This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Hungarian to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

vagyonokat vesz ki a zsebükből

English translation: syphons their wealth away

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Hungarian term or phrase:vagyonokat vesz ki a zsebükből
English translation:syphons their wealth away
Entered by: JANOS SAMU

21:32 Nov 6, 2008
Hungarian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Hungarian term or phrase: vagyonokat vesz ki a zsebükből
(a szerencsejáték)
Judit Lapikás
Hungary
Local time: 22:14
syphons their wealth away
Explanation:
Sok jó megoldás létezik. Én ezt javaslom. Az angolba nem fontos a zsebet belevenni.
Selected response from:

JANOS SAMU
United States
Local time: 13:14
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1syphons their wealth away
JANOS SAMU
4 +1to rob someone blind
Michael Golden
4costs them a fortune
Katarina Peters
4costs them an arm and a leg
Zsuzsa Berenyi


  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
syphons their wealth away


Explanation:
Sok jó megoldás létezik. Én ezt javaslom. Az angolba nem fontos a zsebet belevenni.

JANOS SAMU
United States
Local time: 13:14
Works in field
PRO pts in category: 43

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jim Tucker (X): This is a good representation of the continuous and sometimes stealthy nature of the problem. (Would prefer "siphons" but this sp. also exists of course.)
17 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
costs them a fortune


Explanation:
another option

Katarina Peters
Canada
Local time: 16:14
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
costs them an arm and a leg


Explanation:
Bár nem tudom, mire használod, de ha a stílus engedi, akkor ez is egy megoldás.

Zsuzsa Berenyi
Hungary
Local time: 22:14
Native speaker of: Hungarian
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to rob someone blind


Explanation:
Although "rob someone blind" can refer to deceitfully taking money from somebody, it can also figuratively mean taking all or a lot of someone's money/wealth.

Although "cost them an arm and a leg" and "cost them a fortune" are used, they are normally used to refer to the purchase of an expensive good or service. And although "siphon their wealth away" is accurate, I'm not sure that it's the right register.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day2 hrs (2008-11-08 00:22:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just realized I may have originally misinterpreted this one. Here's another option: "to be a drain on someone's wallet" (i.e. gambling is a drain on his/her wallet"). I think this may be the right register, and the "wallet" will get you closer to the "pocket" in the source text (if you google "drain on your wallet", you'll get thousands of direct hits and it is in fact quite often used)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 days (2008-11-12 12:45:07 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

I know you've already made your official selection, but did you see my 2nd suggestion: "drain on your wallet"?

Michael Golden
United States
Local time: 16:14
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: I think the best match to this in Hungarian could be "lerabol". I have to choose another solution for certain reasons but I like this anyhow. Thanks!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Jim Tucker (X): Since we're talking about gambling here, it's really the victim's own decision, so "robbery" is not exactly right. / (petitio principii! - Your "if" clause is essentially the point you are trying to make.)
1 hr
  -> If gambling or a poker table can figuratively "kivesz" money/wealth out of your pocket against your will, then it can figuratively "rob" you/ (what is circular about this reasoning?) - I guess I'm saying they're different shades of the same thing
agree  Zsuzsanna Koos: "Rob somoeone blind" is okay but "a drain on your wallet" is just perfect. At some point I wanted to suggest using the word drain myself but wasn't able to come up with the right phrase. Also, I definitely agree with your remarks about others' answers.
18 hrs
  -> Zsuzsa, which did you think was a better match: "drain on your wallet" or "rob someone blind"?
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search