admission to educational institutions and so on.

Practice similar to the one described above existed even in the times of the Soviet Union. It is a question of writing in a work record, saying that a person was dismissed from the article. His further employment became an extremely difficult task, it was useless to dream of a good job.

Of course, nowadays a wolf ticket is not issued to anyone. Nevertheless, this speech structure, which used to be very popular, did not disappear from the Russian language at all. Now this phraseology is used when they want to negatively respond about the work of this or that person.

Theory number 1

Above is told about the importance of the stable turnover of the "wolf ticket". There are several versions that explain the origin of this expression. Why did the ticket, containing a mark of unreliability, come to be called wolves, and not somehow differently?

The most popular version, which most linguists trust, relates the origin of the phraseological turnover to the inhabitants of one of the Moscow lodging houses. The housekeeper was called "Dry ravine", enjoyed great popularity in pre-revolutionary times, had a bad reputation. "Wolves Dry Gully" - so pretentiously called themselves her guests. It is known that most of them were forbidden to live in Moscow, the corresponding record was present in their documents. They were petty criminals, beggars, deportees.

It is believed that it was in honor of the "wolves of the Dry Gully" that the certificate of unreliability was called a "wolf ticket".

Theory number 2

There is another explanation of where the phraseology "wolf ticket" came from, the meaning and origin of which is discussed in this article. It's no secret that the wild wolves lead a wandering lifestyle, practically do not sit in one place. Animals are forced to wander constantly in search of food, they are controlled by hunger.

If a person receives a certificate of unreliability, his life becomes very similar to that of the aforementioned forest animals. He is forced to constantly move from place to place, as well as to hide from law enforcement agencies, it is a kind of hunt. It is not surprising that the ticket, which deprives its recipient of the opportunity to lead a quiet life, began to be called a wolf.

Theory number 3

A "wolf ticket" is a phraseology that also has a third version of origin. Some linguists propose to pay attention to the word "wolf" in order to understand where this speech turnover came from. This word in this context means "bestial, abnormal, non-human". The wolf is often seen as a symbol of aggression, cruelty, considered dangerous for society.

Consequently, the owner of a wolf ticket is different from other people who are considered "trustworthy, normal". Phraseology was invented in order to emphasize this difference. Also, he can indicate that the person who received such a certificate, is able to survive alone. After all, a wolf is an animal that is free-loving, independent, not in need of anyone.

Who was given

It is also interesting what kind of people in pre-revolutionary Russia could receive a certificate that attests to the unreliability of their owner. For example, this document was often issued to officers who shamed the honor of their regiment, institution. The ticket indicated that its holder was deprived of the right to carry out public service.

Also it could earn members of those or other organizations, clubs. For example, they could commit certain acts, categorically forbidden by the charter of the community, fail to pay their own debts and so on. As a result, such people were deprived of membership, as well as any hope of its restoration.

Finally, pupils of universities and gymnasiums could receive a wolf ticket. This could be the result of the student's participation in meetings and actions of an anti-government nature. Also, students were expelled with a wolf ticket for hooliganism. They did not have the right to enter another educational institution after that.

Examples of use

So, the "wolf ticket" - what does this mean? It is better to understand this, examples of the use of this phraseology, borrowed from literary works, will help. For example, you can refer to the novel "State Counselor", authored by Boris Akunin. One of the heroines of the book tells how she was kicked out of the gymnasium with a wolf ticket for committing a hooligan act. She also mentions that as a result she had to finish her studies at home, because it was already impossible to get a job in another educational institution.

The writer Yuzefovich also uses this verbal construction in his work "The Harlequin Suit". One of the characters tries to convince the other to confess to the perfect crime. A sincere admission will help him avoid severe punishment. Otherwise, he promises him a wolf ticket, which will put an end to a further career and make life much more difficult.

Are there synonyms

Above is told about where this stable expression came from, which means. A wolf ticket is a document that deprives a person of any civil rights. Does this speech structure have synonyms? If you want, you can replace the "ticket" with the word "passport". The meaning of this will not change at all.