Thread: "lying like a cobbler" allusion? [Dostoevsky]

Hello,

In Chapter xi of Part I of Dostoevsky's Notes from Underground, the UM claims that he is "lying like a cobbler." (Pevear & Volokhonsky's translation of я вру как сапожник).

My question: is this referencing some kind of Russian folk tale or proverb?

I thought perhaps it might refer to the Arabian Nights, which depicts a cobbler who tells the truth, but whom no one believes. I know FD alludes to the Arabian Nights in some of his other works, but I wasn't sure if there was a more obvious allusion in this particular case.

спасибо!

There is an expression "пить как сапожник" (drink like a cobbler). So I think Dostoevsky's hero means "I'm telling rubbish like I'm drunk".

Originally Posted by Оля

There is an expression "пить как сапожник" ...

Ещё есть "ругается как сапожник или... извозчик".
Вроде никто, кроме Достоевского, не говорит "врёт как сапожник".

Thank you for the informative responses. Interesting that both drinking and cursing are appropriate for the underground man.

Dostoevsky is the reason that I'm trying to learn Russian. I'd like to be able to read him in Russian some day.

This is a little speculative, but I don't think cobblers were respected in ANY medieval society. So "lying like a cobbler" may not be a specific sort of reference at all, like "parties like a frat boy". It just represents a general sort of judgment.

Originally Posted by paulb

This is a little speculative, but I don't think cobblers were respected in ANY medieval society. So "lying like a cobbler" may not be a specific sort of reference at all, like "parties like a frat boy". It just represents a general sort of judgment.

You see, "врать" in Russian, at least in Russian of XIX century, means not only "to lye", but also "to tell rubbish". In the contenxt milljw is asking about it means exactly "I'm telling rubbish", not "I'm lying". So I'm pretty sure the phrase means "I'm telling rubbish [like a drunk man]".