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Die Fronten zeichnen sich ab

English translation: The battle lines are drawn

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Die Fronten zeichnen sich ab
English translation:The battle lines are drawn
Entered by: cahsh

09:40 Oct 16, 2009
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
German term or phrase: Die Fronten zeichnen sich ab
As in a dispute where father, son, brother find themselves on opposing sides
cahsh
The battle lines are drawn
Explanation:
Or "were drawn" depending on the tense of the action. Litterally it means the fronts became clear or defined.
Selected response from:

Stephen Old
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:10
Grading comment
With many thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +9The battle lines are drawn
Stephen Old
4 +4The battle lines are emerging
Slindon
3The front lines are emerging
Thayenga


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +9
The battle lines are drawn


Explanation:
Or "were drawn" depending on the tense of the action. Litterally it means the fronts became clear or defined.

Stephen Old
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
With many thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  VictoriaAris (X): Got there just before me. Totally agree.
1 min
  -> Thanks Victoria. I have been pipped to the post many times too.
agree  Amy Billing: Very nice way of putting it.
3 mins
  -> Thanks Amy
agree  Annett Kottek (X)
8 mins
  -> Danke Annett
agree  Henry Schroeder
10 mins
  -> thanks, Henry
neutral  Steffen Walter: I think "zeichnen sich ab" refers to an ongoing process, which is why I'd use a continuous form here ("are being drawn"?).
37 mins
  -> or were (being) drawn might be appropriate/ I would need more context and was seeking mainly to provide an appropriate Engish expression.
agree  Anne-Marie Grant (X): 'are being drawn'
1 hr
  -> See above
agree  Helen Shiner: Another vote for 'are being drawn'
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, we oviously need more context or more of the sentence to be precise
agree  Lancashireman
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Andrew
agree  Kim Metzger: Too bad asker didn't give us more source text.
3 hrs
  -> Exactly, I did the best I could with what we had.
agree  Rebecca Garber
5 hrs
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
The battle lines are emerging


Explanation:
to me 'zeichnen sich ab' means that the process is becoming apparent but not quite completed. That's why I'd prefer 'emerging'. Call me pedantic......

Slindon
Germany
Local time: 14:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter: You are quite right. I also thought of "the front lines [frontlines] are becoming clearer" but your suggestion is certainly better.
24 mins
  -> Thanks Steffen
agree  Benoit Deeg: "Are being drawn" usually accompanies the term "battle line".
1 hr
  -> Thanks Benoit
agree  Rolf Keiser: exactly, the battle lines are only beginning to become evident
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Goldcoaster
neutral  Lancashireman: emerging lines?
2 hrs
agree  philgoddard
8 hrs
  -> Thanks!
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2 days 57 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
The front lines are emerging


Explanation:
As in: marking the front lines

Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 14:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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