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chytat se za hlavu

English translation: clutch one's head (in despair/agony)

09:19 Oct 21, 2008
Czech to English translations [PRO]
Other / Idioms
Czech term or phrase: chytat se za hlavu
Literally: "catch one's head" - in case of unpleasant surprise, unexpected negative result of previous actions, etc.
petr
English translation:clutch one's head (in despair/agony)
Explanation:
another option... :)

'He clutched his head in despair'

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Note added at 1 day40 mins (2008-10-22 09:59:50 GMT) Post-grading
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I was doing the same when I saw some of the other suggestions :)) (joke!)
Selected response from:

Gerry Vickers
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:52
Grading comment
This seems to be just the thing I needed. Many thanks indeed.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4put one's head in one's hands
Gerry Vickers
4"puts head in hands" >
Maria Chmelarova
4shake one's head
lingua chick
4clutch one's head (in despair/agony)
Gerry Vickers
3hang one's head
Michaela Bordessoule
3to be in a stew
Pavel Blann


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
put one's head in one's hands


Explanation:
tak tomu se řiká!

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Note added at 18 mins (2008-10-21 09:37:35 GMT)
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http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-466499262258387546 :)

Gerry Vickers
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Yes, but we have both - i.e. "put one's head in one's hands" and "hang one's head" in Czech too, with slightly different meaning.

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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
hang one's head


Explanation:
např.

Michaela Bordessoule
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:52
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Yes, but we have both - i.e. "put one's head in one's hands" and "hang one's head" in Czech too, with slightly different meaning.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Gerry Vickers: 'Hang one's head' is after having done something shameful or, for example, if a footballer misses a penalty, for example - in which case he would probably do both! They have different meanings in English as well.
2 hrs
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
"puts head in hands" >


Explanation:
.....sweet mother of god, save us all...
or .....oh brother...
or ...and cries...

It generally means something ridiculous, hilarious or strange was done ....

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Note added at 4 hrs (2008-10-21 14:17:19 GMT)
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you might type " puts head in hands" and search, see the result....

Maria Chmelarova
Local time: 11:52
Native speaker of: Slovak
PRO pts in category: 6
Notes to answerer
Asker: In my case, it is about sb. who has done a gross mistake which resulted in serious accident; and it is an immediate reaction - even before the accident really happens. It might be the right one, but it still looks too near to "dát hlavu do dlaní" (lit.: put one's head into the palms of hands", which is much less action like, I think.

Asker: Thank you all very much so far. Any further ideas are always invited.

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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
shake one's head


Explanation:
Shake one's head would be a better idiom to use, rather than trying to do a verbatim translation.


    Reference: http://www.answers.com/topic/shake-one-s-head
lingua chick
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:52
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Gerry Vickers: IMO it would need to be qualified with 'in despair' in this case...
8 hrs
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to be in a stew


Explanation:
or: to fidget about

Pavel Blann
Czech Republic
Local time: 17:52
Native speaker of: Czech
PRO pts in category: 16
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22 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
clutch one's head (in despair/agony)


Explanation:
another option... :)

'He clutched his head in despair'

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day40 mins (2008-10-22 09:59:50 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

I was doing the same when I saw some of the other suggestions :)) (joke!)

Example sentence(s):
  • He clutched his head in despair
Gerry Vickers
United Kingdom
Local time: 16:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
This seems to be just the thing I needed. Many thanks indeed.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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