Thread: Анекдоты, шутки, шуточные стишки, истории - смешные или не очень

I thought this joke from a few months ago was quite funny:

Originally Posted by crusader

Рaзговaривaaют двa aмерикaнцa
- У этих русских не только душa другaя. Они и устроены по-другому.
- Всмысле?
- Я сaм слышaл кaк один скaзaл другому - Одень ты нa х#й шaпку, a то уши отморозишь!

...but I have a geeky question about the grammar. Should the phrase "нa х**" in this case be understood as simply an "intensifying particle"? That is, it simply makes the imperative more rude/forceful (sort of the opposite of the polite одень-ка)?

Or is it, instead, an example of "synecdoche," where the part (of the body) represents the whole (person), like the English "All hands on deck!" or "We have many mouths to feed."?

Of course I'm familiar with "нa х**" when the meaning is more like "go to hell" (as when it follows a verb like "Пошёл...!"). But I wasn't sure about the construction in this joke.

P.S. At first I thought the joke was totally untranslatable into English. But then it occurred to me that although a direct and literal translation is impossible, one can roughly convey the spirit of it:

Two Russians were talking while on a visit to the States.
-- "These Americans not only think differently from us. They're even BUILT differently!"
-- "What do you mean?"
-- "I just heard one of them say to another: You'd better get your ass into a warmer hat, or your ears will freeze off!"

Here, "ass" is used as synecdoche ("get your ass/butt/rear into" = "get yourself into").

Originally Posted by Throbert McGee

...but I have a geeky question about the grammar. Should the phrase "нa х**" in this case be understood as simply an "intensifying particle"? That is, it simply makes the imperative more rude/forceful (sort of the opposite of the polite одень-ка)?

Yes, it is. That's a rude form, when you have to "intensify" someone. Also, you should imagine "на х**" as a whole word/particle. The preposition "на" has nothing to do with its usual meaning in this context. By the way, you can use "одень-ка" in the sentence too: "Одень-ка ты на х** шапку..." (for more colours).
So, it is not "synecdoche", but I like your translation. In fact, that's a very good substitution.