English term
United Arab Emirates
Translation services company in Dubai
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, Arabic
all he surveys
Non-PRO (2): Tony M, Max Deryagin
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Responses
United Kingdom
Translator since 1953
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
all that surrounds him
The original expression is "monarch of all I survey", from a poem by William Cowper about Alexander Selkirk, who was marooned on a deserted island and was the inspiration for Daniel Defoe's well known book "Robinson Crusoe"
"I am monarch of all I survey;
My right there is none to dispute;
From the centre all round to the sea
I am lord of the fowl and the brute."
the 'lord' of the whole district within sight / anything he cares to look at
The image is that of a powerful lord looking out over his territory from the top of his castle tower: "I rule over all the lands as far as you can see" — but of course it has long since ceased to have any literal meaning in that sense.
It is usually used to indicate either a self-styled ruler (who might not in reality be as powerful as he thinks), or can sometimes be found with a positive connotation to describe someone who is genuinely powerful.
Of course, in this context of gangsters etc., we are not talking about literally 'ruling', but the idea that this person had a great deal of (possibly dishonest) control over this city, etc.
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Jack Doughty
: Your answer wasn't visible when I started preparing mine. You give a fuller explanation.
13 mins
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Thanks, Jack! Though I prefer your more erudite answer... / Ever the gentleman, Jack :-)
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Shera Lyn Parpia
6 hrs
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Thanks, Shera Lyn!
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Helen Genevier
12 hrs
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Thanks, Helen!
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worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
everything he owns and knows he does
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Note added at 4 hrs (2013-08-21 23:50:51 GMT)
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forget about literally what he sees etc.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2013-08-21 23:52:04 GMT)
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the idea is that "he's the king of the roost"
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