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[all the] steam was spent into whistle

English translation: [all the] steam was used on the whistle

07:17 Jan 10, 2013
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: [all the] steam was spent into whistle
this is a rendition of the Russian metaphor that originated back in the steam-engine era. it means that after a lot of effort / preparatory work / talk the result is disproportionately small. or that there has been a lot of enthusiasm to start something and it was all spent before the actual job began.

questions:
a) is the metaphor self-explanatory for a contemporary native speaker of English?
b) if yes, can the wording be improved? like do I need an article before "whistle"? and "steam"?

TIA, d.
danya
Local time: 07:45
Selected answer:[all the] steam was used on the whistle
Explanation:
As a survivor of the steam era on British Railways, that's what I'd suggest you use - and that really is self-explanatory!
Selected response from:

David Moore (X)
Local time: 06:45
Grading comment
thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +3[all the] steam was used on the whistle
David Moore (X)


  

Answers


33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
[all the] steam was used on the whistle


Explanation:
As a survivor of the steam era on British Railways, that's what I'd suggest you use - and that really is self-explanatory!

David Moore (X)
Local time: 06:45
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: Or perhaps "all the steam went into the whistle", but this is fine, and I agree that it's self-explanatory.
1 hr
  -> Thanks Charles
agree  Sheila Wilson: I do prefer the "went into" phrasing. I was there, too, but I believe there are still a lot of steam engines running over in the UK, something I really miss. // Unfair to remind me of the Bluebell, Watercress etc lines, David - there are no trains here! :
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Sheila; did you kniow there are about 55 standard gauge "heritage railway centres" in the UK, to say nothing of some thirty narrow-gauge lines and dozens of museums as well? Oh, and some 50 or so steam locos are certified for main-line running.
agree  Phong Le
3 days 19 hrs
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