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  3. Poetry & Literature

über das Schicksal von jdm. entscheiden

English translation: to seal someone's fate

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:über das Schicksal von jdm. entscheiden
English translation:to seal someone's fate
Entered by: Gordon Darroch (X)

07:14 Sep 26, 2003
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
German term or phrase: über das Schicksal von jdm. entscheiden
Literarischer, dramatischer Zusammenhang.

Mir fehlt einfach eine gängige,dennoch "prachtvolle"Ausdrucksweise hierfür.

Alle Ideen werden dankbar in Erwägung gezogen!

Vielen, vielen Dank!

Eure,
Christina
ChristinaT
Local time: 01:07
to seal someone's fate
Explanation:
Nothing wrong with the other suggestions, but this might be the "literary" solution you're seeking. Two caveats, though: it's almost always events, not people, that "seal" somebody's fate, and there's a strong implication that the end result is extremely bad news for the person involved. Example from Google:
"Many people would describe Ossie Clarke as a genius, but ultimately it was to be his lifestyle that sealed his fate, he indulged in drugs and was poor at business, by the early 1980s he had been declared personally bankrupt..."
Selected response from:

Gordon Darroch (X)
Local time: 00:07
Grading comment
Many thanks to all of you! - Indeed, Gordon, the answer you provided is what I was looking for, and you are also right with the fact that fate is almost always sealed by events, or situations, feelings, etc. - not by someone who actively "does something." Except for fairies with magic wands maybe ;-)!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +3to decide someone's fate
CMJ_Trans (X)
5to hold someone's fate in one's hands
Lizzie
5to seal someone's fate
Gordon Darroch (X)
4to determine the fate of somebody
IanW (X)


  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
to decide someone's fate


Explanation:
sic
HTH

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 01:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Louise Mawbey
2 mins
agree  Michele Johnson
3 mins
agree  jerrie
27 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
über das Schicksal von jdm. entscheiden
to determine the fate of somebody


Explanation:
Or "to decide the fate of somebody"

IanW (X)
Local time: 01:07
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 41
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
to hold someone's fate in one's hands


Explanation:
Or "to have someone's fate in one's hands".
In other words, "playing God".

HTH

Lizzie
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23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
to seal someone's fate


Explanation:
Nothing wrong with the other suggestions, but this might be the "literary" solution you're seeking. Two caveats, though: it's almost always events, not people, that "seal" somebody's fate, and there's a strong implication that the end result is extremely bad news for the person involved. Example from Google:
"Many people would describe Ossie Clarke as a genius, but ultimately it was to be his lifestyle that sealed his fate, he indulged in drugs and was poor at business, by the early 1980s he had been declared personally bankrupt..."


    Reference: http://www.kentonsunday.co.uk/editions_antiques/antiques_fro...
Gordon Darroch (X)
Local time: 00:07
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Grading comment
Many thanks to all of you! - Indeed, Gordon, the answer you provided is what I was looking for, and you are also right with the fact that fate is almost always sealed by events, or situations, feelings, etc. - not by someone who actively "does something." Except for fairies with magic wands maybe ;-)!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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