Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
лучше "недоборщить", чем "переборщить"
English translation:
better off taking it too slow, than coming on too strong
Added to glossary by
Rachel Douglas
May 28, 2009 10:33
15 yrs ago
Russian term
лучше "недоборщить", чем "переборщить"
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Смотри, Сереги! В таких делах лучше недоборщить, чем переборщить... (один персонаж дает советы другому о том, как лучше себя вести со слабым полом)
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Jun 11, 2009 04:11: Rachel Douglas Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+3
4 hrs
Selected
better off taking it too slow, than coming on too strong
"to come on too strong" is very common colloquial AE for this context.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2009-05-28 14:43:44 GMT)
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By including "off", I meant: "You'll be better off taking..." etc.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2009-05-28 14:43:44 GMT)
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By including "off", I meant: "You'll be better off taking..." etc.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Mikhail Kropotov
1 hr
|
Thanks.
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agree |
Tatiana Lammers
3 hrs
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Thank you.
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agree |
Alexandra Goldburt
: Considering that we are talking about men treating women here, and considering that women usually don't like men who move too fast (there are some exceptions, of course), your answer is picture-perfect.
3 days 1 hr
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Thank you.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
-2
6 mins
better brook than bombast
better brook than bombast
I think it fits the context
Peer comment(s):
disagree |
Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk
: IMHO, it's a pretty far cry from this answer to what was actually said and ment to that guy after an exclamation like "Hey, look here, Seryoga!" As it seems, miles away...
1 hr
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Not really, it's more like horses brooking in front of each other. It is about stopping on time.
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disagree |
neilmac
: No native speaker would talk like this :/
141 days
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+3
39 mins
don't over-egg the pudding
If you want to keep a culinary theme, this phrase might do it. It means don't overdo it, don't put to much effort into it or it'll spoil.
My example is in the last paragraph of this section.
My example is in the last paragraph of this section.
Example sentence:
...don't over-egg the pudding. If you give yourself more credit than you deserve, it'll bite back ...
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Oleksandr Kupriyanchuk
: "Переборщить" is not of culinary, this is a resonant verb, as borshch is a solid meal for muzhiks. Pudding IS NOT, culinary DOES NOT fit into the context. IS THIS A CONVERSATION OF TWO MEN about dating?! You must be joking! Men would never say so :)
55 mins
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Thank you for your comments. The phrase I suggested is not especially feminine in nature, as you will see from the context url I gave. I gave my suggestion in the belief that a reference to food may be relevant in the wider context.
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agree |
katerina turevich
: I like it. And i think it's quite common use for men or women.
1 hr
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Thank you, Katerina!
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agree |
Mikhail Kropotov
: Reference to food is non-essential here. Nonetheless, I like your version.
2 hrs
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Thank you, Mikhail!
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agree |
Tokyo_Moscow
: Sounds good, also "food" reference fits pretty nice)))
17 hrs
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Thank you!
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1 hr
dating (courting) softly is better than trying it too hard
The idea:
SOFT vs “Try too HARD”,
keeping the original pattern “that is better than this” (with a bawdy drop of the muzhik style).
That’s a BULL SESSION, men’s talk, isn’t it ?!
So let’s put is straight from the shoulder, keeping the masculine style of talk, translating CLOSER to the ORIGINAL PATTERN - that is the main point.
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Michael Korovkin
: no, I meant what I wrote: literary (drawing-room-conversation-like) - not literally you perceived as a compliment
1 hr
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Yes, literally to the sense expressed. The best compliment. Thank you.
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+3
1 hr
less is more
Encountered very often precisely in this context. Example:
http://www.datingdirectaffinity.com/misc/advices_online_g.ph...
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-05-28 12:31:52 GMT)
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And yes, I can imagine this cliche phrase in a conversation of two guys.
http://www.datingdirectaffinity.com/misc/advices_online_g.ph...
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-05-28 12:31:52 GMT)
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And yes, I can imagine this cliche phrase in a conversation of two guys.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Samantha Payn
16 mins
|
Thank you!
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agree |
katerina turevich
: It's good, laconic like this. With an "always" before "more", as it relates to ladies"
26 mins
|
Thank you!
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neutral |
Michael Korovkin
: you mean, like, size doesn't count? Don't you ever believe that: it's a post-feminist myth. :)
54 mins
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:)
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agree |
Mikhail Kropotov
: A good find, but not in this context, IMHO. "Less is more" is too aphoristic and "pithy." Yes, it may be said in a conversation between two guys, but the tone is different.
1 hr
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Well, what is too aphoristic for "country bumpkins" may be OK for the Russian "приблатненные"... Thanks!
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neutral |
Alexandra Goldburt
: It would be great in a different context, but not when it comes to dating. Can me very easily misunderstood (see Michael Korovkin's comment - and yes, size does count).
3 days 3 hrs
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Thanks but quite frankly this is the only context in which I've encountered the expression in real life...
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+2
2 hrs
better safe than sorry/better go slow
not quite the same as ... pudding, brook and bombast, but of much wider usage, I think, for those seem to be rather endemic to England.
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Alexandra Taggart
: better safe than sorry..>>???
8 hrs
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yeah, thanks. Could doub as a condom use promotion, to boot!
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agree |
koundelev
9 hrs
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thanks, George
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3 hrs
underdone is better than overdone
underdo is better than overdo it
не знаю, насколько адекватно это будет звучат в таком контексте, носители может подскажут?
не знаю, насколько адекватно это будет звучат в таком контексте, носители может подскажут?
+3
3 hrs
don't lay it on too thick
Dont' lay it on too thick - just play cool, man! :)
Being too nice. <br> Most men already know that in myth women prefer bad boys. That's actually partially grounded in reality. Women want a guy that will treat them properly. However, a man without an edge is BORING! You can be nice to the woman you are interested in, but don't lay it on too thick. That instantly turns most women off.<br>
How to Get a Woman to Fall in Love by JoeyGladwell
Remember: don't overdo it! Fabulous flirters don't lay it on too thick. Instead, a small compliment or gesture every so often will tempt them into wanting more without seeming overwhelming.
How To Be A Fabulous Flirter by Peter Portero
Being too nice. <br> Most men already know that in myth women prefer bad boys. That's actually partially grounded in reality. Women want a guy that will treat them properly. However, a man without an edge is BORING! You can be nice to the woman you are interested in, but don't lay it on too thick. That instantly turns most women off.<br>
How to Get a Woman to Fall in Love by JoeyGladwell
Remember: don't overdo it! Fabulous flirters don't lay it on too thick. Instead, a small compliment or gesture every so often will tempt them into wanting more without seeming overwhelming.
How To Be A Fabulous Flirter by Peter Portero
Reference:
http://www.squidoo.com/how-to-get-a-woman-to-fall-in-love
http://ezinearticles.com/?How-To-Be-A-Fabulous-Flirter&id=160509
Peer comment(s):
agree |
sukirat anand
1 hr
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Thank you. :)
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agree |
Michael Korovkin
: bravissimo (a?)! simple, slightly slangy, carries the context, as the doctor ordered! should've thought about it myself!
1 hr
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Спасибо большое. :) P.S. (a)! :))
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agree |
Alexandra Taggart
: It is that what I would say in here.>>Another one similar: "Don't marmalade it too much"http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=marmalade
6 hrs
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Thank you, Alexandra. That's quite a compliment, coming from a native speaker. :)
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8 hrs
keep your distance...before you go too far
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Discussion