разводить руками

English translation: They were walking from the road, coming to see him, ..

10:04 Jan 3, 2003

Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary

Russian term or phrase: разводить руками

Я уже задавал подобный вопрос, но сейчас иной контекст:

"Они ему с улицы машут, чтобы шел к ним, а он только руками разводит да головой мотает: мол, нельзя ему".

В общем, ситуация следующая: мальчик сидит дома и смотрит в окно на играющих детей, а присоединиться к ним не может - наказан, под "домашним арестом".

Буду очень благодарен за варианты перевода всего предложения.

Andrew Vdovin KudoZ activity Questions: 3923 (2 open) (2 closed without grading) Answers: 3924
Local time: 11:22

English translation:They were walking from the road, coming to see him, ..

Explanation:
... but he simply shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, saying/mouthing "I can't come out".

Not sure I've got all the nuances here!

Selected response from:

David Knowles
Local time: 05:22

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement. KudoZ.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

They were walking from the road, coming to see him, ..

David Knowles

4 +1

spreads his hands apart

Deborah Hoffman

"threw up his hands"

Emil Tubinshlak

zmejka

Answers

7 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

They were walking from the road, coming to see him, ..

Explanation:
... but he simply shook his head and shrugged his shoulders, saying/mouthing "I can't come out".

Not sure I've got all the nuances here!

David Knowles
Local time: 05:22
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 5172

Grading comment

Graded automatically based on peer agreement. KudoZ.

7 hrs confidence:

"threw up his hands"

Explanation:
They wave to him to come join them, but he just throws up his hands and shakes his head, as if to say "I can't".

Emil Tubinshlak
Canada
Local time: 21:22
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in pair: 153

1 day 11 hrs confidence:

*

Explanation:
they stood under the window waving for him to join them, but he only shrugged and shook his head sadly, meaning to say he can't come.

zmejka
Local time: 07:22
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in pair: 197

3 days 13 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

spreads his hands apart

Explanation:
A gesture I have seen more Russians make than Americans or British, but it still conveys the sense of helplesness. Shrugging the shoulders is I think a slightly different movement, as is throwing up the hands.

i.e.,
"Tony spread his hands apart in a gesture of helplessness"
http://www.guidemagazine.org/index.asp?section=54&chapter=8

Or perhaps:
"He spread his hands apart in a shrug"
http://www.missmonica.org/ask020318.html

Deborah Hoffman
Local time: 00:22
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 407

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разводить руками

English translation: They were walking from the road, coming to see him, ..

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