7 New Year's words and expressions many people make mistakes

1. Happy New Year

Not right: Happy New Year! Happy New Year!

In this case, two extremes are encountered: someone writes both words with a lowercase letter, depriving them of any solemnity, and someone, on the contrary, “shouts” with a capital letter.

According to the rules, in the names of significant dates and holidays, you still need to highlight in capital letters only the first word: International Women's Day, Aviation Day. In some extremely important cases, every word in the title is capitalized, for example, Constitution Day or Victory Day. But this does not apply to the New Year, and in the word "year" the first letter remains in lowercase.

However, there is a nuance. If you want to wish something in the coming new year, then you should do without capital letters, because this is not a holiday, but a length of time.

2. Santa Claus

Not right: Santa Claus, Santa Claus, Santa Claus.

As soon as they do not call a bearded wizard. Since this does not seem to be a real name, it may seem that there are no rules. Nevertheless, the dictionaries quite unequivocally say that when we mean the main New Year's hero, there is only one correct option - Santa Claus.

The general rule is that the names and names of fairy tale characters must be capitalized, even if they consist of several words: Bluebeard, Little Red Riding Hood, Gray Wolf.

3. Olivier salad, herring under a fur coat

Not right: salad "Olivier", "Herring under a fur coat."

Since this is the name of the dish, then you need to put it in quotation marks. After all, this is exactly what is indicated in the menu of restaurants - Caprese salad, Palitra salad.

In principle, everything is correct. But this is not the case with dishes that have gone so thoroughly to the people that their names have become common nouns. This is exactly what happened with Olivier, herring under a fur coat, Caesar, so it is better to write them with a lowercase letter and without quotes.

4. Brotherhood

Not right: to boardershaft, brodeshaft, set-deschaft.

This is a very insidious word, which, moreover, is pronounced when languages begin to get a little tangled. Unsurprisingly, the end result is a whole list of fun options.

In fact, the word "brotherhood" comes from the German Brüderschaft - "brotherhood". This small drinking ritual, when two people drink from glasses, intertwining their hands, symbolizes mutual sympathy and respect.

5. On the eve of

Not right: on the eve, on the eve, on the eve, on the eve.

Usually, with this complex pretext, solemn official congratulations on the holiday begin: "On the eve of the New Year, we wholeheartedly want to wish you …". Therefore, it is especially important to write it correctly, that is, as it appears in the dictionary: on the eve.

6. Get drunk

Not right: under the shaf.

It's such an elegant way to communicate that a person is drunk. And this, on the eve of the New Year, of course, is quite common.

But only "podshofe" is an adverb that comes from the French chauffé, which means "heated, heated", and it is written together. Not to be confused with the expression "under the degree"!

7. "Secret Santa", "Secret Santa Claus"

Not right: Secret Santa, Secret Santa Claus.

If you are playing such a game with colleagues or friends before the New Year, you probably know the rules - to give each other small gifts, and do it anonymously, so that for the gifted person it remains a mystery who brought the present.

The name of this very nice tradition should be put in quotation marks: "Secret Santa" or "Secret Santa Claus" if you want to "Russify" it as much as possible. Here the principle is the same as with other game names: "Let's play Monopoly."But the person who gave you a gift in such a game can be called Secret Santa or secret Santa Claus - already without quotes.