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Hasardstreich
Hänge-WC

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

allenfalls von Ferngläsern aus entfernten Liegenstühlen betrachtet...

English translation:

at best observed through binoculars from far away deck chairs

Added to glossary by janejira
Jul 17, 2017 06:31
6 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term

allenfalls von Ferngläsern aus entfernten Liegenstühlen betrachtet...

German to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature
Hier wird die Situation von einem Bergsteiger beschieben, wenn er nicht weiter steigen kann.

"Kein Weitersteigen scheint mehr moeglich und auch kein Absteigen. Verstiegenheit ist das Wort. So hängt er in den Seilen, ohne einen Rückweg, allenfalls von Ferngläsern aus entfernten Liegestühlen betrachtet..."

I can't understand this description. Does it mean that the cliffhanger hang on the rope without the way back, at best if observed by the binoculars from the deck chairs.


How come deck chairs in this context? Thank you in advance for your kind help!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 at best observed through binoculars from far away deck chairs
3 +1 unless detected by binoculars from a distant deckchair
3 +1 only observable if someone lying on the lounge chair in the distance were to spot him with binocular
3 ... as seen from (deckchair/binoculars etc.) in any case.
3 only the off chance of someone in a distant deck chair scanning the landscape with binoculars
3 T​he most he can hope for is being eyed through binoculars from the safety of distant deckchairs.
Change log

Jul 17, 2017 07:59: Steffen Walter changed "Field (write-in)" from "Literature" to "(none)"

Discussion

Ramey Rieger (X) Jul 17, 2017:
Hi Anne yes, by chance
Anne Schulz Jul 17, 2017:
I have a feeling the implication is "now way forward and no way back, and nobody there to help" – the only hope is that someone who is relaxing on the hotel porch in a comfortable deckchair (in contrast to the uncomfortable position of the climber) happens to see him by chance while languidly scanning the mountain escarpment for birds or capricorns or interesting events.
Ramey Rieger (X) Jul 17, 2017:
He is hanging in the ropes and can only be seen when someone sitting in a deck chair coincidentally looks his way with binoculars.

Proposed translations

+3
29 mins
Selected

at best observed through binoculars from far away deck chairs

...

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Note added at 5 hrs (2017-07-17 12:19:34 GMT)
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The climber is being observed, if he is lucky. See discussion entries.
Note from asker:
who observe? the climber observes or is observed? Betrachtet hier ist Partizip II, right?
Peer comment(s):
agree Steffen Walter
58 mins
Thank you Steffen;)
agree Armorel Young : Yes (with "faraway" as one word). It is the climber who is being observed - er wird betrachtet.
1 hr
Thanks, Armorel, also for the correction. Yes, the climber, if he is lucky!
neutral philgoddard : I don't think "at best" quite works.// Because it doesn't convey a clear meaning to me.
5 hrs
Why not?// It seems quite clear to me: in his measly situation the best he can hope for is for someone, for whatever reason, is scanning the face of the mountain with a pair of binoculars.
agree Daniel Arnold (X) : nice
9 hrs
Thank you, Arnold.
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you thank you 1000 times, Without your help, I would be helpless"
2 hrs

... as seen from (deckchair/binoculars etc.) in any case.

I have an inkling this "allenfalls" might be in the older sense of 'at any rate'. Cf. http://www.dict.cc/?s=allenfalls. If so, then not 'without a hope of ascent or descent UNLESS seen from afar', but 'at least as seen from a distant vantage point'.
Something went wrong...
5 hrs

only the off chance of someone in a distant deck chair scanning the landscape with binoculars

His situation is hopeless.Only a bit of luck will help. The subject (the viewer) is not in the source sentence.





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Note added at 5 hrs (2017-07-17 12:29:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another option:

with luck, espied with binoculars from a dustant/faraway deck chair
Example sentence:

only on the off chance that someone in a distant deck chair is scanning the landscape with binoculars

Note from asker:
thank you sooo much!!
Something went wrong...
+1
8 hrs

unless detected by binoculars from a distant deckchair

My take

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Note added at 8 hrs (2017-07-17 15:24:32 GMT)
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Or rather "through binoculars"
Note from asker:
Yes!!! I agreee with you! You are brilliant!
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : This is nice and concise.
3 hrs
Many thanks, Phil
Something went wrong...
13 hrs

T​he most he can hope for is being eyed through binoculars from the safety of distant deckchairs.

This quote is more like a metaphor for a writer who is starting out. Here's more of the source text:
"Verstiegenheit wäre ein treffendes Wort für einen werdenden Schriftsteller – gleich der Verstiegenheit eines Bergsteigers, der in eine Wand steigt und sich mit der Zeit immer mehr versteigt, je weiter er seiner verstiegenen Lage zu entsteigen versucht. Es gibt kein Vor und kein Zurück. Keinen Ruhe- oder Rastpunkt. So hängt er in den Seilen, ohne Ausweg, ohne Hilfe, allenfalls von Ferngläsern aus entfernten Liegestühlen betrachtet." http://joachimzelter.de/notizen/

There's no path forward or back. No place to rest or catch a break. So he finds himself on the ropes without help or a way out​. T​he most he can hope for is being eyed through binoculars from the safety of distant deckchairs.
Something went wrong...
+1
2 hrs

only observable if someone lying on the lounge chair in the distance were to spot him with binocular

binoculars* (I ran out of characters)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2017-07-17 15:37:11 GMT)
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Liegestuhl? http://dict.tu-chemnitz.de/deutsch-englisch/Liegestuhl.html
Liegestühle: https://www.amazon.de/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/260-4069032-1256128?_...
Lounge Chairs: https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/140-9387424-4510941?...
I'm not super domestic though, so I accept a more common term here.

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Note added at 11 hrs (2017-07-17 18:23:29 GMT)
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Maybe better: ..., only observable if someone lounging in the distance were to spot him while using binoculars

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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2017-07-18 07:50:32 GMT)
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Another form: "only observable if someone sitting on one of the deck chairs in the distance were to spot him with binoculars"

If length is not a problem, this natural structure emphasizes the distance from a possible source of help.
Note from asker:
Thankkkk sssso much!
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : But not "the lounge chair". It's "a deckchair". Also, the correct word order is "observable only".
3 hrs
Thanks, Phil! I'll take a 3/4 agree :)
Something went wrong...
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