The proverb is afraid of business. How to understand the proverb “The work of the master is afraid. Proverbs in stories

The proverb “The master’s work is afraid” appeared a long time ago and for good reason.
Today for some reason I wanted to reflect on its meaning.

First of all, I wanted to dot the i's when interpreting two concepts - "business" and "master".
Business most often means some kind of work, ongoing activity, or simply some kind of assignment that must certainly be completed.

Master is a person who knows how to do something very well. This is not just a worker, he is a skilled worker in some profession. He already has a pretty good grasp of what he has to do. It is assumed that everything he undertakes will be done well and quickly.

Well, now let's return to our proverb. So, “the master’s work is afraid.”

Case is an inanimate noun. And the verb “to be afraid” can actually be used with a living object. Someone may be afraid of something. To be afraid means to worry very much while waiting for an action that should be directed at the “fearful” object.

Can a thing, being an inanimate “something,” be afraid? Well no, of course not.

Why then did these two parts of speech occur in one phrase?

I would be very grateful if we all together offer different options for the meaning of this proverb.

Answer from Dmitry Z. from Volgograd

In fact, Russian proverbs can sometimes be very difficult to explain, and sometimes people even distort their meaning and apply them inappropriately. Take the proverb “the master’s work is afraid” as an example - what does it really mean, what is its real essence?

This saying is usually used when a person is praised for some quality work done. Also, the expression is appropriate when a person is just starting to perform; in his words, he shows that he can cope with the task.

They say that only a real specialist can do this job, only he can do this work with the appropriate quality. At their core, in the Russian language you can find many similar proverbs, although less known and used. As an example, “in skillful hands things work out.”

It is worth mentioning the erroneous interpretation of this catchphrase, which is not so rare. Some believe that the meaning of the statement is that any work avoids the master, bypasses him and falls on the shoulders of beginners.

They say that a specialist can do everything; he doesn’t get a decent job at all. Cases of such misunderstanding are far from isolated, and any philologist or simply literate person will be able to challenge such a version.

In conclusion, I would like to note that it is very important to find a favorite activity in life. And then you won’t be afraid of it, but it will be afraid of you!

Philologist, candidate of philological sciences, poet, member of the Union of Writers of Russia.
Publication date: 10/24/2019

We speak with admiration about skilled and talented people. Still would!

A job well done deserves unconditional praise. In Rus' there have always been many dexterous craftsmen, experts in their field.

Just look at the gunsmith Alexey Surnin, who served as the prototype of the famous Lefty for the writer Nikolai Leskov!

It is about such gifted workers that the proverb “The master’s work is afraid” was composed. Let's talk about the details of its origin and the nuances of use.

Meaning of the proverb

Expression “the master’s work is afraid” used as praise when they want to emphasize the perfection of a particular task.

No matter how difficult the work, an experienced person will do it brilliantly, because the ability to cope with non-standard requests is a sign of the highest skill.

When a specialist renovates an old kitchen with an original layout, the owner has many concerns. Will it be possible to rebuild the sink, will there be a cutting area, will there be room left for flowers on the windowsill?

After the renovation is completed, women's joy knows no bounds: a difficult task is solved taking into account all wishes. “The master’s work is afraid!” — she will say with admiration, paying tribute to the professionalism of the specialist.

A similar phrase would be appropriate to say to a hairdresser who turns a shapeless mop of hair into a chic hairstyle, or a doctor who puts a seriously ill patient back on his feet in a matter of weeks.

The needlewoman who “figured out” a multi-story cake two hours before the guests arrived can also be called a master of her craft. Are there a lot of smart people and craftsmen around who save, teach, feed, clothe, warm, heal people, decorate the world with their imagination, hard work and skill? Any work in their hands burns, any business is in dispute.

Origin of the proverb

A collection of proverbs and sayings of the Russian people, recorded by V. I. Dahl, introduces us to the full, now shortened version of the proverb: “The master’s work is afraid, but another master’s work is afraid.”

A two-part composition is initially inherent in many wise sayings, because the difference in phenomena is easier to trace in contrast. For example, the famous saying “Silence is golden” has a continuation. “And the word is silver,” adds folk wisdom.

In our case, a good master has an antipode - a bad, lazy “master” who is afraid of work and does not want to do it. The fact that a matter is perceived by native speakers as a living being is very interesting.

It turns out that people are not the only ones who are intimidated by the volume of tasks assigned to them. “Being afraid” can be a matter of course! Whom? Yes, someone who, without delay, “with feeling, with sense, with planning,” will take on it.

It turns out that in addition to skills and abilities, a good specialist needs determination, self-confidence, and an attitude that the task will be completed by any means necessary.

Synonymous expressions

Among the many synonyms expressing gratitude to craftsmen, in our native language there are several of the most striking:

• in (someone's) hands the work burns with fire;
• in capable hands, things work out;
• (do something) without a hitch.

Foreigners also do not skimp on unusual compliments:

• Das Werk lobt den Meister (German) – the work praises the master;
• He works best who knows his trade (English) - the one who knows his business works best;
• Bon berger tond et n’ecorche pas (French) – the good shepherd mows and does not move;
• L’opera loda il maestro (Italian) – the work glorifies the master.

Whatever you say, we will be judged by our deeds. It is important to find your calling in time - then any activity will be a joy, and you will want to cope with any new challenges with excellence. The main thing is not to be intimidated by the work. Better let her be afraid of you!

PROVERBS IN STORIES

Carpenter thinks with an ax

Vanya and grandmother watched the work of a carpenter who was renovating the fence and porch opposite Vanya’s window.

“Look, Vanya,” said the grandmother, “the carpenter threw out the flabby boards from the fence.” The strong boards remained in place, but between them there were gaps of different widths. To close the gaps, the carpenter took new boards and began to trim them, in accordance with the width of the gaps. Now the carpenter placed new boards between the old ones. And so they sat tightly between the old ones, as if they had been sitting here for a century. Now even if you hit it with a hammer, not a single board will jump out. And you don't need nails. It's not the nails that hold it, but a good fit.

Now the master began to work on the porch. The roof on the porch was like an old hat: it didn’t show, it was in your eyes. The roof was supported by two pillars dug into the ground. The carpenter dug both pillars and pulled them out of the ground. It turned out that the pillars were very rotten. The carpenter cleaned away all the rot and lightly hewed the pillars from below. Next, in place of the bottom thin step, he puts a good one. I cut out nests at the ends of the deck and planted both pillars in these nests in one fell swoop.

Everything was chopped and hewn in proportion, as if these pillars had grown out of the log and raised the roof of the porch with their tops. The porch now looks dashing and dapper.

Now the carpenter decided to bring the porch pillars to their full beauty. He carved belts on the pillars, as if he were wearing bracelets. The links between the belts at the top and bottom were rounded. It turned out as if the pillars were made of jugs. Everything is simple and simple, but so elegant! A simple axe, but in skillful hands anything can be done beautifully. It is incorrect to say that, for example, a painter is an artist, and a carpenter or joiner is just a worker.

The painter will depict whatever he thinks of with paint and brush. We can say that the painter thinks with a brush.

The same can be said about a carpenter. The carpenter will do whatever he has in mind with an axe. Hence the proverb: “The carpenter thinks with an axe.”

Pick one berry at a time and you'll fill up a box

Vanya had a grandmother - kind and friendly. She spoke cheerfully with the kids, she would comfort and make everyone laugh. She talked to the old people judiciously. A friendly smile was always on her face. The old people said: “No matter what the trouble, this old woman will think well and say quietly.” One old man once said to Vanya:

- Your grandmother is made of songs, of proverbs.

“My grandmother can draw,” said Vanya.

- This is a special matter. Your grandmother has the title of “master painter.” She knows how to do plastering and painting, knows all kinds of paint, and understands wood species. At the club, the artists consulted with her about what kind of paint to dilute on what, so that it would be durable and beautiful.

One day Vanya asked:

- Grandma, what were you talking about with Mitya the parquet worker? You nodded your head and said: “That’s right, work loves not the good guy, but the lazy one.” You also said: “The eyes are afraid, but the hands are doing.” What did Mitya tell you about?

– Mitya talked about his work. Really curious.

Mitya is an artist. But it doesn’t work with paint or brushes. He decorates boxes, tables, and cabinets with wooden patterns.

Mitya has thin planks of wood of different species at hand. There's mahogany, black oak, cinnamon. Each tree has its own color.

These boards were sawn into squares, checkers, and circles. And Mitya glues a pattern on a box or cabinet with these checkers. These wooden leaves are attached to one another with glue.

Sometimes the pattern is simple: stripes go from top to bottom, but Mitya’s came out beautiful and elegant. The path is black, brown, then the path is black, then red, white.

These tracks are repeated in the same order. Thanks to the transparency of colored wood, any item appears richly decorated.

Recently, the master instructed Mitya to glue the tabletop - the top board of the table - and said:

– This is an order from the academy. The deadline is two weeks.

Mitya eagerly set to work. I thought about the drawing and one day finished the top corner and was delighted with my work.

For a whole week, Mitya was glad that he was entrusted with such important work. In the morning he wakes up early and lies in bed until noon. In his imagination he sees the work completed, admires it, throws up his hands with joy: while getting dressed, he dances and sings. He sits down at the table for a minute and selects the necessary boards, but joy washes away him. He runs into the street and meets his friends: “Think, guys, professors and academicians will admire my art.”

In the evening he will run to the cinema.

For a week the work has not moved even half a finger. On Saturday evening, Mitya suddenly got tired of having fun. He took off the newspaper that covered the board, and was embarrassed and scared. The beautifully crafted pattern stood out alone, like a flower against the background of bare earth.

Mitya clasped his hands:

- What have I done! There is one week left. I won't have time to do anything...

An hour later, the master, walking through the yard, saw Mitya sitting on the porch.

- Mitka, are you crying?

- Master, I betrayed your trust.

- Go show me your work.

We went into Mitya’s room. Looking at the tabletop, the master said:

– What you did was done perfectly and beautifully.

- Master, dear, what areas do I need to grab every day in order to meet the deadline? The work will be a mess, but I’m used to it being neat and thorough.

- Listen to me, Mitya. I am your boss and I give you a work quota: every day, glue and finish on the board as much as your palm can cover. Neither less nor more. And the work will progress, and you will finish the finishing slowly, to your taste.

Mitya diligently, like a student, began to follow the lesson given by the master.

At first Mitya did not believe that with such a low quota he would be able to finish the work on time. He fits the plates one to another carefully - the mosquito will not undermine your nose. But he’ll look around at how much empty space remains, and he’ll get scared. However, the eyes are afraid, but the hands do.

And Mitya had golden hands.

The palm moved quietly along the board, and following the movement of the artistic hand, the board turned into a blooming garden.

Mitya finished his work a day ahead of schedule. I smoothed it with an iron and polished it with a wolf tooth.

The master admired the work for a long time, then silently hugged Mitya...

People have written many different sayings about skill. One of them is the focus of our attention - “the master’s work is afraid.” Let's look at the meaning of the proverb today.

Master and business. Who will win?

It is very important for a person to feel like an expert in the field in which he works. The popular wisdom “the master’s work is afraid” speaks about this; the meaning of the proverb boils down to the fact that if someone who is knowledgeable in work takes on the task, then everything will be completed at the highest level. In other words, the business will not withstand the onslaught of the knowledge, skills and abilities of a professional.

And it also happens that the “master” is afraid of the task. The person is not confident in his abilities. There are various reasons for this. For example, the “master” did not study well and does not know exactly how to approach the matter.

It is known that you can look at a person who works forever. True, this applies, as a rule, to physical labor, when it transforms the material, external reality around. But the expression “the work of the master is afraid”, the meaning of the proverb is suitable for characterizing any activity, it makes no difference whether we are talking about a piece of untreated wood or an “unpolished” text. But it’s more interesting to watch a carpenter’s work, of course, because it’s akin to the birth of a miracle, when there was something formless, of natural origin, and it became a bookshelf. In comparison, the service of an editor or writer is not so noticeable, because when a text is corrected or transformed, the most important part of the action is moved from external reality to internal space, and the viewer sees only the rearrangement of phrases in a sentence.

Proverb as encouragement

But the expression can be used for more than just saying that someone is doing a good job. Maybe so, the master carpenter took the boy as his assistant and allowed him to do everything on his own for the first time. And he was taken aback by surprise and did not know where to start, how to approach the work, and the mentor said to him: “Nothing, nothing, remember everything I taught you. The master’s work is afraid.” The meaning of the proverb is very short: a person who is well prepared succeeds in everything. The main thing is to believe in yourself.

The main advantage of the saying is that it is universal. Depending on the intonation and situation, it can express:

• Statement of fact.
• Encouragement, approval.
• Hope for a successful outcome of the enterprise.

We hope that we were able to reveal the meaning of the proverb “the master’s work is afraid”, and we were able to live up to it.