"Ours for you with a brush" is a phrase that can often be heard as a greeting. A bit ironic, but filled with sincerity, brings a smile to her face. Disputes about the roots of this expression are still going on among linguists, some prove its inextricable connection with the art of hairdressing and barbers, others with the features of hats.
Authorship of Odessa barbers
The multifaceted Odessa has become the birthplace of many catchphrases. "Ours for you with a brush," according to the inhabitants of Odessa, also hails from the small streets of the Black Sea town.
Previously, life was not as filled with advertising as it is now. They did not hang huge billboards on the streets, did not order videos on television and radio. And goods and services required new customers. In such a situation, the way out was word of mouth and own advertising, which was implemented by craftsmen and sellers. I had to “work” with the language no less than with my hands!
Advertising slogans that sounded 100 years ago on the streets of Odessa, today would become the standard of advertising creativity and ingenuity. Barbers and barbers had their own views on advertising. To attract a bearded client, they were located at the entrance of the barber shop and invitingly broadcast: "Our respect to you, with a brush, with a finger - nine, with a cucumber - fifteen!"
For someone who did not live in those distant times, this phrase would seem more a mystery than an advertisement for services, and even more so as a greeting. But then people perfectly understood what was being discussed. Razor and brush artisans cleverly combined a greeting, an offer of service and its cost in one phrase.
It is worth understanding in more detail the individual parts of the phrase. "With a brush" - it was supposed to use lather, which significantly softened shaving. "With a finger - nine", in this part the description of the process and its price were laid. The client's cheek was pulled back with his fingers for a comfortable and safer shave. Often the foremen would put their fingers in the client's mouth.
Such details of the process now look extremely unhygienic. However, it should be borne in mind that in those days a barber could perform the function of a master to remove teeth, so the fingers of the hairdresser in the mouth did not bother anyone. If the embarrassment still pursued the client, he was offered "with a cucumber - fifteen", which involved using a cucumber instead of fingers. The cost of the procedure in this case was higher because it included the cost of a cucumber.
As time went on, modern hairdressing salons arose in the place of barbers. The phrase has lost its advertising meaning, leaving only the welcome part.
It's all in the hat
Another story of the origin of the phrase is very popular among linguists. In ancient times, messengers and messengers wore hats that corresponded to their rank and position. The headdresses had fur tassels. Upon arrival at the court, the messenger took off his hat and bowed so that the hand with the headdress touched the floor. It was possible to put on a hat only with the permission of the owner. Later, the procedure for greeting with a hat took on a verbal form known as "Ours for you with a tassel!"
