The meaning of phraseology "like a fish in water", examples of use

The meaning of many phraseological units of the Russian language can be guessed only by learning some examples of their use and thinking about the image that is created by the expression. The meaning of phraseology "like a fish in water" is also quite "deducible" from the meaning of its components. This expression, which is close to stylistically neutral, is very common, and its use is very appropriate in a variety of situations.

Value

If many idioms of different languages only lead us astray by their figurativeness, without suggesting either the very words that make up their composition or their combination, then the expression referred to in this article can be understood literally.

The meaning of phraseology "like a fish in water" reflects the fact that someone feels confident and natural. Most often, this expression means that someone feels so confident that the situation (place, time, collective) is the natural environment of his dwelling. That is, the expression can really be understood literally: someone is as comfortable as a fish in water can comfortably be.

Examples of use

Unlike many idiomatic expressions, this phraseology is very easy to apply to very different situations. Based on the comparison, it practically does not resist its spread: restrictions can be dictated, rather, by minimal stylistic nuances. Almost always, when it comes to a sense of convenience, confidence, ease, freedom, phraseology "like a fish in water" is appropriate. The sentence with this expression most often contains the word "feel (self)": "In the geometry exam, he was initially constrained and unsure, but when it came to proving the theorems, he felt like a fish in the water." In this case, the phraseology from the point of view of the syntactic role in the sentence is a circumstance (felt like? ). However, this word can be omitted: "In the yard of Dimka as a fish in the water - here he knows every bush and every hole." Here phraseology is a predicate.

This expression may be appropriate if it says:

- about physical comfort and comfort (ambient temperature, season, comfortable clothes, etc.);

- about the mastered area of knowledge, the sphere of developed skills and abilities;

- about a familiar place;

- about the "native" team or the presence of a person who makes the situation comfortable;

- about a situation in which someone is comfortable because of the previously acquired rich life experience or because of the characteristics of the character, personality ("Well, you know, if you need to reconcile the lovers, then Marina is like a fish in the water").

Internal opposition

The meaning of phraseology "like a fish in water" often involves opposition, it can be spoken out, or it can be simply implied. So, in the sentence "On skis he skates badly, but on the ice he's like a fish in the water", this opposition is the base for the design of the idea. Meanwhile, the phrase "In winter, I like the fish in the water - and I'm breathing well, and I do everything quickly, and the mood is wonderful" suggests that there is a time of year when the speaker experiences opposite feelings, for example, discomfort, ill health, reduced mood. The saying of the speaker about his state of health in the summer can be easily predicted: "In the summer I feel very bad: it is difficult to breathe, I do everything slowly, and sadness somehow on my heart."

This opposition is guessed at a large percentage of the use of phraseology: "At home Dmitry felt like a fish in the water, so he quickly sketched out a plan and wrote comments." From this sentence, even without context, you can find out that Dmitry somewhere outside the house felt insecure, and he could not come up with a plan or write comments, or the work moved very slowly.

This "opposition by default" is dictated by a positive positive estimate in the expression. "Like a fish in water" - this generally means "good," which in itself always implies a certain "bad".

Exclusiveness of circumstances

In other cases, this opposition may be almost not expressed or practically not implied, the statement may be aimed at emphasizing the exclusivity of the circumstances: "The conference was devoted to teenage stammering, and Svetlana felt like a fish in the water." The proposal, of course, implies that in other areas the subject feels less comfortable, but the logical emphasis is not on this opposition, but rather on highlighting the situation from all the others, rather than comparing it with the opposite (Svetlana Nikolaevna may be An excellent specialist in other related fields, but it is teenage stammering - her fad).

Nevertheless, it is due to the great inertia of the seme "good" in this phraseology that it should be used cautiously for such purposes, since there may be a false understanding of the meaning of listening or reading (Svetlana Nikolaevna does not understand anything in other areas).

Origin

The origin of the phraseology "like a fish in water" is quite transparent, easily guessed and, in essence, does not need special comments. More important, rather, is the cultural background of the appearance of expression. In order to find an image to describe the most convenient environment for someone, a person chose an environment that is inconvenient for himself and convenient for its natural inhabitant. Of the four elements, only three are inhabited, and only two are associated with life: air and water. The latter is not mastered by man, is not a natural environment for his dwelling, and its inhabitant evokes a feeling of surprise with comfort and freedom. It is these sensations that transmit phraseology. The history of phraseology "like a fish in water" is not of much importance, it is more important to understand the internal image of the expression and the essence of the comparison embedded in it.

Language game

So, what it means "like a fish in water" is quite understandable from the very expression and context of its use. It is interesting to see how native speakers play this phraseology.

Great opportunities for language play gives "literalization" meaning. For example, irony and humor are felt in the final replica of the following dialogue:

- Well, how did you buy a catfish?

- We bought it. He is already in a new aquarium.

- Everything okay?

- Well ... Feels like a fish in the water.

Both components are literally understood, in other cases one of them can be used. For example, in the following example, the direct meaning of the word "water" changes the meaning of phraseology to the opposite.

"Quickly, go home!" Under such a shower without an umbrella ... I feel like a fish in the water!

Synonyms and antonyms

Most phraseological units have synonyms and antonyms. Is not an exception and "like a fish in the water." The synonym, most often found in dictionaries, is "like cheese in oil," and the antonymus is "not at ease." Of course, if we talk about lexical units, and not about idiomatic expressions, then they can be called much more. So, among the synonyms you can recall the following: at ease, freely, freely, conveniently, comfortably, confidently, comfortably. And among the antonyms, respectively, words that are opposite in meaning.

In general, simultaneous concrete and easily transferred to different situations the meaning of phraseology "like a fish in water" allows using it in texts of different genres, and its use by forces and novice authors and schoolchildren.