May 28, 2011 15:19
12 yrs ago
Danish term
Translating Cultures
Native in: Italian 
Works in: English to Italian, Danish to Italian, Norwegian (Bokmal) to Italian
[lægger sig i] Breschen
Danish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
"Det morede mig at se Wetlesens Adam og Eva færdig. Figurerne er smukke, Landskabet alligevel lidt for naivt. Hans Landskab fra Siena var mere færdig end jeg troede, det var jo pænt Billed, men han lægger sig nu ikke nok i Breschen"
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | give it his all |
Hans Wang
|
| 2 | make an effort |
Tine Wanning
|
| 1 | fails to apply himself fully to the task |
andres-larsen
|
Proposed translations
11 hrs
Selected
give it his all
The expression originates from Psalm 106:23. Breschen is an Old High German version of the French word for breach. It normally means to defend or stand for something, but in this case the meaning is closer to giving his all.
Example sentence:
it was a pretty painting, but he probably did not give it his all
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
2 hrs
andres-larsen
Venezuela
Venezuela
Native in English
Venezuela
freelance translator
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, German to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
fails to apply himself fully to the task
It amused me to see Wetlesen's Adam and Eve finished. The characters are realistically portrayed, the landscape still a little too naive. His landscape from Siena was better accomplished than I thought, that was a neat painting, but he ***fails to apply himself fully to the task***.
7 hrs
make an effort
I think the author means that the painter should make a greater effort. But it is not the traditional way to use this word as Jørgen points out, "breche" (without s) is used in two different ways and this is not one of them really, and it is not supported by ODS, where an old fashioned usage would normally be found
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Note added at 7 hrs (2011-05-28 22:47:23 GMT)
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I meant Jørgen is right about the two different idioms, and "Gå i brechen for noget" means to defend something enthusiastically. Could actually be another possible translation "be more enthusiastic"
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Note added at 7 hrs (2011-05-28 22:47:23 GMT)
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I meant Jørgen is right about the two different idioms, and "Gå i brechen for noget" means to defend something enthusiastically. Could actually be another possible translation "be more enthusiastic"
Discussion
1. lægge sig i selen -> put your shoulder to the wheel/keep your head down
2. gå i brechen -> take up the cudgel(s)