Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
Собака лаяла на дядю фраера
English translation:
Barking up the wrong tree (see below)
Added to glossary by
Tevah_Trans
Jun 20, 2008 14:38
16 yrs ago
Russian term
United States
Exemplary quality, truly bilingual
Native in: Russian 
, English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
Собака лаяла на дядю фраера
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Slang
There's not much context, unfortunately. This is one of several dialogue options between characters in a video game. The situation *seems* to be that one character was betrayed, but it's unclear as to who is speaking here -- the traitor or the one who's been betrayed.
Don't worry about the translation. All I really need is for someone to explain the meaning for me to render in English. TIA.
Don't worry about the translation. All I really need is for someone to explain the meaning for me to render in English. TIA.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | Barking up the wrong tree (see below) |
Tevah_Trans
|
| 3 +2 | an idea |
Alexander Onishko
|
| 4 | a line from a prisoner's/convict's song |
Ekaterina K
|
Change log
Jul 6, 2008 04:55: Tevah_Trans Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+1
2 hrs
Tevah_Trans
Native in Russian
&
English
Works in field
MS Industrial Engineering; MBA
Native in: English 
, Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
7
Selected
Barking up the wrong tree (see below)
I think the second line is "сама не знала кого кусала" - meaning bit off more than he could chew, or, in other words, shut up if you know what's good for you - mouthing off to someone who can simply "off" you is not good for your health generally.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-06-20 17:16:20 GMT)
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I think also that your equivalent, in the context you mentioned, could be something like "your mouth earned you the right to sleep with the fishes".
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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-06-20 17:16:20 GMT)
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I think also that your equivalent, in the context you mentioned, could be something like "your mouth earned you the right to sleep with the fishes".
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I'm going with 'You're biting off more than you can chew.' It's almost as vague as the original, which is a good thing here. Thanks, everyone!"
21 mins
Ekaterina K
Native in Russian
Transcending borders
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Ukrainian to Russian
a line from a prisoner's/convict's song
it is a line from a criminal's song. in the so called 'blatnoi' thieves' slang/flash tongue 'фраер' (frayer) is a person, who's not related to the criminal world and is a potential victim of a criminal.
the song is sung by a criminal, who's been prisoned and now is prisoned again because he has beaten "фраер"
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Note added at 30 mins (2008-06-20 15:08:48 GMT)
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"a dog barked at a fryer/mark
for it didn't understand who it was biting..."
this is a word-to-word translation of those lines. it is clear that the prisoner regrets his action, because he is in prison again. besides, he feels like he was betrayed by that "fryer"
the song is sung by a criminal, who's been prisoned and now is prisoned again because he has beaten "фраер"
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Note added at 30 mins (2008-06-20 15:08:48 GMT)
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"a dog barked at a fryer/mark
for it didn't understand who it was biting..."
this is a word-to-word translation of those lines. it is clear that the prisoner regrets his action, because he is in prison again. besides, he feels like he was betrayed by that "fryer"
+2
2 hrs
Alexander Onishko
Native in Russian
Veni Vidi Vici
Native in: Russian , Ukrainian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, Ukrainian to English, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
an idea
Mark! I can make the following suggestion - just find some popular American gangster song, which everyone knows, and take a catchy line from there - and this will be the TRANSLATION
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alexander Kondorsky
8 mins
|
|
Большое спасибо, Александр!
|
|
| agree |
Roman Bulkiewicz
1 hr
|
|
Спасибо, Роман!
|
Discussion