Dec 4, 2010 19:35
13 yrs ago
Russian term
Specialist in Civil Law & Contracts
Native in: English 
Works in: Russian to English, English, Ukrainian to English
Когда два верблюда трутся
Russian to English
Social Sciences
Government / Politics
Radio Interview (proverb)
This is a heading in the transcript, and clearly part of a proverb, which seems to be in full "Когда два верблюда трутся, погибают между ними, прежде всего, мошкара".
Can anyone think of a snappy equivalent in English, or do I have to expand it to something like: "When two camels rub against each other, the midges are the first to die"?
As always, any suggestions welcome!
Can anyone think of a snappy equivalent in English, or do I have to expand it to something like: "When two camels rub against each other, the midges are the first to die"?
As always, any suggestions welcome!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | When the great quarrel, the small pay the penalty |
Rachel Douglas
|
| 3 +3 | When elephants fight, it's the grass that gets trampled |
GaryG
|
Proposed translations
+2
2 hrs
Rachel Douglas
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Excellent English from Russian originals
Native in: English (Variants: US, British, Australian)
Works in: Russian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
205
Selected
When the great quarrel, the small pay the penalty
I'm posting this as an answer at David's suggestion. Got it from a source discussing the Turkish origins of the proverb in question, as cited in the "reference" entry, below. To repeat:
"Some proverbs in Kashgari's book also slightly changed morphologically. Turks nowadays do not say, "Kiss the stone that you cannot bite" but "kiss the hand that you cannot bite." "Two camels fight and the fly in between dies" is now "The horse kicks out and the mule kicks out; between the two the donkey dies" [When the great quarrel, the small pay the penalty]."
Personally, I think a literal version would be nice and colorful, and sounds fine: "When two camels fight, the fly between them perishes."
"Some proverbs in Kashgari's book also slightly changed morphologically. Turks nowadays do not say, "Kiss the stone that you cannot bite" but "kiss the hand that you cannot bite." "Two camels fight and the fly in between dies" is now "The horse kicks out and the mule kicks out; between the two the donkey dies" [When the great quarrel, the small pay the penalty]."
Personally, I think a literal version would be nice and colorful, and sounds fine: "When two camels fight, the fly between them perishes."
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Rachel. I actually used a compromise version: When big beasts quarrel, the small animals suffer."
+3
4 mins
When elephants fight, it's the grass that gets trampled
Reportedly an African proverb, but well-known in the US
Note from asker:
| Thanks Gary! Your answer made me laugh, but I didn't like "grass" as a contrast to elephants (or insects come to that). Maybe I'm just too prosaic! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Susan Welsh
: I never heard of it, but it sounds good to me.
21 mins
|
| agree |
Jack Doughty
: with Susan
1 hr
|
| agree |
Ilze Paegle-Mkrtchyan
1 day 13 hrs
|
Reference comments
1 hr
Rachel Douglas
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Excellent English from Russian originals
Native in: English (Variants: US, British, Australian)
Works in: Russian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
205
Reference:
http://www.ottomansouvenir.com/Turkish_Proverbs/Turkish_Proverbs.htm
"Some proverbs in Kashgari's book also slightly changed morphologically. Turks nowadays do not say, "Kiss the stone that you cannot bite" but "kiss the hand that you cannot bite." "Two camels fight and the fly in between dies" is now "The horse kicks out and the mule kicks out; between the two the donkey dies" [When the great quarrel, the small pay the penalty]."
(I think a literal version sounds fine: "When two camels fight, the fly between them perishes.")
(I think a literal version sounds fine: "When two camels fight, the fly between them perishes.")
Note from asker:
| Rachel - thanks for this. Do you want to post an answer? I quite like your version in square brackets! |
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
LanaUK
: propose
50 mins
|
|
Thanks, Lana. OK, I'll post it.
|
Discussion