The phrase “bear service” is used in cases where a person is trying to help someone, but does it so poorly, ineptly and awkwardly that, instead of the desired support, it only causes trouble and spoils the situation completely. In life, this is common enough. I. A. Krylov has a fable called "The Hermit and the Bear." It was thanks to her that this phraseological unit appeared. What is it all about?
“The Hermit and the Bear”
At the beginning, Krylov writes that there are situations when we need help, but it should be understood that not everyone can provide it properly. You need to stay away from fools, because a fool who wants to benefit is sometimes more dangerous than the most evil enemy. They may be provided with a bear service. You already know the meaning of phraseology.
Hermit Life
Next is the story itself, which tells about a hermit who has no family and lives in the wilderness. Of course, loneliness can be written very beautifully if desired. But not everyone can live in such conditions, because most people want to share grief and happiness with their loved ones. The author writes that they can object to him, because in the wilderness it is beautiful, especially in the presence of a meadow, forest, mountains, streams, emerald grass. Krylov completely agrees with this, but says that all this can quickly get bored, if not even with whom to talk. Sometimes even betrayal, a disservice, feuds may seem less evil than loneliness.
Meet the Bear
So the hermit once tired of living away from people. He went to the forest, hoping to meet someone there. But after all, there mainly live only bears and wolves. People are rarely in the forest. And indeed, the hermit met a bear. He politely took off his hat and bowed, and the bear extended his paw. So they met. After some time, they became real inseparable friends, could not part even for several hours. Krylov writes that he does not know what they were talking about and how they were talking. The hermit was silent, and the bear could not be called too sociable. But, in spite of everything, the hermit was happy that he had found a friend. Friends often walked together, the hermit did not get tired of praising the bear and touching him. He thought that a wonderful time had come in his life. The unfortunate did not suspect that he would soon be provided with a bear service …
The Hermit's Death
Once on a hot day, friends decided to walk through forests, meadows, plains and hills. Of course, man is weaker than a wild beast, so after a while the hermit was tired and began to lag behind the bear. He realized that a friend can no longer walk, and invited him to lie down and sleep if he wants. He also said that he could watch over him. The hermit was only pleased with this proposal. He sank to the ground, yawned, and immediately fell asleep. And the bear began to guard his friend, and he had to work hard. Here the fly landed on the hermit’s nose, and the clubfoot drove her away. But the annoying insect flew over to the cheek. As soon as the bear drove the fly away, it again landed on its nose. How impudent she is! Without thinking twice, the bear took a heavy stone in its paws, squatted down and thought that now he would certainly kill her. At that time, the fly was sitting on the hermit's forehead. And so the bear gathered his courage and threw the stone with all his might into the head of his friend. The blow was such that the hermit's skull split in two, and the unfortunate one remained lying on this spot. That's what a bear service means.
