In modern colloquial speech there are a variety of stable expressions. For example, “compost brains”, if this phrase were heard by a person who was fluent in Russian, about a hundred years ago, he would not understand what was at stake. Today, the meaning of this jargon is roughly understood by every native Russian. Let's try to determine its exact value and figure out where this expression came from.
The meaning of jargon
The phrase "compost brains" has several similar meanings. Usually using this jargon, a person means: to lie, to impose something, to pester conversations, distort the truth, start tedious conversations and tire the interlocutor. Also, this phrase can mean excessive moralizing and instruction. Examples of use: “Stop composting my brain!” or "He has composted my whole brain!"
Origin Options
According to some versions, this jargon came into informal vocabulary from prison thieves' jargon. Whatever it was, today this stable phrase is often used in everyday colloquial speech, it is especially popular among young people. There are two variants of etymological origin. The most popular of them is from the noun “composter”. This is a device for marking tickets in public transport by punching holes in them or applying a special mark with ink. Accordingly, the meaning of the expression “compost brains” can be explained verbatim as “leaky” or “forcefully applying information with paint”. The second option is more interesting - from the word "compost" (garbage and waste, naturally converted into humus, used for agricultural purposes). In this case, our jargon can be deciphered as follows: "turn the brain into something dirty, smelling bad and unpleasant."
