хлеб-соль!

I

• ХЛЕБ ДА <И> СОЛЬ!; ХЛЕБ-СОЛЬ! all obs now used as an imitation of peasants old-fashioned speech

[formula phrase; these forms only; fixed WO]

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1. a greeting, salutation to those who are seated around the table at a meal:

- good appetite!;

- eqjoy your meal!

     ♦ В дворницкую вошёл Юрий Андреевич с двумя вёдрами. "Хлеб да соль". - "Просим вашей милости. Садись, гостем будешь" (Пастернак 1). Yurii Andreievich came in with two buckets. "Good appetite." "Make yourself at home. Sit down and have dinner with us" (1a).

2. an invitation to a person or persons who arrive at mealtime and find another or others at the table, eating:

- you're welcome to join me <us>;

- please join me <us>.

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← See X-40.

II

• ХЛЕБ-СОЛЬ coll

[NP; sing only; usu. obj or subj]

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⇒ food cordially and generously given to a guest; by extension warm and generous treatment of a guest:

- bread and salt;

- (share <offer>) one's bread;

- hospitality.

     ♦ "Вот почему я особенно вам благодарна, Родион Романыч, что вы не погнушались моим хлебом-солью, даже и при такой обстановке..." (Достоевский 3). "That is why I am so especially grateful to you, Rodion Romanych, for not scorning my bread and salt, even in such circumstances..." (3c).

     ♦ ...Вообще они были народ добрый, полны гостеприимства, и человек, вкусивший с ними хлеба-соли или просидевший вечер за вистом, уже становился чем-то близким... (Гоголь 3). In general, they were kindly and very hospitable, and anyone who had partaken of their hospitality or spent an evening playing whist with them became one of them... (3d).

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← From an old Slavic custom (still occasionally observed, especially in the countryside) of presenting a round loaf of bread and some salt to a guest of honor as a sign of respect and welcome.