Finger auf die Wunde legen

English translation: Rub salt in the wound

16:33 Mar 23, 2006

German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting

German term or phrase: Finger auf die Wunde legen

From a description of an artistic sound installation.

Beim Bewältigen der Vergangenheit feiern die einen bis zum Umfallen, die anderen legen den Finger auf die Wunde.

Thanks in advance.

Simon Georgiou KudoZ activity Questions: 53 (1 open) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 31
Local time: 01:09

English translation:Rub salt in the wound

Explanation:
That is the translation of the idiom, but you may have to work it some to fit the parameters of the entire text

Selected response from:

Michael Spaventa
Local time: 20:09

Grading comment

Thanks for everyone's help.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +1

bring up the painful memories

Maya Jurt

Rub salt in the wound

Michael Spaventa

are all doom and gloom

Francis Lee (X)

wave an admonishing finger

Henry Schroeder

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

24 mins confidence:

Rub salt in the wound

Explanation:
That is the translation of the idiom, but you may have to work it some to fit the parameters of the entire text

Michael Spaventa
Local time: 20:09
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks for everyone's help.

31 mins confidence:

are all doom and gloom

Explanation:
Duden Redewendungen says: "auf ein Übel deutlich hinweisen"
In this context; it could well refer to the "gloom merchants".
But I'm not sure, it could mean "are obsessed with past evils/ the dark side of the past" or "are not afraid to call a spade a spade". Maybe a native can explain the subtleties involved here ...

Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 02:09
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 74

38 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

bring up the painful memories

Explanation:
face it

Maya Jurt
Switzerland
Local time: 02:09
Native speaker of:

German,

French

1 hr confidence:

wave an admonishing finger

Explanation:
As Francis pointed out, it comes down to an interpretation of "auf ein Über deutlich hinweisen" (laut dem Duden).

I think the one group here is overcoming the past by partying and the other group by dwelling in its horrors, probably for the purpose of preventing a recurrence in the future (as opposed to doing for the sake of the horrors themselves).

An expression like "wave an admonishing finger" is sufficiently vague to disguise the exact intention of this latter group.

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Note added at 1 hr (2006-03-23 17:36:46 GMT)
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to overcome the past, some party until they collapse, others wave an admonishing finger

Henry Schroeder
United States
Local time: 20:09
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 60

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Finger auf die Wunde legen

English translation: Rub salt in the wound

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English translation: Rub salt in the wound

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