the impulse to elbow and scratch and grab for what I can

Lithuanian translation: norisi išstumti kitus, pagriebti ir pasisavinti, ką tik gali

10:57 Mar 24, 2008
English to Lithuanian translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
English term or phrase: the impulse to elbow and scratch and grab for what I can
Ar gali būti, kad tai idioma?
"She's done me no wrong. I know that, but I'm alone here. She's done something different. She left without telling me. Bride pulled up stumps ir went without the word. The worst of it is, I can see her point. I can feel how hard it is, the struggle to remember other people, the impulse to elbow and scratch and grab for what I can. "
krisstte
Local time: 07:57
Lithuanian translation:norisi išstumti kitus, pagriebti ir pasisavinti, ką tik gali
Explanation:
This is an idiom. The idiom "to elbow" means to push others aside (as if throwing your elbows to the sides) so you can get what you are intent upon. In this sentence "scratch" and "grab" are used synonomously, and in parallel with "to elbow", all in varying degrees describing the same thing. My translation does not say "ką tik galiu", since I think the speaker is actually describing someone else (the context determines that). I am very thankful you're giving as much context as you are in your questions -- otherwise, they'd be impossible to figure out.
Selected response from:

Mokinys
Local time: 07:57
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4norisi išstumti kitus, pagriebti ir pasisavinti, ką tik gali
Mokinys


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the impulse to elbow and scratch and grab for what i can
norisi išstumti kitus, pagriebti ir pasisavinti, ką tik gali


Explanation:
This is an idiom. The idiom "to elbow" means to push others aside (as if throwing your elbows to the sides) so you can get what you are intent upon. In this sentence "scratch" and "grab" are used synonomously, and in parallel with "to elbow", all in varying degrees describing the same thing. My translation does not say "ką tik galiu", since I think the speaker is actually describing someone else (the context determines that). I am very thankful you're giving as much context as you are in your questions -- otherwise, they'd be impossible to figure out.

Mokinys
Local time: 07:57
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Romualdas Zvonkus: Man truputi prasmę keičia žodelis 'for' sakinyje 'scratch and grab for what I can'. O į lietuvišką vertimą reikėtų pažvelgti kūrybiškai, nes pasiūlytasis variantas skamba nenatūraliai.
9 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search