Mikhail Kropotov Apr 20, 2005:

In the general case, this type of phrasing would suggest that there is a lack of ***suitable*** things to strap to. I used the word "lack" as it can mean either not enough or none at all. IMHO the emphasis is on *suitable* things, not just things.

Non-ProZ.com Apr 19, 2005:

* Thanks, Konstantin. It's helpful to me to know that the Russian could mean either. The trouble is that Andrey's answer implies that there is nothing to strap them to, which opens up a problem that doesn't exist. I think your answer is better. And I appreciate Vladimir's "����� ������ ��������" - I do have a tendency to assume that things are more obscure than they are.
But, Konstantin, there was no need to inform me that this is not meant to be taken literally. One doesn't need a particularly high IQ to realise that this is a joke.

Konstantin Kisin Apr 19, 2005:

so in that way my answer is probably better BUT the distinction is not made in Russian so this is just speculation. The truth is this expression is not meant to be taken literally - he's just saying that it's stupid to spend that much money on seat belts

Konstantin Kisin Apr 19, 2005:

The meaning in Russian can in fact be BOTH. It can be understood to mean "if you could find enough things" and/or "if you could find something to strap them to". Obviously, if you want to take it this literally, there would be something to strap people to

Non-ProZ.com Apr 19, 2005:

* Hm. Andrey's answer means that there is NOTHING to strap/buckle people to, and Konstantin's that there aren't enough things. Could the Russian have either of those interpretations? Konstantin's seems to be the more likely - what do people think?