Jul 24, 2019 14:36
4 yrs ago
Russian term
в Бога,... в душу,... в рот и нос
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
From a gulag memoir:
а если мы ***в Бога,... в душу,... в рот и нос... *** не выполним плана, то нас заживо сгноят в КУРе, что, впрочем, уже давно пора сделать!
I'm assuming the .... stands for хуй
I'm trying to come up with an equivalent steam of censored profanities, but I don't think my cursing is creative enough
:-( I welcome any ideas!
а если мы ***в Бога,... в душу,... в рот и нос... *** не выполним плана, то нас заживо сгноят в КУРе, что, впрочем, уже давно пора сделать!
I'm assuming the .... stands for хуй
I'm trying to come up with an equivalent steam of censored profanities, but I don't think my cursing is creative enough
:-( I welcome any ideas!
Proposed translations
+2
4 hrs
Selected
... and if we, God save our worthless, miserable souls, fail to fulfill the plan...
No, ... here does not stand for THAT, but you are right, what you need is a string of original expletives that would convey the same meaning. I am giving you just one option, a fairly neutral one too, but there could be tons of others, as vulgar or as meek as you want them to be.
Also, note that I am using this "fulfill the plan" here as a deliberate and somewhat masochistic Soviet delicacy (ever heard of lutefisk?). You can definitely say something like "reach the objective" or "meet the goal" or simply "deliver" for a more modern feel.
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Note added at 1 day 21 hrs (2019-07-26 12:09:43 GMT)
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Sure? I am not quite sure what my name is most mornings when I wake up. But like I said, you can make it as profane as you want it to be. ...If any of you motherf*g assh*ls as much as thinks of not fulfilling the plan, you better think again before we get ours balls served to us on a platter and rammed down our stinking throats. Now get your sh*t together and go do your damn jobs, you losers! How's that for profane? Just keep it in mind that the more elaborate it gets, the less natural it sounds. More is not necessarily better.
Also, I think you should have probably marked this as offensive lest some sensitive young soul around here get her knickers all in a twist and complain:)
Also, note that I am using this "fulfill the plan" here as a deliberate and somewhat masochistic Soviet delicacy (ever heard of lutefisk?). You can definitely say something like "reach the objective" or "meet the goal" or simply "deliver" for a more modern feel.
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Note added at 1 day 21 hrs (2019-07-26 12:09:43 GMT)
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Sure? I am not quite sure what my name is most mornings when I wake up. But like I said, you can make it as profane as you want it to be. ...If any of you motherf*g assh*ls as much as thinks of not fulfilling the plan, you better think again before we get ours balls served to us on a platter and rammed down our stinking throats. Now get your sh*t together and go do your damn jobs, you losers! How's that for profane? Just keep it in mind that the more elaborate it gets, the less natural it sounds. More is not necessarily better.
Also, I think you should have probably marked this as offensive lest some sensitive young soul around here get her knickers all in a twist and complain:)
Note from asker:
Thanks for your suggestion! But are you sure it doesn't mean THAT? Here's some more context: The paragraph is introduced with this sentence: "Сначала из начала из речи ничего нельзя понять - виртуозный мат громоздится выше десятого этажа." That's why I think profanity is definitely called for here. |
Thanks again! I'm ashamed to say creative profanity is not my strong suit, nor is reading small print. I didn't realize I had the option to add a trigger warning to my question. Too late now, I guess. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
22 hrs
come rain, come shine, come f***ing hell or high water or both
Just one of the options
1 day 19 mins
...every sinew and every ounce...
If we don't put every (fucking) sinew (of our bodies) and every (fucking) (last) ounce of our strength into fulfilling/achieving the plan...
The Russian phrase comes across as quite 'physical' or 'visceral', suggesting variations on 'every sinew' and 'every last ounce' (with or without a few expletives).
The Russian phrase comes across as quite 'physical' or 'visceral', suggesting variations on 'every sinew' and 'every last ounce' (with or without a few expletives).
Discussion
Why not simply lard the translation with the 'F-words', instead?
For example:
'If we fail to f***ing deliver, they will f***ing bury us alive in the [mother]- f***ing @KUR@, which they should have f***ing done a long time ago, anyway'.
Just an idea ;)