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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Man ist noch weit zurück

English translation:

to be (way) behind the times

Added to glossary by Christine Lam
Nov 23, 2004 14:17
19 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Man ist noch weit zurück

German to English Social Sciences Linguistics
in einem Brief aus dem Jahr 1926 eines Deutschen, der Moskau besuchte und feststellte, dass "man dort nocht weit zurück" ist.
Hat jemand eine gute Idee, wie man dies am besten ausdrücken kann.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 to be (way) behind the times
4 +3 how far behind the times they are/were
4 +2 They're still very backward (t)here. / Thy're a long way behind us (t)here. / etc.
4 +2 very much lagging behind
5 +1 they were still far behind
3 they are still very backward

Discussion

Non-ProZ.com Nov 23, 2004:
he is still in Russia - actually he is travelling through Russia on his way to China
Richard Benham Nov 23, 2004:
Is he still in Russia when he writes the letter? It changes whether you translate "dort" as "here" or "there"--unless you want to put "there" anyway to emphasize how alien he finds it.
Non-ProZ.com Nov 23, 2004:
I'm translating the entire letter and the complete sentece is "Man ist dort noch weit zurueck".
Francis Lee (X) Nov 23, 2004:
Are you translating the entire letter? Or at least the entire sentence? Or is it a quote within the translation?

Proposed translations

+3
18 mins
German term (edited): Man ist noch weit zur�ck
Selected

to be (way) behind the times

another one
Peer comment(s):
agree CMJ_Trans (X) : great minds?
17 mins
agree Eve Schuttle (X) : This is the elegant way of expressing it.
4 hrs
agree Ellen Zittinger
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thank you for all the great suggestions, it was a tough choice"
+2
2 mins
German term (edited): Man ist noch weit zur�ck

They're still very backward (t)here. / Thy're a long way behind us (t)here. / etc.

Take your pick.
Peer comment(s):
agree swisstell : backward
3 mins
Well, I'm glad you've taken your pick there, "Wilhelm".
agree gangels (X)
59 mins
Something went wrong...
+2
3 mins
German term (edited): Man ist noch weit zur�ck

very much lagging behind

How about "very much lagging behind", the implicating being "very much behind German and the rest of Western Europe.
Peer comment(s):
agree Andrew D
45 mins
agree Hilary Davies Shelby : lagging very much behind ;-)
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+3
13 mins

how far behind the times they are/were

....

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-11-23 14:30:46 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

how far they had to go to catch up

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-11-23 14:54:23 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

JUST how far behind the times they are
Peer comment(s):
agree Jonathan MacKerron : like the ring of it
7 mins
agree Cilian O'Tuama : hey, didn't see you when I posted
12 mins
agree Hilary Davies Shelby
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
2 mins
German term (edited): Man ist noch weit zur�ck

they were still far behind

--

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2004-11-23 14:47:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

then: They are still far behind us there.
Peer comment(s):
agree Francis Lee (X) : They're still a long way behind, there.
33 mins
Something went wrong...
1 hr
German term (edited): Man ist noch weit zur�ck

they are still very backward

mein senf...
Something went wrong...
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