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. English
  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

get low/get down/take it low

English translation: lower your upper body

08:13 Jul 29, 2009
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Sport - cardio dance
English term or phrase: get low/get down/take it low
I'm translating the script of a cardio dance video. It's in American English. They're moving on a Merengue beat, marching out to the side and back, then forward with double tap steps and singles back, always moving their hips, but also always standing.
The trainer keeps saying phrases like 'get low/get down/take it low', and they're obviously not going down physically.
I was wondering whether - having to push the viewers into keeping on going - she means to say sth inciting by that, like 'come on' 'put all yourself into it', etc..
Or am I on the wrong track?
Are they all synonyms?
TIA
Mara Ballarini
Australia
Local time: 20:13
Selected answer:lower your upper body
Explanation:
I think it is about a lowering of the upper body, i.e. bending at the waist and using the weight of the upper body to emphasise the downward part of the stepping movement.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-07-29 10:43:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, they are synonyms.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day1 hr (2009-07-30 09:23:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Further to Rachel's comment, it is indeed about feeling and getting into the music. It is, as I noted to her about feeling the power and weight of one's steps. Contrast this with the method of teaching dancing (which I hope is now defunct) of getting students to put their feet in the right places by stepping into footprints drawn on the floor, with or without accompanying music.
Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 12:13
Grading comment
the more I went on, the more I got it. thank you everybody for all the helpful suggestions! the meaning Rachel added to her comment was exactly what was confusing me - likely with the video I was able to make out which one was which in all the different cases. thank you all again!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
3 +1lower your upper body
B D Finch
1Smaller jumps (or lower your hands)
Egil Presttun


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
Smaller jumps (or lower your hands)


Explanation:
I think she means low, physically, but it could mean not jumping too high while stepping or not pulling up the knee too high while standing on the other foot. It could also mean "lower your hands".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 43 mins (2009-07-29 08:57:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I saw the first minutes of the video, and I still think she is talking about getting low, physically. It could mean walking instead of jumping, lower hands or bending just a little bit forward.


Egil Presttun
Norway
Local time: 12:13
Works in field
Native speaker of: Norwegian
Notes to answerer
Asker: Hi Egil, and thanks! I didn't think of these options..in fact..it could well b small/low steps/hops..I'm gonna watch the video again - i've also posted a link to it. thanks again for now!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
lower your upper body


Explanation:
I think it is about a lowering of the upper body, i.e. bending at the waist and using the weight of the upper body to emphasise the downward part of the stepping movement.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-07-29 10:43:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, they are synonyms.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day1 hr (2009-07-30 09:23:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Further to Rachel's comment, it is indeed about feeling and getting into the music. It is, as I noted to her about feeling the power and weight of one's steps. Contrast this with the method of teaching dancing (which I hope is now defunct) of getting students to put their feet in the right places by stepping into footprints drawn on the floor, with or without accompanying music.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 12:14
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
the more I went on, the more I got it. thank you everybody for all the helpful suggestions! the meaning Rachel added to her comment was exactly what was confusing me - likely with the video I was able to make out which one was which in all the different cases. thank you all again!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rachel Fell: yes, and it's sort of all part of the standard patter for this kind of thing - get down also meaning get into the music in a cool/groovy way, put some feeling into your movements, etc.
12 hrs
  -> Thanks Rachel. Yes, it's a feeling of getting more power and weight into the steps.
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