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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

an Armen und Beinen flogen

English translation:

which had us literally: quaking in our shoes/scurrying to obey his orders

Added to glossary by Ramey Rieger (X)
Nov 4, 2015 02:08
8 yrs ago
German term

an Armen und Beinen flogen

German to English Other Poetry & Literature Personal account
Context: "Dort wurden wir von unserem zukünftigen Feldwebel gleich ganz angeschnauzt,
sodass wir nur so an Armen und Beinen flogen."

I don't understand the last part of the sentence.

Thank you
Proposed translations (English)
3 +2 which had us literally: quaking in our shoes/scurrying to obey his orders
3 jolt arms and legs into action
References
Fliegen
Change log

Nov 4, 2015 07:21: Ramey Rieger (X) changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"

Nov 6, 2015 08:20: Ramey Rieger (X) Created KOG entry

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

PRO (3): barbarameyer, BrigitteHilgner, Ramey Rieger (X)

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Discussion

Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 5, 2015:
Hi Clive My attempt is to translate the phrase into an equally metaphorical image. The further context does not refer to marching, but to standing still, hence my suggestion.
Horst Huber (X) Nov 5, 2015:
@ Ramey, "literally" you would not be borrowing it from me. One of the most frequent users is VP Biden. It tends to be a sort of malapropism. What one is saying is most likely not literally the case.
Yini (asker) Nov 5, 2015:
Clive I posted the rest of the paragraph earlier in this discussion, if that helps.
Yini (asker) Nov 4, 2015:
Ramey Why? I wish I knew... I am against wars and killing, but I am still interested in reading about this particular one.
Clive Phillips Nov 4, 2015:
Stechschritt? "had us literally quaking in our shoes". Hmm, am not convinced yet. There doesn't seem to be any sense of 'zittern'.
The setting is a parade ground with the drill sergeant putting the newly enlisted through marching drills. They are so intimidated by him that their arms and legs are just flying in their efforts to please him by marching correctly in 'Stechschritt' ('goose step' has derogatory overtones).
Oder habe ich daneben geschossen?
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 4, 2015:
Why? What pulls you into this particular war's maelstrom?
Yini (asker) Nov 4, 2015:
Genealogy is interesting, but I've been fascinated by WWI from the age of 14; even before knowing anything about my father's family history.
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 4, 2015:
Were one of the memoires written by a family member? My goodness, that's quite a fascinating project. I wish you happy hunting!
Yini (asker) Nov 4, 2015:
Ramey I am researching genealogy which took me to WWI - my father's family is mostly from France (Lille) but I found a connection to Schwerin and WWI
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 4, 2015:
Yes, I remember the two different perspectives. Are you learning for school or is this a pet project?
Yini (asker) Nov 4, 2015:
Hello Ramey Thank you so much for your information. You are right. These are memoirs (1914-1918), but from different people, the previous posting was written in 1932 by a lieutenant and this one by a recruit both referring to WWI.
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 4, 2015:
Hi Yini then it's my first suggestion :had us literally quaking in our shoes.
As to the Flute: to teach someone to obey
http://www.redensarten-index.de/suche.php?suchbegriff=~~jema...[]=rart_ou
jemandem Ordnung / Gehorsam lehren; jemanden scharf zurechtweisen
Yini (asker) Nov 4, 2015:
Hello and thank you for your input. Here is the rest of the paragraph:
"Die
Stimme dieses Allgewaltigen nahm uns fast den Atem und
infolge seines forschen Aussehens und Auftretens
verstummte sofort jedes Gespräch. Grabesstille lag über
den Kasernenhof, als er sagte: „Ich werde Euch schon die
Flötentöne beibringen.“ By the way, that allusion to the "Flötentöne" does not make sense to me -
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 4, 2015:
@Horst 'literally' is nice, can I borrow it?
Michael Martin, MA Nov 4, 2015:
With Horst “Nur so” is a common device that intensifies the associated verb, e.g. “ dass die Glieder nur so schlotterten” .. “dass die Arme und Beine nur so flogen” = causing arms and legs to flail about in all directions” .. so yes, that’s creating a hyperbolic effect..
Horst Huber (X) Nov 4, 2015:
"Nur so" serves to turn the phrase into metaphor, or rather hyperbole. One would expect "daß wir ...nur so flogen". Some people would say "literally", which I tend to find amusing.
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 4, 2015:
Hello Clive I am rather certain that 'nur so' in this context means 'only' in the sense that ' we could only stand there quaking (in fear)' or'there was nothing for it but to scurry into action (to obey his orders). the period is WWI, I believe, as Yini has asked other questions along this line. These are memoires.
Clive Phillips Nov 4, 2015:
nur so Am with Ramey. It would be useful to have more context - and the period.
For consideration: is 'nur so' translatable as 'just' or is there some other meaning?
Ramey Rieger (X) Nov 4, 2015:
Good morning Yini We need the sentence folowing this one in order to know in which direction the 'arms and legs flew'. I don't think the metaqphor is directly translatable, but both Johanna and Michael could be right. Johanna's suggestion is more stationary: we stood quaking; Michael's they 'got moving like there's no tomorrow'.
Johanna Timm, PhD Nov 4, 2015:
I think in this context it means "vor Angst schlottern" to shiver, tremble, shake with fear etc.

Proposed translations

+2
14 hrs
Selected

which had us literally: quaking in our shoes/scurrying to obey his orders

Only the sentences following can determine which it is.
Peer comment(s):
agree Edwin Miles : Yes, although I'd use "quaking in our boots" instead of "shoes" for the military connection!
14 hrs
YES!
agree Anne Schulz : which it is – quaking, I believe (see the ref below)
16 hrs
thank goodness those days are over!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
4 hrs

jolt arms and legs into action

When drill sergeants do what they do best, their men (arms and legs) are jolted into action

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 hrs (2015-11-04 22:30:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Perhaps, this will capture the flavor of the original?

"There, the drill sergeant immediately gave us a dressing down that sent our legs and arms flying in a frenzy"
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

1 day 7 hrs
Reference:

Fliegen

Russian Germans preserved many of the old German names and words, and this Russian dictionary offers the following translation for "fliegen":

a)..., b)..., c)..., d) zittern дрожа́ть . am ganzen Körper fliegen vor Aufregung, Angst дрожа́ть всем те́лом
Reference:

http://translate.deacademic.com

Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : Yes!
1 hr
Something went wrong...
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