με ξένα κόλλυβα κάνει μνημόσυνο

English translation: borrowed plumes

00:52 Jul 26, 2005

Greek to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

Greek term or phrase: με ξένα κόλλυβα κάνει μνημόσυνο

Στο ΛΚΝ υπάρχει μόνο το "με ξένα κόλλυβα (μνημονεύει) = επωφελούμαι από προσπάθειες άλλων, τις οποίες παρουσιάζω ως δική μου συμβολή".
Η απόδοση που αναζητώ είναι σε επίπεδο γλωσσαρίου, δηλαδή για όσο γίνεται περισσότερες χρήσεις. Στο Google, αν δώσετε "ξένα κόλλυβα" μνημόσυνο, θα βρείτε αρκετά παραδείγματα.
Με την ησυχία σας, θα λείψω για αρκετές μέρες, οπότε, αν θέλετε, το βασανίζετε. Ευχαριστώ εκ των προτέρων.

Nick Lingris KudoZ activity Questions: 20 (none open) Answers: 5465 United Kingdom
Local time: 05:49

English translation:borrowed plumes

Explanation:
Δεν ξέρω αν κατάλαβα ακριβώς την ερώτησή σου. Πάντως πρέπει να υπάρχει το to adorn oneself with borrowed plumes. Το γερμανικό αντίστοιχο είναι το sich mit fremden Federn schmücken.

Selected response from:

Maria Ferstl
Malta
Local time: 06:49

Grading comment

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4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +5

borrowed plumes

Maria Ferstl

5 +1

take the credit for something (you haven't done)

Marina Robb

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

13 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +5

με ξένα κόλλυβα κάνει μνημόσυνο

borrowed plumes

Maria Ferstl
Malta
Local time: 06:49
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

2 days 8 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

με ξένα κόλλυβα κάνει μνημόσυνο take the credit for something (you haven't done)

Explanation:
There is no equivalent proverb, and trying to adopt one would be out of place, the basic meaning would be acceptable i.e. "take the credit for something (you haven't done)" - the words in brackets are often implied.
If someone wants to use the idea of plumes!!! Then it would be better to adapt the English phrase "To feather one's cap" thus, "Feather one's cap with the achievments (feathers) of others". "To plume oneself" is an old-fashioned phrase and means "to be conceited" - not the meaning of "με ξένα κόλλυβα... "
You could also use the term "steal someone else's praise/thanks/credit"

Reference: http://www.bartleby.com/81/6297.html

Marina Robb
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:49
Native speaker of:

English,

Greek

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με ξένα κόλλυβα κάνει μνημόσυνο

English translation: borrowed plumes

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