In this article we will consider the origin and meaning of phraseologism “homespun truth”. This expression is probably not clear to everyone. In order to understand what does this phrase mean, you first need to understand what the word "sermyaga" means. Having understood the definition of this concept, you will immediately understand the meaning of our phraseology.
What is sermyaga
Sermyaga is a rough woolen cloth that has not been dyed. From this material, peasants sewed outerwear. Rough fabric, simple cut - there was no aesthetic appearance in it. Clothing made of such material had a plain appearance.
However, like the whole life of poor peasants, who was as simple and unprepossessing as possible. Usually, the word “homespun” refers to everything poor, meager and impoverished.
The psychological coloring of the word is usually negative and dismissive. In the same way a person is described who is called "homespun". In combination with such an epithet, this means that a person is not educated, without imagination, uncouth, rude, tactless and “cuts the truth of the uterus” without thinking about what might offend or offend someone.
If we take the word "lingering" in a generalized sense, then it means simplification in all areas, without decorations and manifestations of fantasy.
true
What does “homespun truth” mean? The meaning of phraseology we will consider a little later. To begin with, we’ll decide what the truth is. Of course, the truth is only one. However, it can be presented with various words, coloring it with its subjective emotions and thereby giving it a certain look, depending on whether we want to expose these or those events in a positive or negative light.
If the truth is bitter, we are trying to somehow reduce its destructive consequences, presenting negative events in a mitigating form, not negotiating some things, looking for some positive aspects and highlighting them, perhaps even exaggerating their influence. However, the truth can also be said rudely, without embellishing it with anything. Good or bad, it's hard to answer. Probably, you need to look in each case and judge about it depending on the situation.
Tiny truth. Expression value
What is the truth - everyone knows. What is a homespun truth? This is a crude, simple and unvarnished truth. Just as clothes made of sermyagi were not distinguished by sophistication and intricacy, so the homespun truth does not have any excesses.
In 1931, the Golden Calf novel was released. In this novel for the first time the expression "homespun truth" was used. In general, this idiom occurs five times in the novel, three of which are with the epithet “great”. When this expression was first used in the novel, Ostap Bender completely correctly understands its meaning and even supplements it with a synonymous series.
In those days, the phrase "homestead Russia" was very common. Perhaps our phraseology was created under his influence. The word "homespun" very clearly characterized the rude, peasant and uncomplicated nature of the people in Russia and the truth that existed in those days.
Similar expression in English
Not only in the Russian language there is a phraseologism “homespun truth”. The same expression, or rather an idiom that has a similar meaning, exists in the English language. It sounds like this - homespun truth. In the literal translation, the adjective homespun means "simple, homespun, " that is, almost the same as "homespun".
However, a slightly different meaning was put into the English interpretation of this concept. If in the Russian language the expression had a somewhat ironic form, then in the English version it has an exclusively positive characteristic. In an English source where this idiom was first recorded, the author condemned the vagueness and evasiveness of the language of politicians. In response to them, he contrasted honesty and directness.
