It's in the bag literally

One of the famous expressions in society is the interesting expression “it’s in the bag.” But how did this stable phraseological unit appear, and what events were associated with hats, and not with hats or caps? And what versions of the origin of this expression can be considered plausible?

Versions of the origin of the phraseological unit “it’s all in the bag”

The most common and plausible version today is the version about messengers. The meaning of this version is that earlier messengers - postmen sewed important and valuable letters and denunciations or other important papers under the lining of their headdress (hat, cap).

The second version is that since ancient times all controversial cases were resolved through drawing lots. And for this they used a hat, in which pieces of something were placed, definitely indicating each subject of dispute. That's why they said that the whole matter would be decided through a hat.

Third version of origin expressions it's in the bag lies in the fact that certain officials took bribes, which in turn were placed under a hat or other headdress. But this version looks implausible.

Nowadays, you can also clearly see why people pronounce this expression in the literal sense. The fact is that, for example, during exercises or classes, the military stuffed “cheat sheets” into the lining of their caps. If these cheat sheets had difficult-to-remember content (for example, call signs or radio frequency). And when a difficult situation arose, the serviceman would reach out and take a peek (the matter was resolved). But this is not the only thing that can be seen in military personnel. Most older people still put notes in their hats.

16.10.2018 18.02.2019 Alexander Firtsev


Who has not experienced a feeling of joy that a business that has been started is progressing and is coming to a successful conclusion? Under such circumstances, out of emotion, I just want to say "in the bag"! But why do people remember the headdress at such moments? What versions of origin famous expression exist, and in what cases is this usage appropriate? Let's try to figure this out.

The meaning of phraseology

The phrase “it’s in the bag” means that the job is done or is nearing its successful completion.

IN modern speech stable circulation is used in conversations between adults and children, because thanks to it you can quickly and simply characterize the current situation. For example, a student says: “I passed almost all the exams, there is only one test left, but I have an “automatic” in it, so that’s it, “it’s all in the bag”, the session is over!”

Or another clear case - concluding a deal between business partners: “The negotiations were successful, all that remains is to put your signatures and the deal is in the bag.”

In both cases, they remember the headdress when they talk about a business in which everything is going smoothly, “like clockwork,” and success is just around the corner.

History of phraseology

It is impossible to say exactly where the expression came from, and which version of its origin sounds most convincing, but it can be noted that they are all based on a hat. There are several versions of why things are “put” in the hat:

1. Bribe in a hat.

In Rus', bribery existed before, only it was called “bribery.” It was customary to put a bribe (bribe) in an official’s hat.

Usually, the bribe-taker, by handing over a bribe, expects a quick and successful resolution of an issue that is important to him.

It is likely that the phrase “it’s in the bag” usually sounded from the mouths of bribe takers, who thus declared to their associates that an issue important to them would soon be resolved.

2. Letter from a messenger.

IN old times There was no post office as such, but important documents and letters had to be delivered. Therefore, there were messengers who delivered letters. At the same time, they put the most important messages under their hats so as not to lose them.

When the messengers picked up the documents for shipment, they informed the sender “the deal is in the bag,” which meant “the job will be done, I will deliver your message to the addressee on time.” Over time, the phraseological unit began to be used in other situations.

3. Court case.

During the time of Ivan the Terrible, a decision on some court cases was decided by lot, which had to be drawn from the judge’s hat. When the decisions were already in the bag, the participants trial They understood that the verdict would be accepted very soon.

It is worth noting that linguists do not consider this version plausible, since during the reign of Ivan the Terrible the word “hat” did not yet exist in the Russian language.

4. Jewish custom.

There is an opinion that by drawing lots the Jews decided who received the right to do something, be it selling a product, receiving an order, or buying something. The hat, in its way, played the role of materialized hope (everyone believed that he would be lucky), therefore, something else followed stable expression“slip” - miss or lose an opportunity.

As you can see, all the options are ambiguous in their presentation and origin, but deserve attention, and until experts come to a consensus, everyone can stick to the version they like.

In the bag —idiomatic expression, meaning: everything will be fine, the job is almost done, the job is successful, the event can be completed in our favor.

The expression uses the word “hat”, which has nothing to do with office work, being a headdress. This word came into the Russian language no earlier than during the reign of Boris Godunov ( end XVI century) and applied only to foreign headdresses. According to its purpose, the hat, in addition to the headdress, also has other functions; in particular, it was used when collecting alms and during the drawing of lots.

According to one version, several centuries ago, when mail in its current form did not exist, all messages were delivered by messengers on horseback. There were a lot of robbers wandering along the roads back then, and a bag with a package could attract the attention of robbers. Therefore, important papers, or, as they used to be called, affairs, were sewn under the lining of a hat or cap. This is where the expression came from - "in the bag". This phraseological unit means that everything is fine, everything is in order.

Another version, officials who handled cases took bribes in their hats . Taking a bribe is the oldest and most proven way to resolve issues in the authorities: once an official takes a bribe, it means that the case will be resolved in favor of the one who gave the bribe.

Under Ivan the Terrible, some court cases were decided by lot, and lot pulled from the judge's hat. In other words, the whole matter was decided in the wild. It wasn't just the judges who drew lots from the hat. And really, why go to them - it’s far away, and it’s troublesome, and literacy is required, and the litigation will drag on for a long time, and you’ll have to pay money - if you can resolve all the issues on the spot and quickly in a businesslike manner.

Sergei Maksimov, author of the book “Winged Words”, writes what exactly this is how the ancient Jews clarified their claims, this same custom spread throughout Rus' and was observed for quite a long time. A hat made of sheep wool, a Russian folk headdress since ancient times, as well as a Belarusian cap can be seen on Scythian sculptures. Lots were thrown into these hats - coins or pieces of lead with a mark for good luck. Whoever pulled out the lucky “tag” received the right to do some business - selling a product, purchasing something, receiving an order, or anything else planned by lot. The hat thus gave hope for something planned. Vice versa, “to screw up” means to lose this hope, to miss an opportunity.

Information sources:

Additionally on Guenon:

This is what they say about the successful completion of something.

Probably the expression goes back to the ancient custom of resolving controversial cases by drawing lots. Pieces of paper were placed in the hat, one of which was marked with a win (lot). Whoever is lucky enough to draw lots wins.

"Some are thinking of producing it in the form of a translated word with French, although, according to many signs, this expression can be considered indigenous or, if borrowed, then in very distant times. Casting lots to determine queues, a technique known to biblical Jews, was also practiced in Rus'. A hat made of sheep wool has also been a Russian folk headdress since ancient times, and we see a Belarusian cap-magerka on Scythian sculptures. All sorts of lots in the form of conventional signs are thrown into these hats throughout the diverse stretch of Russian land - whether they be stone coins, or bitten and chipped coins, or pieces of lead with a mark for good luck - during disputes and hires. “The draw of lots is God’s judgment” (says the proverb); “To cast lots, don’t blame yourself in advance.” Whose mark is taken out will be the end of all disputes; his right to receive an order before his rivals for buying and selling, for supplying horses for dispersal, etc. is undeniable, and the thing in the hat was only waiting for a turn: put it on your head - now your business will not jump out of it.”

Examples

"and in the end my job would be in the bag."

“The other day Kondrashkin-daddy himself met me and said that your it's all in the bag, that as soon as you move from the dacha to the city, then right away there’s a wedding..."

"Love Rejected" (1883):

“His song will ignite the unapproachable heart, the window will yield to the pressure of a small hand, obedient to the heart, and - in the bag with wide brims!

(1826 - 1889)

“Modern Idyll” (1877) - “And the thing is quite simple,” Rededya continued, “establish an international corporation of traveling commanders - and it’s done.”

Count and reporter. Count: “It always seemed to me that our fatherland needs not so much abundance as efficient police officers. In most cases - I am firmly convinced of this - one well-executed shout is enough, and in the bag."

(1818 - 1883)

" " (1861), ch. 10: “Before, young people had to study; they didn’t want to be branded as ignoramuses, so they worked involuntarily. But now they should say: everything in the world is nonsense! - and in the bag. The young people were delighted. And in fact, before they were just idiots, but now they suddenly became nihilists."

(1809 - 1852)

" " (1842), vol. 1, ch. 11: ""Before you knew, at least, what to do: you brought red to the ruler of affairs, and in the bag; and now it’s a little white, and you’ll have to fiddle with it for another week before you figure it out; Damn selflessness and bureaucratic nobility!”

(1839) - “Then, however, the wife came, crying that her husband was drunk and that’s why he took it cheaply; but sometimes you’d add one kopeck, and in the bag."

(1769 - 1844)

Gardener and Philosopher: “The gardener has everything sprouted and ripened: He is profitable, and in it's in the bag."

They allow you to make your speech interesting and multifaceted. Many sayings have their roots in the distant past, and to understand where they came from, you need to dig deep into history. This is the case with the expression “it’s in the bag.” The meaning of the phraseological unit is as follows: everything is in order, there is no reason to panic, everything is going on as usual, and all participants in the event can relax and wait for a positive result. In other words, there is very little left until the successful completion of the case.

Different types of hats

As you know, the word “hat” means a very common headdress. Moreover, there are hats for both men and women. Since the 16th century, they have thoroughly entered into everyday use, although they existed in one form or another in ancient times. An image of a man wearing a straw hat was found on ancient Theban tombstones. The ancient Greeks also wore headdresses in the form of caps (pilos) and with brims (petastos). But mostly they were worn only when traveling.

Among the ancient Egyptians, the headdress was considered a symbol of power. Pharaohs wore large plates with crowns on top. The rest of the citizens wore pads made from plant fibers. The nobility had voluminous curls, ordinary people the wigs were skimpier. The slaves did not cover their heads with anything.

In the Middle Ages, capes and hoods were worn, headdresses served for decoration and were a luxury. Wide-brimmed hats in Europe became a symbol of wealth, nobility and dandy.

The appearance of hats in Russia

Russia was no exception. The headdress brought from abroad to Russia has found its niche in the wardrobe of both men and women. The name itself was borrowed from the Germans. Etymological origin- from the word slappen (to hang). In the old days, these were hats that had sagging brims.

The first hats were purchased for the royal court and officers back in the 17th century. But they began to become widespread under Peter I. He even issued a decree on the production of hats from beaver down and hare hair. This was in 1701. In Moscow, the production of hats was carried out by the Shlyapny Dvor.

The hat served its intended purpose quite successfully. But besides this, other functions began to be assigned to her. In particular, it was:

  1. Spacious container for collecting alms.
  2. Container for paper notes or marks during the draw.

It is possible that these non-standard approaches to the use of a traditional wardrobe item allowed the emergence of a stable turn of phrase.

Important reports were hidden in a hat

There is such a version of the origin of the expression. If we go back several centuries, we remember that in those days the postal service was organized as follows. Messengers on horseback delivered important packages and letters from one point to another. But fearing the robbers who wandered along the roads and highways, the messengers tried not to carry bags with them, so as not to attract the attention of the robbers. And it’s not difficult to snatch the bag from your hands. Therefore, especially important papers (otherwise they were called affairs), sewn into the lining of the hat.

It was probably then that such a definition arose. The meaning of the phraseological unit “it’s in the bag” can be interpreted as follows: the absence of danger or risk.

Die is cast

The roots of another meaning of the phraseological unit “it’s in the bag” go back to the years of the reign of Ivan the Terrible. Court cases, the outcome of which was to be decided by lot, were decided by removing rolled up pieces of paper with the verdict from the judge’s hat. They said, in a word, “it’s in the bag.” The meaning of a phraseological unit can have such an interpretation.

However, it was not only judges who used headgear to resolve issues. Ordinary citizens followed their example. If the issue could be resolved on the spot, without resorting to the help of representatives of justice, who had to pay a lot of money, the “case” was thrown into the hat, and only chance determined the result.

In the same way, in Rus' the fate of any transaction was determined, for example, the right to buy or sell goods (now this is called a tender). The headdress gave hope. This is where the word “to screw up” arose - that is, to hopelessly lose an opportunity.

Bribes and cheat sheets

One can also guess that the meaning of the phraseological unit “it’s in the bag” is that once officials could take bribes, this was done by placing Money under the headdress. The credibility of this version will remain a mystery, shrouded in darkness.

As an option, a version with military personnel during exercises who put “cheat sheets” into the lining of their headgear has a right to exist. IN difficult cases the note was taken out and put into use. Thus, the owner of the hat solved his problem and could note that the matter was in the hat. Many elderly people can still put notes in their caps or hats, for example, with some address or telephone number.

The conclusion suggests itself: the expression in the bag, the definition of this phraseological unit, which arose several centuries ago, was dictated by the life traditions and observations of ordinary citizens. Be that as it may, it firmly entered into everyday life and became a stable idiom. Currently, there are many synonyms, the use of which is also not uncommon. You can often hear the following phrases: the matter burned out, everything is covered with ointment. This means that the process is ongoing and will soon be completed successfully.