Ikannya terdapat tapi airnya tidak keruh.

English translation: Catch the fish, yet keep the water clear.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Indonesian term or phrase:Ikannya terdapat tapi airnya tidak keruh.
English translation:Catch the fish, yet keep the water clear.
Entered by: Catherine Muir

09:50 Jun 12, 2008
Indonesian to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Military / Defense / idiom
Indonesian term or phrase: Ikannya terdapat tapi airnya tidak keruh.
In a plenary session of the DPR in May 2006, DPR Chairman Agung Laksono, speaking of Densus 88/Polri success in capturing terrorists, said "Ikannya terdapat, tapi airnya tidak keruh." Would a native Indonesian speaker please translate this idiom for me?
Catherine Muir
Australia
Local time: 12:01
Catch the fish, yet keep the water clear.
Explanation:
This refers to the way we catch fish using just hands in rivers. It is hard to do that without muddling the water and, in so doing, making it hazy.

So, if we can catch fish without muddling the water, we did a real great job.


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Note added at 20 mins (2008-06-12 10:10:25 GMT)
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In your context, the special force nabbed the terrorists without doing one or all of these: (a) killing innocents people (b) stirring strong reaction from groups supporting the terrorists (= certain elements among radical muslims).
Selected response from:

ErichEko ⟹⭐
Indonesia
Local time: 08:01
Grading comment
Many thanks! I will use "We caught the fish without muddying the water."
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2Catch the fish, yet keep the water clear.
ErichEko ⟹⭐
4to get the fish without polluting the water
Regi2006
3got the big fish without causing trouble
Hadiyono Jaqin


  

Answers


16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Catch the fish, yet keep the water clear.


Explanation:
This refers to the way we catch fish using just hands in rivers. It is hard to do that without muddling the water and, in so doing, making it hazy.

So, if we can catch fish without muddling the water, we did a real great job.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2008-06-12 10:10:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In your context, the special force nabbed the terrorists without doing one or all of these: (a) killing innocents people (b) stirring strong reaction from groups supporting the terrorists (= certain elements among radical muslims).

ErichEko ⟹⭐
Indonesia
Local time: 08:01
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in IndonesianIndonesian
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
Many thanks! I will use "We caught the fish without muddying the water."

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hadiyono Jaqin
6 mins
  -> Terima kasih...

agree  eldira: saran: Capture the fish but keep the water clear
22 mins
  -> Capture looks better, thanks!
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
got the big fish without causing trouble


Language variant: arrest the bad guy without causing disturbance in the local community

Explanation:
Mungkin merupakan perbandingan dari menangkap ikan di air keruh. Untuk menangkap ikan airnya harus dikeruhkan dulu supaya ikannya tidak bisa lari. Nah, ini beda. Densus 88 mampu menangkap teroris tanpa mengakibatkan kegaduhan/kekacauan/masalah dalam masyarakat. (low profile)

Hadiyono Jaqin
Thailand
Local time: 08:01
Meets criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: Indonesian
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27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to get the fish without polluting the water


Explanation:
Fish, here, refers to the terrorists being targeted by the Polri, but "Ikannya terdapat" does sound odd, even in spoken Indonesian.

Regi2006
Indonesia
Local time: 08:01
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in IndonesianIndonesian
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