Jan 5, 2007 09:03
17 yrs ago
English term
how to understand the sentence?
English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
literature
Here is the sentence confused to me like this:" I have only, I tell myself, to throw off the straps and haul on the lever ready to my hand for the cogs to stop grinding and the light to fall steady on the girl, her slim arms, her slender body."
I wonder how to understand "throw off the straps and haul on the lever ready to my hand for the cogs to stop grinding and light to fall steady on the girl."
Thank you for hour help!
I wonder how to understand "throw off the straps and haul on the lever ready to my hand for the cogs to stop grinding and light to fall steady on the girl."
Thank you for hour help!
Responses
| 3 +2 | more interpretation |
Ken Cox
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| 4 +3 | Interpret 'ready to my hand' as 'ready to hand' |
Anton Baer
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| 3 +4 | see explanation |
Rolf Klischewski, M.A.
|
Responses
+2
5 hrs
Selected
more interpretation
'throw off the straps' suggests that the speaker may be strapped into a chair or onto a bed, which prevents him (or her as it may be) from reaching the nearby lever
'cogs' is a synonym (usually British) of gears, so 'the to cogs stop grinding' means 'the gears to stop turning'
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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-01-05 17:04:53 GMT)
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Of course, it could be that the straps are restraining the girl. We really need more context.
'cogs' is a synonym (usually British) of gears, so 'the to cogs stop grinding' means 'the gears to stop turning'
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Note added at 8 hrs (2007-01-05 17:04:53 GMT)
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Of course, it could be that the straps are restraining the girl. We really need more context.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you for help!"
+3
3 hrs
Anton Baer
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
&
English
United Kingdom
Technology, natural sciences, AGBs
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Slovak to English, Czech to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
Interpret 'ready to my hand' as 'ready to hand'
The lever is 'ready to hand', not yet _in_ his hand. He will grab it once he throws off the straps. Have never heard 'ready to my hand' and think it means what I suggest. Something that is 'handy' (outside Germany) is 'ready to hand', i.e. 'ready to be picked up', 'ready to be handled'.
+4
5 mins
Rolf Klischewski, M.A.
Specializes in field
It's all about localization!
Native in: German 
Works in: English to German, German
see explanation
"[...] throw off the straps and use the lever in my hand to make the cogs stop grinding and let the light fall steadily on the girl."
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Note added at 7 hrs (2007-01-05 16:08:53 GMT)
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"[...] throw off the straps and use the lever NEXT TO my hand to make the cogs stop grinding and let the light fall steadily on the girl."
For Richard. (C:
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Note added at 7 hrs (2007-01-05 16:08:53 GMT)
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"[...] throw off the straps and use the lever NEXT TO my hand to make the cogs stop grinding and let the light fall steadily on the girl."
For Richard. (C:
Note from asker:
| this is an old lady that she's watching the girl who's a bride. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
garci
18 mins
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| agree |
Mehmet Hascan
55 mins
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| agree |
Cybeles Lehner
: Yes... (however I am wondering what the guy was doing with the slender girl... Curiosity killed the cat, I guess... hehehe !)
1 hr
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Yeah, and the entire thing about the "lever"... (C;
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| agree |
Dave Calderhead
2 hrs
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| neutral |
Richard Benham
: The lever is not in the speaker's hand, but ready to hand, i.e. easily accessible.
6 hrs
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Good point, I've changed it!
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Discussion