Figurative meaning strike while the iron is hot. The meaning of "strike while the iron is hot" and examples of usage

Strike while the iron is hot

Strike while the iron is hot - if the necessary conditions have developed for the implementation of the plan, a favorable situation, act immediately. Luck comes to those who know how to use their chance

The English equivalent of the expression "strike while the iron is hot": noist your sail when the wind is fair - raise the sails when a fair wind blows

Synonyms of the proverb "strike while the iron is hot"

  • Gotta blow while the wind blows
  • Don't put off until tomorrow what you can do today
  • Mow, spit, while the dew
  • Strike while the iron boils
  • When the firewood is burning, then the porridge is cooked
  • When it boils, then cook!
  • Catch, spider, flies, until the legs are plucked
  • Nice until cold
  • When it's hot in the oven, then varko
  • Pull the veins while you are alive!
  • If the reins are broken, you can’t control the tail
  • Chop a healthy tree, but a rotten one will fall down on its own
  • Steam the bone in time!

Application of the expression in literature

    — “Strike while the iron is hot, as they say, your grace,” Dolgopolov poured words like peas without stopping.(V. Ya. Shishkov "Emelyan Pugachev")
    — “A matter is a matter, it must be solved. As they say, strike while the iron is hot. “I don’t know how to start,” Kuzma hesitated.(Valentin Rasputin "Money for Mary")
    — “At the same time, my innate foresight, keeping in mind all the circumstances I heard and noticed, was drawn to discoveries according to the proverb “strike while the iron is hot”(A. S. Green "Golden Chain")
    — “Taking advantage of the favor of the queen, Grigory Alexandrovich, mindful of the Russian proverb: “Strike while the iron is hot”, first of all hastened to reward his ambition”(N. E. Heinze "Prince of Taurida")
    — “I was stunned, but soon recovered; she gave me a note from the guardian: “Strike the iron while it’s hot, I’m going to my mother to prepare her”(P. P. Vyazemsky “Letters and notes of Ommer de Gell”)

"Forge iron without leaving the cash register"

"Strike while the iron is hot" is a common saying that has a real basis in the imagery used.

Literal meaning

Forging is a processing method various kinds metal, in the process of which a specialist, called a blacksmith, receives from the raw materials artistic, industrial, household or other necessary metal products. The processing of a metal blank, from which the final product is made, is carried out under the influence of high temperature, due to which the metal becomes plastic and is easily exposed to external influences that change its shape. Thus, the work of forging metal is feasible only during the period of time while it has the so-called forging, that is, a sufficiently high temperature.

Figurative sense

The figurative meaning that the speaker usually puts into his words when using the expression “Strike while the iron is hot” indirectly uses the original meaning of the forging work. It is used to stimulate another person to use favorable circumstances while they are still in force, that is, to catch a good situation, to seize the moment. At the same time, it is advisable to use this saying precisely for situations characterized by high variability, that is, those in which favorable circumstances can quickly change to the opposite.

This meaning in Russian can also be conveyed using other words and figurative expressions that have a similar semantic background. For example, it can be replaced with the phrase "Take the bull by the horns", "Catch luck by the tail" and the like. At the same time, the original version of the saying itself has several variations, which, however, are less common: “Strike the iron while it boils”, “Strike the iron while it is red”.

This saying has a fairly long history, so it was used by artists and literature in Russia in different periods time. At the same time, it can be found in literature, cinema and other genres of art, both in its original and modified form. For example, this saying is found in the works of the famous Russian writer Alexander Ostrovsky. It was used in personal correspondence by Emperor Peter I. And in modern times it is known in a slightly modified form: the phrase “Forge iron without leaving the cash register”, obviously based on the original source in the form of the saying in question, was used in his famous movie"Diamond Hand" famous Soviet director Leonid Gaidai.

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Life is a stream of ever-elusive possibilities. Therefore, it is so important to comprehend the essence of the saying (its meaning) "strike while the iron is hot", because it will help to understand what life is, but first let's look at the history.

Origin

The saying was born among blacksmiths. We do not know how it is now, but before, artisans worked only with water and fire. The product was obtained due to the temperature difference. Iron could be shaped into any shape when it was hot. The problem is that the iron hardened quickly, so you had to work smartly. Knowing the history of occurrence, it is not difficult to understand the saying and its meaning (“strike while the iron is hot” means): a person should not hesitate, doubt when he sees that the situation is developing in the most favorable way for him. talking modern language, you need to seize the moment, until the red-hot steel of life becomes a dull everyday life.

As always, the semantic content of proverbs and sayings is best learned on concrete examples. Let's go to them.

Boy and girl

Let's say there is a good guy Vanya who likes a girl Katya. He is too shy to talk to her. And she is too beautiful to wait for him to decide. And here is a great opportunity for the boy to overcome his fear - an evening of dancing. Let's also imagine that Katya likes the slightly boring and smart guy Vanya, so at the dance party she props up the wall and waits for the young man to invite her. Further development events depends only on Vanya. Life provides him with a great opportunity to get the most wonderful girl in the world, the main thing is not to hesitate, not to doubt. If the hero knew the sayings meaning "strike while the iron is hot", then he would help him decide. True, in the event that he came to the dance evening, Vanya could learn by heart, read out and forget, not assuming that his fate was being decided very close, and it would be good for the young man to take a direct part in this. We are not worried about Katya, she will be happy one way or another. But fate does not favor boring "wise men".

Beloved by more than one generation of viewers, the film offers us our version of the saying. It is noteworthy that its authors are bandits, whose life does not imply relaxation even for a moment. It may seem to someone that such a life is too tiring, nervous, but it all depends on temperament. Okay, enough preamble. The modification is as follows: “strike iron without leaving the cash register”. By the way, the popularity of the film has misled people: some people think that this is the original form of the saying. Although we know not only the true form, but also the meaning of the saying "strike while the iron is hot."

When Semyon Semenovich Gorbunkov is running away from the bandits, he meets the driver in a Muscovite, he stops, asks what happened, the hero of Yuri Nikulin reports: “A matter of national importance, perhaps a chase!”. The owner of the Muscovite says that he will take him, Gorbunkov asks to hurry up, desperately shouting: “Well, what are you, time!”, And the unexpected savior answers him with a ready-made aphorism: “Time is money, as they say, when you see money, don’t waste time. Strike iron without leaving the cash register. Witty filmmakers merged the proverb in question and the Soviet phrase that adorned all the country's outlets: "Count the money without leaving the cash register" or "Count the change without leaving the cash register." At one time, the same wording adorned Russian markets and distribution centers for products and things, but when the popularity of plastic cards began to grow, everyone forgot about it. When a person pays not in cash, there is no actual problem surrender, there is simply no last. Everything is taken into account.

It must be said that the saying and its original meaning (“strike while the iron is hot” we are still considering) did not suffer. In the Soviet humorous interpretation, it means the same thing: do not miss opportunities, especially when they involve money. There is a saying that money is no joke.

The proverb is useful not only to blacksmiths and bandits

The reader thinks, “Well, this is none of my business. There is nothing interesting in my life. Work-home, vacation at sea in the summer, and that's it. That's the game plan for the next thirty years." As Arnold Schwarzenegger said in one of his films: “Thinking like that is a big mistake!”

In fact, the cozy everyday life that a person painstakingly builds is rooted in a bustling life, and it only seems to him that nothing is changing, but it also takes a lot of effort to maintain stability. People follow the semantic content of the proverb hourly. The proverb “strike while the iron is hot” can be successfully used as a motto of our life. Man these days tends to constantly look for new opportunities. And not because he wants to do it, but because if you don’t, you will lose what you have, just like in Alice in Wonderland: “You have to run very fast to stay in place all the time.” Who would have thought that the book would become not only cult, but also prophetic.

If it is permissible to say so, then the saying “strike while the iron is hot” (we analyzed the meaning of the proverb above) is the hero of our time, and heroes must be known by sight.

STRIKE WHILE THE IRON IS HOT. Hurry up to do something while there are opportunities, favorable conditions, etc.; take advantage of the moment. Wed Catch Peter in the morning, but it refreshes, it stinks so much; Not expensive hour time, and dear uluchka; You will miss an hour, you will not catch up with a year; If you miss the fire, you won't put it out; (opposite) You’ll pass an hour, you’ll live a century. - Why were you in such a hurry to start lectures? be well prepared! I remarked to Sleptsov. “We should have hurried,” he answered. “If the start of the lectures had been postponed, the animation would have passed, and then, perhaps, they would not have succeeded; There is a proverb: strike while the iron is hot! The main thing is done - given the impetus. Panaeva, Memoirs. [Balzaminov:] What should I do now? Teach me, do me a favor! [Krasavina:] Why teach you something! Come already in the evening, that's all here .. You know, there's nothing to yawn! Strike while the iron is hot! Ostrovsky, Your dogs squabble, don't pester someone else's. - Do you like it? - Never mind. We ought to talk to her alone. - And tomorrow we will send mallow to them. - Why? - Woo and arrange a dowry. - Isn't it too early? - You know the proverb: strike while the iron is hot - the sooner the better. Reshetnikov, Protege. But - such is the fate of the artist, he is a toy of the public, nothing more. The voice is gone, and there is no person, he is forgotten by everyone, abandoned ... And if you don’t want to experience undeserved humiliation, “strike the iron while it’s hot, work while you can, not sparing yourself! Chaliapin, Pages from my life. - I, Your Grace, come from a Yaik Cossack, Ostafiy Trifonov. Here is a letter from my comrades, if you please, your grace, get out of bed. The government business is up to you, the hottest thing you can see from this tsedul. Strike while the iron is hot, as they say, your grace, - Dolgopolov poured words without stopping, like peas. Shishkov, Emelyan Pugachev .- How much then (last year) I had to fight to evoke even a small movement of the soul in him [Sukhoruchko]. And nothing! Now, do you understand? So excited! .. - It's good! - said the head teacher .. And this should be used, Alexey Dmitrievich, and developed! - To develop in every possible way and immediately! - the director agreed. - I will ask you to send Kozhin to me immediately after the lesson, and I ... I will call my father. Strike while the iron is hot. G. Medynsky, The Tale of Youth. - Well, let's go, soldier! - Let's go, honey. Strike while the iron is hot! E. Fedorov, Stone belt. No, - Galuzin decided firmly. - It is impossible to postpone. Leonid is now in great shape. Strike while the iron is hot! B. Raevsky, Only forward.
My stories about all my adventures received general attention and surprise, and even an invitation from Grigory Alekseevich not to leave without tea, and then to stay for dinner. It seemed to me that it was necessary to strike iron before it got cold. Far, Unprecedented in the past. A difficult time began for the concessionaires. Ostap argued that chairs should be forged while they are hot. Ilf and Petrov, Twelve chairs.
From the 18th century: The local landowner sells a whole forest for cutting down; so if those that sell more expensive in chumps, then a hundred would be ours: after all, while it’s fashion, sweat and take a ruble for a penny; - the proverb says the same: strike while the iron is hot. Melters, my benefactor. [Naumych:] We ask you, sir, not to postpone the judgment: Iron is only hot forged. Kapnist, Yabeda. Now it is necessary to confirm Matveev and Lita more often, so that they, as soon as possible, with the help of God, bring their affairs to a good end (before then strike iron, as it boils). Peter I, Letter to Count G. I. Golikov, 21 September. 1707.
- Simoni: When iron boils, then it is forged; Dal: Strike the iron while it's hot (as long as it's boiling); Michelson: Strike while the iron is (boiling) hot; Rybnikova: Strike while the iron is hot.

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