Om det just kommer af, at han har sit liggende fæ i himmelen, tør jeg ikke sige

English translation: treasures/gold and silver

17:00 May 14, 2011

Danish to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature

Danish term or phrase: Om det just kommer af, at han har sit liggende fæ i himmelen, tør jeg ikke sige

This is an excerpt from a letter written in the end of the nineteenth century; the writer is talking about a person who seems to be sloppy, actually the context is provided by the previous sentence, that I translated as follow: “He doesn’t give importance to things, he takes care of the small everyday concerns no more than of matters of the greatest importance.”
Although the general meaning is quite clear, I have some problem in translating “han har sit liggende fæ i himmelen”. I guess that it is an idiomatic expression, but I don’t know it in Danish.

Thanks.

Pier Caserta KudoZ activity Questions: 32 (1 open) (1 without valid answers) Answers: 9
Local time: 21:55

English translation:treasures/gold and silver

Explanation:
Har du hørt om Danefæ? Det er dannerskat (a treasure). "...i løsøre ell. (navnlig) penge, ædle metaller olgn.; skat(te); klenodie(r); kostbarhed(er); i flt. ogs.: beholdning af rigdomme; skatkammer. han tog Liggendefæet i Herrens Huus. 1Kg. 14.26. over kongens liggendefæer (1871: Skatte) var Asmaveth . . og over liggendefæerne (1871: Forraadet) paa marken, ..." See the link below

Selected response from:

farmor
Local time: 21:55

Grading comment

All answers are appropriate and have helped me a lot. Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

treasures/gold and silver

farmor

his treasure is in heaven

Hans Wang

... his reward awaits him in heaven/the afterlife ...

Diarmuid Kennan

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

1 hr confidence:

treasures/gold and silver

farmor
Local time: 21:55
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

All answers are appropriate and have helped me a lot. Thanks!

Notes to answerer

Asker: That's great! So do you think that in this context it could be a way to say that "he has his head in the clouds"?

4 hrs confidence:

his treasure is in heaven

Explanation:
It is a variation of a common bible quote based on Matthew 6:20-21.

Hans Wang
Local time: 14:55
Native speaker of:

English,

Norwegian
PRO pts in category: 8

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you very much.

1 day 1 hr confidence:

... his reward awaits him in heaven/the afterlife ...

Explanation:
he apparently assumes he's going to heaven :-)

Diarmuid Kennan
Ireland
Local time: 20:55
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 18

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Om det just kommer af, at han har sit liggende fæ i himmelen, tør jeg ikke sige

English translation: treasures/gold and silver

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Om det just kommer af, at han har sit liggende fæ i himmelen, tør jeg ikke sige

English translation: treasures/gold and silver

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