In the language of any nation there are stable expressions, the meaning of which is understandable without further explanation. But the origin of some of them is difficult to explain without knowing the history of the people. And sometimes, in order to understand the origin of phraseology, it is worth turning to the folklore of other peoples.
Speaking of something impossible, people sometimes use the expression "when the cancer on the mountain whistles." Everyone knows that crayfish do not whistle and do not make sounds at all with rare exceptions. In addition, the usual habitat for crayfish is water, and cancer cannot be on the mountain under any circumstances. Thus, the impossibility of a particular event is emphasized twice.
Where did the expression come from?
The most common version refers to the city of Odessa in all its glory of its criminal folklore. By cancer was meant a real person - a thief-guest performer (Marviher) Rakochinsky. The nickname Cancer was attached to him because of the corresponding appearance, which, in combination with the surname, fully justified itself.
According to one version, Rakochinsky, having lost some bet, had to periodically whistle one of the districts of Odessa - Shkodova Gora, which was a bypass road. The road was used during rains, the rest of the time it stood empty. In all likelihood, Cancer should have been whistling in those days when heavy rains were falling over Odessa, which was rare enough, so there was no need to wait for the promised whistle from Rakochinsky.
Of course, Odessa is a wonderful and original city, which has given the world many satirists, jokes about Odessa residents have become the pearl of folklore, but in this case it is doubtful that a single case formed the basis for a stable expression. Most likely, it was on an old proverb that the prevailing circumstances were superimposed, which once again demonstrates the originality of Odessa humor.
Does cancer only have to whistle?
The above version is also refuted by the fact that there is a continuation of the saying - "when the cancer on the mountain whistles, when the fish sings."
Obviously, the sentences were based on naturalistic observations. And the organization of observations in such a paradoxical form, the so-called oxymoron, is typical of oral folk art from different peoples.
