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na dně sklenice

English translation: Finding the meaning of the past at the bottom of the glass

18:34 Jan 21, 2019
Czech to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Story outline for a dungeons and dragons style game
Czech term or phrase: na dně sklenice
Context: Minulost na dně sklenice

This is the title of a story about some warriers who were very good at protecting their people, but then they were cowards and failed to fight a big enemy.
It's not clear to me if this can be translated literally (Something like: The past lies at the bottom of a glass) or if this is more idiomatic and it would be better to do a total transcreation: "A murky past" or even "Gone to the dogs", or similar.
Jemma Pullen
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:25
English translation:Finding the meaning of the past at the bottom of the glass
Explanation:
Without knowing full story I am just giving you my personal take on it: The phrase at first thought implies someone had their revelation of what the past meant or brought to them at the bottom of the glass - this in turn means they were drinking. In the context of looking at the bottom of the glass you are drinking to forget or to drown your sadness - if you are having a celebratory drink you're dancing and smashing the glass, not looking into it with your head hung low.
To answer your question about which way to go I think transcreation into a suitable title that would capture the essence of the story would be the best choice. You had some good ideas there already!
Selected response from:

Lubosh Hanuska
Australia
Local time: 15:25
Grading comment
Thank you
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4at the bottom of the glass
Ivan Šimerka
3 +1Finding the meaning of the past at the bottom of the glass
Lubosh Hanuska


  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
at the bottom of the glass


Explanation:
similar to: "na dně této lahve vína jsou písničky"

Ivan Šimerka
Czech Republic
Local time: 07:25
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Finding the meaning of the past at the bottom of the glass


Explanation:
Without knowing full story I am just giving you my personal take on it: The phrase at first thought implies someone had their revelation of what the past meant or brought to them at the bottom of the glass - this in turn means they were drinking. In the context of looking at the bottom of the glass you are drinking to forget or to drown your sadness - if you are having a celebratory drink you're dancing and smashing the glass, not looking into it with your head hung low.
To answer your question about which way to go I think transcreation into a suitable title that would capture the essence of the story would be the best choice. You had some good ideas there already!


Lubosh Hanuska
Australia
Local time: 15:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SlovakSlovak
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nagavalli S Kiran: I agree. "Na dně skleničky" is almost certainly mournful. It's like the past is staring back from the bottom of an empty glass from which one has been drinking - in order to drown one's sorrows.
13 hrs
  -> thank you
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