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nålsögon

English translation: hurdles to cross (in this context)

21:12 Aug 31, 2009
Swedish to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Swedish term or phrase: nålsögon
Blivande konkurrenter har flera nålsögon att passera eftersom de måste ha ett avtal med tillverkare som deras produkt skall passa till. Deras produkter måste tala "samma språk".
Annabel Oldfield
Local time: 18:58
English translation:hurdles to cross (in this context)
Explanation:
The "hoops" suggestion is a good one, but I think this metaphor may fit better.
Selected response from:

Larry Abramson
United States
Local time: 12:58
Grading comment
Thanks :o)
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4hurdles to cross (in this context)
Larry Abramson
4 +2hoops to jump through
Tara Chace
3difficult obstacles to overcome
Hans Wang


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
hoops to jump through


Explanation:
literally "needle eyes" but I would translate it here as "several hoops to jump through"

Tara Chace
United States
Local time: 09:58
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Paul Lambert: Don't you think "eye of a needle" is indeed better suited as it is clearly an allusion to the Biblical passage?
43 mins
  -> I think the plural makes it awkward (several needle eyes? several eyes of several needles?). It always depends on context, of course, but Biblical allusions are less popular in business contexts in the U.S. than in Sweden...
agree  Erik Macki: I think this works great for an American audience; "eye of a needle" is not commonly used. (Plus, that Biblical passage is saying that something is nearly if not wholly impossible, whereas this context is saying that it's hard but not unsurmountable...)
1 hr
agree  amgt
1 hr
agree  De Novi
5 hrs
disagree  Katarina Lindve: agree with Paul that eye of a needle is better suited as it is the correct translation and it is a phrase used in both contexts, as it is an biblical intertextual reference. And Erik, it is widely discussed how impossible it is to pass through it!
9 hrs
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
hurdles to cross (in this context)


Explanation:
The "hoops" suggestion is a good one, but I think this metaphor may fit better.

Larry Abramson
United States
Local time: 12:58
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 15
Grading comment
Thanks :o)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  George Hopkins: Or perhaps hurdles to overcome.
4 hrs
agree  Ulf Norlinger: Sounds better in this context, but I would say George's suggestion is even a better metaphor (with the word "overcome"..., right on the spot).
4 hrs
agree  e-beth (X): Or perhaps hurdles to jump
5 hrs
agree  Gayle Rolando (X): I would have said "hurdles to clear". I also think the idiom can be skipped altogether if it proves difficult as long as the meaning and style of language stay true to the original.
1 day 12 hrs
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1 day 17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
difficult obstacles to overcome


Explanation:
"obstacle to overcome" produces nearly five million google hits.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day17 hrs (2009-09-02 15:02:53 GMT)
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correction, "obstacle to overcome" produces 4.3 million, while "obstacles to overcome" gives 7.6 million.

Hans Wang
Local time: 11:58
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in NorwegianNorwegian
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