Оrientalisms denoting person in Serbian similes

The author reviews Serbian similes with semantically similar component - an anthroponym of oriental origin. Both outdated similes and those actively used today are analyzed. Historical events and language contacts contributed to the borrowing of thematically diverse orientalisms by the South Slavic languages. With semantic adaptation in the language that accepts oriental vocabulary, the meaning of a word is sometimes expanded or narrowed. Many Turcisms that make up the similes have become historicisms, entered the passive vocabulary and are no more used in modern language because of disappearance of the realities they denote (for example, words associated with the system of administration in the Ottoman era). The article provides culturological, historical and etymological comments on stable similes, and also reviews the meaning of units and components that are parts of similes.