The meaning of the phraseological unit fighting windmills? Fighting windmills What is fighting windmills
This expression was coined by the famous Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra (1547-1616) and used it in his popular novel " The cunning hidalgo Don Quixote Lamanche"
"Immediately before their eyes appeared either twenty or thirty windmills, which were located on a large field. And as soon as Don Quixote saw them, he said to his good friend:
- This is a very significant event that fate gave us. Look there, my squire Sancho Panza - there are twenty, if not more, terrible giants standing in the distance - I intend to challenge each of them to a duel and defeat them all. The trophies that we will get from the bodies of these monsters will become the basis of our well-being. This will be a just battle - to destroy this disgusting seed from the face of the earth, this feat will be pleasing to our Lord.
- And where did you find the terrible giants? - asked Sancho Panza.
“Yes, here they are, in front of us, waving their strong and big hands,” his master answered with all gravity. - Look carefully at their arms, Sancho; it seems to me that some of them are several miles long.
“Yes, what are you saying, dear sir,” his squire began to object with fervor, what you see in this field are not giants at all, but the most ordinary mills, and what seems to you to be their hands are their wings, which are under The millstones are driven by the wind.
“Now you can only see an inexperienced adventurer,” said Don Quixote, “when you look closely, you will see giants.” And if you are afraid, then give me the way and pray for me, and I alone will enter into a merciless battle with them.
With these words, and not paying any attention to the admonitions of his squire, who asked him to stop and not do anything stupid, since he was going to fight not with giants, but with the most ordinary windmills. Giving his spurs to his beloved horse Rocinante, he rushed towards the giants, in whom he believed unconditionally. Having arrived very close to them, and not seeing the mills in front of him, he began to exclaim loudly:
- Stop vile and dangerous monsters! You see that only one worthy knight attacked you.
At this very time, the previously weak breeze strengthened and turned into a gusty wind, and noticing that the large wind wings began to spin, Don Quixote said:
- Wave your hands! If you had much more of them than the giant Briareus, then even then I would not have retreated from the glorious battle!
Having exclaimed these words, he immediately asked for the protection of his mistress Dulcinea, asked to help him withstand such severe trials and, raising his shield, threw his horse into a gallop, flying up to the mill enough for a spear, he stuck it in the wing of the mill closest to him, but in this Just about time a very strong wind blew, and the wing jerked with such force that only splinters remained from the spear, and the wing, having caught both the rider and the horse, who found themselves in a very comical position, after a while threw them to the ground.
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“Shut up, Sancho,” said Don Quixote. - I would like to note that military circumstances tend to change quickly. In addition, I believe, and not without reason, that the smart Freston, the man who stole the premises along with the books from me, was able to turn my giants into windmills in order to take away my victory - he hates me fiercely. But sooner or later his evil magic will not resist the power of my knight's blade"
Fighting windmills: what is hidden in this phraseological turn? Involuntarily, everyone uttered this expression at least once. It can be addressed to oneself, as well as to another person. The most important thing is that, in principle, no one is offended by such a statement. It's interesting to figure out what this is connected with.
Naive knight in armor
If anyone has not yet read the novel by the Spanish writer M. Cervantes, we advise you to do so as soon as possible. The work is called "The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha." The novel was written a long time ago, but even today it does not lose its relevance.
It's all about the main character. Tall, awkward and thin Don Quixote is a comic image. But due to his character, he became so beloved by the reader that no one wants or dares to laugh at him. Don Quixote is a romantic and sincere person. He so sacredly believed the stories about valiant knights described by poets that he decided to become one himself.
The hero is written by the author quite comically. Don Quixote is no longer young, and is not very healthy in body. Tall, thin, elongated face with a long nose and funny mustache. And most likely, some changes occurred in his brain that led to a passion for vagrancy. And his horse, Rossinante, was also skinny and comical. Funny armor completed the look.
His servant, Sancho Panzo, is the opposite of the main character, starting with his appearance and ending with his ability to soberly evaluate things and call them by their proper names. But fate brings them together. This happens often in life, doesn’t it?
Real knights, according to the hero, certainly had to perform valiant deeds in the name of a beautiful lady, and they should also be helped in everything by faithful squires. The knight intended to glorify the beauty of his chosen one and tell the world about his exploits in the name of love. Don Quixote chose his favorite - Dulcinea Toboso. By the way, his chosen one was not at all so beautiful that he would sacrifice anything for her. But our knight was blind and deaf, in his imagination Dulcinea was the most beautiful woman on Earth.
What is the point of fighting windmills?
In Don Quixote's fevered imagination, mills are huge monsters that somehow threaten humanity. It is clear that Don Quixote is not entirely adequate. But he dedicates his exploits to the lady of his heart. In the novel, fighting windmills is of particular importance to the hero. This stunning nobility combined with naivety is disarming.
Sincerity always softens people's hearts. This was true before and remains true now. Don Quixote raced furiously on his skinny horse and attacked monsters - “dragons”, pierced them with a spear, trying to kill them. He was, in fact, a laughing stock for those around him.
This is how the meaning and meaning of the expression became obvious to readers of the novel. “Fighting windmills” as an independent phrase went around the world, no longer depending on M. Cervantes.
It means a waste of energy to perform an action that no one needs. A senseless search for the impossible. Empty faith in unworthy people. Or you can put it this way: stupid behavior that does not lead to results.
Knights among us
Why is the hero of the novel so popular among the people? Everything is simple here. Don Quixote did not want to put up with everyday life and routine. His eyes were able to ignore dirt, vulgarity and greed. The soul strived for high flight. Even in his time, he surprised those around him with these qualities.
Upon deep reflection, you begin to understand the power of the phrase "fighting at windmills", the meaning of which is reversed.
Nowadays you won’t find nobility at every step. But they are without fear and reproach." Such people attach special importance to "fighting windmills": they do not want to put up with injustice in society or violence. Fighters for truth, they hold protests, attract public attention, sacrifice themselves in the name of high (often unattainable) goal. Volunteers, animal rights activists, members of conservation societies - they all fight "dragons" and no one laughs at them.
Thanks to Don Quixote
I would like to rejoice that the image of the “knight of the sad image” will forever live in people’s memory. He is kind and open, sincere, and such valuable qualities are concentrated in him that the hero himself and his actions cause little laughter.
The fight against windmills will always continue. Otherwise, the world will become boring, gray and ordinary. People will become poor in spirit and forget high goals, lose the main values of the human soul. The world will become mired in philistinism, profit, self-interest and idleness. “The madness of the brave” has always fascinated and will continue to fascinate. And writers and poets will begin to draw inspiration from the most (at first glance, meaningless) feats!
) - unsuccessfully fight with real or unprecedented, only imaginary obstacles (a hint of Don Quixote, who fought with unprecedented enemies - giants and windmills) (Big Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (1904))
Fight with windmills(translated) - against an imaginary opponent). (Explanatory dictionary of the Russian language (1992), N. Yu. Shvedova, “Mill”)
An expression from the novel "Don Quixote" (1605 - 1614) by the Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra (1547 - 1616). There is an episode in this novel when a knight (Don Quixote) threw himself at windmills with a spear, seeing giants in them.
Examples
Duncan Clark
"Alibaba. The history of world ascent" (2016), translation by Sarychev K. M., ch. 2:
"Like a modern-day Don Quixote, Jack enjoys fighting windmills ranging from retail to financial reporting, entertainment, healthcare and more."
(1829 - 1906)
" " (1871), Case of David and Nikolai Chkhotua and others (Tiflis case):
“I admit, I don’t understand this alibi, and for these reasons: I think that this evidence is not evidence, that it resembles windmill wheel, which the prosecution fought very seriously, not suspecting that it is an inanimate object."
(1860 - 1904)
(1887), d. 1 yavl. 5:
“Darling, don’t fight thousands alone, don't fight the mills, don’t hit your forehead against the walls... May God protect you from all kinds of rational management, extraordinary schools, heated speeches... Lock yourself in your shell and do your little, God-given work... It’s warmer, more honest and healthier.. "
(1823 - 1886)
"Profitable place" 4, 7. Zhadov:
"Oh, what boredom! There's nothing better... what about fight with mills".
The primary source of the image is the novel (1615) “Don Quixote” by the Spanish writer Miguel Cervantes de Saavedra (1547-1616). The hero of the work, Don Quixote of La Mancha, mistakes the windmills for a detachment of knights and enters into battle with them, with disastrous consequences for himself.
Ironically: about the fight against imaginary, contrived obstacles.
Encyclopedic Dictionary of winged words and expressions. - M.: “Locked-Press”. Vadim Serov. 2003.
See what “fighting windmills” is in other dictionaries:
Fighting windmills- Iron. There is no point in wasting time and energy fighting an imaginary danger. To talk about art and style, considering books in which there are no traces of art and style, would mean fighting with windmills (Zhukovsky. On criticism). From... ... Phraseological Dictionary of the Russian Literary Language
fight windmills- Fight (fight) with windmills; fight imaginary enemies; wasting energy aimlessly According to an episode in the novel by M. Cervantes Don Quixote (1605-1614), whose hero fought with windmills, thinking that he was fighting giants... Dictionary of many expressions
- (foreign language) to fight unsuccessfully with real or unprecedented, only imaginary obstacles (a hint of Don Quixote, who fought with unprecedented enemies giants and windmills) Wed. They (people who have comprehended life) do not want to fight with... ...
To fight with windmills (inc.) to unsuccessfully fight with real, or unprecedented, only imaginary obstacles (an allusion to Don Quixote, who fought with unprecedented enemies giants and windmills). Wed. They (comprehended...
Razg. Disapproved Fighting imaginary enemies, wasting energy aimlessly. BTS, 123, 532. /i> From the novel by M. Cervantes “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” (1605–1615). BMS 1998, 371; FSRY, 241 ... Large dictionary of Russian sayings
fight windmills- disapproved fight imaginary enemies; wasting energy aimlessly. From the novel by the Spanish writer M. Cervantes “The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha” (1605 1615). Poor nobleman Don Quixote, having read chivalric novels, imagined himself... ... Phraseology Guide
fight, fight windmills- see mill... Dictionary of many expressions
- (an extravagant defender of outdated views, or oppressed imaginary or real) Cf. Rogozhin, who received the name Don Quixote, was an eccentric, of which there were few in the world at that time, and in our stereotypical age not a single one can be found. He… … Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary
Don Quixote (an extravagant defender of outdated views, or oppressed imaginary, or real). Wed. Rogozhin, who received the name Don Quixote, was an eccentric, of which there were few in the world at that time, and in our stereotypical age... ... Michelson's Large Explanatory and Phraseological Dictionary (original spelling)
Windmills in Siberia (photo by S. M. Prokudin Gorsky, 1912) A windmill is an aerodynamic mechanism that performs mechanical work using wind energy captured by the roof ... Wikipedia
Books
- Don Quixote of La Mancha (CDmp3), Cervantes Miguel de Saavedra. The audiobook is a retelling of the greatest novel of the Renaissance, "The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha" by the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Poor nobleman Don...
- Don Quixote of La Mancha (audiobook MP3), Miguel de Cervantes. The audiobook is a retelling of the greatest novel of the Renaissance, "The Cunning Hidalgo Don Quixote of La Mancha" by the Spanish writer Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. Poor nobleman Don...
