бить баклуши

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word бить баклуши. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word бить баклуши, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say бить баклуши in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word бить баклуши you have here. The definition of the word бить баклуши will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofбить баклуши, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

Russian

Etymology

баклу́ша (baklúša), which is now only used idiomatically, originally meant a stick or plank of split wood that is used for making wooden dishes, spoons, toys, etc.

Vladimir Dal' claimed that chopping a short wooden block (bolt) in smaller pieces is allegedly an easy task, but modern scholars reject his etymology (even though it's still widespread).

According to Mokiyenko, dialectal and foreign Slavic material rather indicates that it was a metaphor for playing gorodki.

Alternatively, Moldavan suggested that the idiom may originally have meant playing music with wooden spoons and similar makeshift percussion instruments.

Pronunciation

Verb

би́ть баклу́ши (bítʹ baklúšiimpf

  1. (idiomatic) to loiter, to twiddle one's thumbs

Conjugation