auf groben Klotz ein grober Keil

English translation: It takes a sharp axe to split a tough log / You have to give it straight from the shoulder / It's no good mincing words

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:auf groben Klotz ein grober Keil
English translation:It takes a sharp axe to split a tough log / You have to give it straight from the shoulder / It's no good mincing words
Entered by: Paul Cohen

16:09 Sep 26, 2007
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
German term or phrase: auf groben Klotz ein grober Keil
I'm stuck for a translation of this quotation from Goethe. It's a line from this verse (my source text quotes only the one line, not the whole verse):

Im neuen Jahre Glück und Heil!
Auf Weh und Wunden gute Salben.
Auf groben Klotz ein grober Keil,
auf einen Schelmen anderthalben!

The text itself is about Felix von Weingartner. Here's the sentence in question:

"Was wir schon immer über die "Berliner Jahre" wissen wollten, nie aber zu fragen wagten, wird hier Ereignis: Befremdlich, wie oft ein Künstler vom Formate Weingartners beleidigt ist, wie oft er sich wie ein Dreschflegel gegen den Vorwurf der "Kontaktbrüchigkeit" verwahrt, sich aber zugleich als Opfer (zweifellos vorhandener) Neidhammel und Mißgunstgewerbler darstellt und dabei das Goethe-Motto "Auf groben Klotz ein grober Keil!" am Revers trägt".
Heather Starastin
Canada
Local time: 07:38
a tough log needs a sharp axe
Explanation:
In other words, one has to answer rudeness with rudeness - or to paraphrase it differently (and given Felix Weingartner's personality, this might be more appropriate) it's no good mincing words - you have to give it straight from the shoulder (where he was probably carrying a big chip anyway).

By the way, inspiration for this answer came from one of my favorite dictionaries: the "German-English Dictionary of Idioms" by Hans Schemann and Paul Knight, Routledge publishing house, 1995.

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Note added at 57 mins (2007-09-26 17:06:30 GMT)
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It takes a sharp axe to split a tough log.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-09-26 17:36:18 GMT)
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It takes a big hammer to drive in a big nail.
Sometimes you have to hammer and hammer on a point until... ;-)
Selected response from:

Paul Cohen
Greenland
Local time: 09:38
Grading comment
Can definitely use that, thanks a lot Paul! :-)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2a tough log needs a sharp axe
Paul Cohen
3 +1to split a log you must (really) hit the log
Bernhard Sulzer
3It takes a crude wedge to split a crude log
Kim Metzger
2Now is the accepted time...
Henry Schroeder


  

Answers


32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
Now is the accepted time...


Explanation:
Now is the accepted time to make your regular (annual) good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.

- Mark Twain

Henry Schroeder
United States
Local time: 07:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 88
1 corroborated select project
in this pair and field What is ProZ.com Project History(SM)?

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Paul Cohen: Why wait until next week, Henry? / Well, from hedonist to hedonist, I have to say, I'm also a big Twain fan.
25 mins
  -> Because Twain said so, quote on quote, famous writer to famous writer...
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49 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
It takes a crude wedge to split a crude log


Explanation:
Duden Redewendungen: auf einen groben Klotz gehört ein grober Keil - auf eine Grobheit, Unverschämtheit, grobe Unhöflichkeit o.Ä. soll man in gleicher Weise reagieren.

Traditionally the courts accept the right to a counterattack. Anyone, who is fiercely attacked, may answer with a fierce attack. A German proverb says: "Auf einen groben Klotz gehört ein grober Keil." (A crude chunk requires a crude wedge)

http://tinyurl.com/2hgwff

Well Owen, I’ve tried to be polite and seriously explain things to you, but I guess “auf einen groben Klotz gehört ein grober Keil”, as a German saying goes.
Trying to argue about taste is no sign of intelligence, and the way you’re doing it is even less so. Personally, I couldn’t care less what you think about Karaoke comparisons, I’d prefer that you’d talk about our issue on hand instead. Don’t draw crude analogies which don’t wash.

http://sorenara.ikimashou.net/2007/04/23/spring-2007-filler-...


Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 05:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 213

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Paul Cohen: I know you're a woodworker, Kim, but what is a "crude log" anyway? Is that the kind of log that uses swear words like "bark me!" or "up your willow!" or "son of a birch!" ? ;-)
1 hr
  -> Yes, awkward metaphor.
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54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
a tough log needs a sharp axe


Explanation:
In other words, one has to answer rudeness with rudeness - or to paraphrase it differently (and given Felix Weingartner's personality, this might be more appropriate) it's no good mincing words - you have to give it straight from the shoulder (where he was probably carrying a big chip anyway).

By the way, inspiration for this answer came from one of my favorite dictionaries: the "German-English Dictionary of Idioms" by Hans Schemann and Paul Knight, Routledge publishing house, 1995.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 57 mins (2007-09-26 17:06:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It takes a sharp axe to split a tough log.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-09-26 17:36:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It takes a big hammer to drive in a big nail.
Sometimes you have to hammer and hammer on a point until... ;-)


Paul Cohen
Greenland
Local time: 09:38
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 26
Grading comment
Can definitely use that, thanks a lot Paul! :-)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Craig Meulen
1 hr

agree  Bernhard Sulzer: too late for my own post-grading suggestions; like your "it's no good mincing words"
22 hrs
  -> and I like your "when attacked, the gloves come off"
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23 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to split a log you must (really) hit the log


Explanation:
since I did wreck my brain a little, I'll post it anyway:

to split a (tough) log apart, you must hit it really hard
to split a/the log, just hit the log
hit the log to split the log
to split a/the log you must (really) hit the log


tough language calls for tough talk



no holds barred in a rough game

when attacked the gloves come off

Bernhard Sulzer
United States
Local time: 07:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 55

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Craig Meulen: nice ideas. the one with 'just' doesn't work, but i like the hit/split sound. Or, what about: for a tough log you need (to go) the whole hog !
4 hrs
  -> thanks, Craig. yes, wenn schon, denn schon.
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