Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
«Гинденбург – это голова».
English translation:
great mind / great thinker / man of great vision
Added to glossary by
Clive Wilshin
Jun 29, 2009 21:54
14 yrs ago
Russian term
Translations that read like originals
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, French to English
«Гинденбург – это голова».
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Спору нет, Владислав Сурков в современной российской политике играет важную роль, и титулы «главного политтехнолога Кремля» и «главного диспетчера политического процесса» им вполне заслужены. Однако объявление его неким демиургом (то ли Ормуздом, то ли Ариманом), по своей воле творящим историю, кажется несколько преувеличенным. Причем, безотносительно к тому, принадлежит ли он к Свету или Тьме. В любом случае, получается пикейно-жилетство – «Гинденбург – это голова».
I've managed to establish that this is a quotation from Ilf and Petrov's novel Золотой теленок. I read the amazingly unfunny "Двенадцать Стульев" at university, and never cared to read anything more by these authors. I am beginning to regret that now, unless someone can enlighten me!
I've managed to establish that this is a quotation from Ilf and Petrov's novel Золотой теленок. I read the amazingly unfunny "Двенадцать Стульев" at university, and never cared to read anything more by these authors. I am beginning to regret that now, unless someone can enlighten me!
Proposed translations
(English)
References
| Hindenburg, not Gindenburg |
Jim Tucker (X)
|
Proposed translations
+1
26 mins
Mark Berelekhis
United States
United States
Native in Russian
&
English
Specializes in field
United States
Exemplary quality, truly bilingual
Native in: Russian 
, English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
Related KudoZ points
:
666
Selected
great mind / great thinker / man of great vision
From what I remember, this phrase is spoken by a group of old pseudo-intellectuals from before the war (either nobles or sympathizers of the old regime). They're sitting around and beating their gums, intellectualizing, commenting on old events, eventually offering the ultimate seal of approval: "XYZ -- это голова".
On a side note, Золотой Теленок is just about the funniest work of literature I've ever read, either in Russian or English. It surpasses even the great Hitchhiker's Guide.
On a side note, Золотой Теленок is just about the funniest work of literature I've ever read, either in Russian or English. It surpasses even the great Hitchhiker's Guide.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Oxana Snyder
: I've never read Золотой теленок, but I found 12 стулье funny! I believe that's the meaning of this famous phrase, which I heard many times and never knew where it came from :)
1 hr
|
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12 стульев was great, but Золотой теленок takes funny to a whole new level. Thank you for your comment :)
|
|
| neutral |
Vladimir Dubisskiy
: Mark, I only remember (vaguely) that Gindenburg was a general. that's it. Nothing about "great mind/thinker" (probably on the contrary, he was more of 'солдафон'). Your variant is killing the irony of Ilf/Petrov saying, sorry.
3 hrs
|
|
Actually, him and others being called great thinkers when they're anything but -- that's the whole irony right there. As a side note, "variant" is really the wrong word in this context. Use "version."
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Sorry to have taken so long on grading this question."
+1
2 hrs
Gindenburg is the man!
Declined
This may sound a little too American though. Certain folks may even go as far as call him DA man, but for the record, I am not suggesting that.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-06-30 00:44:32 GMT)
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In support of Mark's comments above, I wouldn't expect this entire phrase to ring too many bells with your average English-speaking audience, be they Brits or Americans.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-06-30 00:44:32 GMT)
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In support of Mark's comments above, I wouldn't expect this entire phrase to ring too many bells with your average English-speaking audience, be they Brits or Americans.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Mark Berelekhis
: Could definitely work with another crowd, but can you really see a bunch of haughty old farts (stuffed shirts, as Graham brilliantly put it) spewing slang?
49 mins
|
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I see your point, Mark, but isn't it what they are actually saying - in their own stuff-shirted way? Cheers!
|
|
| agree |
Vladimir Dubisskiy
: очень нравится!
1 hr
|
|
Thanks.
|
+2
7 hrs
Vladimir Alexandrov
Native in Russian
fight the matrix
Native in: Russian 
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
8
"Hindenburg has a head on him."
Declined
The little golden calf, a satiric novel by Ilya Ilf and Eugene Petrov; authorized translation from the Russian by Charles Malamuth;
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: nice. If you want to give that translation a little more life, you could easily say "And that Hindenburg -- he sure has a head on him!"
27 mins
|
| agree |
The Misha
: This is good
6 hrs
|
8 hrs
Hindenburg is a brain
Declined
/
13 hrs
Alexandra Taggart
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Native in Russian
&
English
Specializes in field
Russian Federation
proficient translation
Native in: English , Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
Related KudoZ points
:
32
Gindenburg, he is the top!
Declined
"Gindenburg, he is really big!", "...he is a real man!". That which the author wants to enhance here is that aristocratic, posh, intellectual appearance of these men does not correspond to their nature.They may appear to you as high intellectuals in a shape of spoiled dandies or snobbish idles but in fact they themselves are the representatives of the populace, mob, their mouth stinks."He is noble before he opens his mouth."
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Note added at 1 day13 hrs (2009-07-01 11:41:18 GMT)
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"Hindenburg, that is ahead!" - about technology (in a positive sense).I'm still convinced that it is a phrase was cast at Surkov in order to start conversation and it does not mean anything else just tells about the speaker - he, a person "interested in science", he's got special knowledge about Zeppelin and the rest of information is available to him.Again, intellectual person would never pronounce such words.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day13 hrs (2009-07-01 11:41:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"Hindenburg, that is ahead!" - about technology (in a positive sense).I'm still convinced that it is a phrase was cast at Surkov in order to start conversation and it does not mean anything else just tells about the speaker - he, a person "interested in science", he's got special knowledge about Zeppelin and the rest of information is available to him.Again, intellectual person would never pronounce such words.
Reference comments
6 hrs
Reference:
Hindenburg, not Gindenburg
...whatever answer you choose.
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
Henry Schroeder
: Yes, it's the popular German general, I imagine
1 hr
|
| agree |
Yuri Dubrov
3 hrs
|
| agree |
The Misha
: Shucks, shame on me
7 hrs
|
| agree |
Sabine Akabayov, PhD
8 hrs
|
Discussion
Without reading that chapter of the book, it's hard to explain the reference (to US President Hoover and German President Hindenburg).
However, the article I'm translating goes on to say "With the appearance of the Putin-Medvedev 'tandem,' the Russian state became two-headed, and Surkov is situated exactly at the point where the two heads join."
В первом случае, соответсвенно с моим дргуим ответом baloney, можно переводить чем-либо типа "ham's the real thing", что передает совершенные пустяки этого высказания, но в таком случае потеряется смысл, связанный с другой главной головой в фоне.