Most often, with the sound of the proverb "hand washing the hand," people have associations with the thieves' world. This is not surprising, because in the people of this phrase there is a rhymed sequel - "the thief thief is hiding."
Origins
Of course, in the original this expression of this kindthere was no meaning, because it came to our language from Latin. "Manus manum lavat" - this is how the proverb sounds in a solemn solemn language. If you believe the story, then the very first thing said the phrase "hand wash the hand" and put it into use by Plato, although it is impossible to speak with confidence about the authorship of such an ancient saying.
The meaning of phraseology has not changed at allwith the course of time, as has not changed any of the proverbs that have come from Latin. For example, "homo homini lupus est" (a human being is a wolf) is used today in the same sense in which it was used hundreds of years ago. Apparently, this confirms the profound wisdom of Latin winged expressions, which does not need additions or newfangled interpretations. But our people, of course, managed to misunderstand it and use it in their own way.
About mutual assistance and friendship
If you try to make out the expression "hand handwashes "from the point of view of logic, then the analogy with life situations will be seen very clearly. To do this, you can also resort to the help of black humor.
It is hard to imagine how a one-armed manwashes its only hand before eating, but the owners of two hands cope with this task easily and simply. The same thing happens in life - alone people sometimes can not achieve the desired result, and the help that comes to the friend will always help him out. This shows that social contacts and friendly relations are always useful and effective, and it is much harder for the proud and independent people in this life to achieve their own. Show an example of how the hand is washing the hand, very simple. A graduate of a not too prestigious university will be long and tedious to try to find a good job in an unfamiliar city, and the search for it eventually can end in nothing. But a student who has managed to make useful acquaintances during his studies will settle into a good place in two counts.
On illegal activities "by concepts"
However, phraseology "hand-wiping" completelyknowingly received the continuation of "the thief thief covers", and the fault of this is our distorted reality. Now no one is ashamed to talk about what makes a living not quite honest way or prefers not to "give" money to their subordinates to buy a house in the capital or once again to relax abroad.
Of course, this "thieves'" continuation is strongdistorts the original meaning of the proverb and vulgarizes it. People have established a firm association with something dishonest, dirty and illegal, and yet the original meaning of this expression is very noble. It is hardly possible to imagine how ancient sages with a thievish appearance are opened by battered diplomats, exchanging money received for dubious activities and whispering to each other that the hand, however, is washing its hand. True, this does not mean that at that time there was no theft and the desire to appropriate someone else's - just then they did not talk about it with pride or complacency.
The importance of etymology
It is amazing how many analogues acquired inmodern idiom "hand washes the hand." The meaning of this proverb can be revealed with the help of other phrases, such as, for example, “the crow doesn’t peck out the crows” or “not a warrior alone in the field”. “Officially,” the complete adage looks like this: “The hand washes the hand, and both are white.” One of the established meanings of this phraseological unit is that people can cover each other in dishonest deeds. However, this meaning can be found in the phraseological dictionaries of the Russian language, where for some reason the etymology of this phrase is not indicated and its initial meaning is not explained. It is best to remember such an interpretation of this phraseological unit: a difficult case is best done together, then you can count on a positive result.
