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translation Pzc & AK
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 11:47 am
by ceandersen
I know we have one topic of translation, but let me put my questions here too.
For example, in the DV "ReconnaissanceinForceB_decisive.pzbrf" (AK) scenario there is the sentence: (...) the English on their heels. (...)
I believe it is an expression, could anyone help me with the meaning?
Re: translation Pzc & AK
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 3:14 pm
by robman
To be "on one's heels" is to be on the point of falling over backwards, in response to a surprise or a blow. I guess that the idiom comes from boxing, but I am not sure. In this case, it means that the English have suffered an unexpectedly strong blow and might collapse with more pressure.
Re: translation Pzc & AK
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 4:22 pm
by Molve
The German commander is saying
You've restored the situation brilliantly and knocked the English on their heels
The idiom discussed here is "set back on one's heels" or "knock back on one's heels" meaning "To give an unpleasant surprise; upset suddenly; stop or turn back (someone's) progress."
American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms wrote:Surprise, shock, or disconcert, as in The news of their divorce set us back on our heels. This idiom, with its graphic image of someone being pushed back, dates from the first half of the 1900s.
The idiom "at one's heels", on the other hand, means "Chasing closely behind". To be at somebody's heels as in the example "The police are at his heels".
Finally, two things:
* there is an idiom "to be on your toes". There's no such thing as "to be on your heels" to mean the "opposite"...
* another idiom is "taking to one's heels" meaning running away (yes, it sounds very awkward)
Re: translation Pzc & AK
Posted: Wed Jan 01, 2014 9:48 pm
by ceandersen
Dear Sirs,
Thanks for the explanations, with your help it was easy to understand the meaning of the sentence and fully consistent with the scenario in question. Again, thank you!!!
Re: translation Pzc & AK
Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2014 2:33 am
by oasis22
Thanks Molve,
The english written word can be full of surprises.
Re: translation Pzc & AK
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 7:11 am
by ceandersen
Gentlemen, thank you again for the help and I'll come here again with another question.
In "Brevity (AK)" scenario I got confused with the objective ally.
look:
IDS_SCEN_ALLIED_CAM_OBJECTIVES Capture all but one objective.
that means all? all and 1 more? Or what?
Re: translation Pzc & AK
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:38 am
by Tarrak
Capture all but one objective means that you must capture one less objective then there are present in the scenario. For example if there are 6 objectives on the map you must capture 5 of them. If there were 4 you would have have to capture 3.
Re: translation Pzc & AK
Posted: Sat Jan 04, 2014 8:47 am
by ceandersen
ok, understood and thank you!