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od rány

English translation: hard man / tough woman to run up against

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Czech term or phrase:od rány
English translation:hard man / tough woman to run up against
Entered by: Elizabeth Spacilova

19:02 Mar 9, 2009
Czech to English translations [PRO]
Slang
Czech term or phrase: od rány
This is in an interview with an artist who looks a bit like Hemmingway:

Přišel jste o iluze?
Ani ne, protože už od začátku života totiž narážíte na určité typy lidí a ty vás provázejí v každé životní etapě. Nějací hajzlové se vždycky objeví a musíte se s tím vyrovnat.

**Byl jste, jak se říká, od rány**?
No, hrál jsem léta hokej, levé křídlo. Hráli jsme i druhou nejvyšší ligovou soutěž a dvakrát jsme se utkali v kvalifikaci o první ligu.

I need to translate this into British English. I think it means "tough bloke" / bruiser (is that term used in the UK?). Or was he "quick to lash out"?
Elizabeth Spacilova
Czech Republic
Local time: 04:07
hard man to deal with/hard nut to crack
Explanation:
OK - taking into account Hana's explanation, this maybe captures both meanings to a certain extent :)
Selected response from:

Gerry Vickers
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:07
Grading comment
Wish I could split the points between you and Hana, but your suggestion is closest to what I will use (hard man to run up against).
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1hard man
Gerry Vickers
4quick to lash out
Hana Pernicova
3 +1hard man to deal with/hard nut to crack
Gerry Vickers


  

Answers


14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
hard man


Explanation:
were you a bit of a hard man?

or 'hard nut'?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2009-03-10 09:45:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

this is the architypal 'hard man' in contemporary English sporting folklore http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vinnie_Jones - quote "While a footballer, he became quickly infamous for his brutal "hard man" image" He doesn't look anything like Hemingway, though...

Example sentence(s):
  • A Hard Man is someone who is unafraid of a fight and/or can take loads of physical punishment and drink.

    Reference: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Hard+Man
Gerry Vickers
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:07
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: As we American women say - A hard man is good to find :)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Stuart Hoskins: "Loads of punishment and drink" - Gerry reminiscing about Brno again. Probably not a term to use in the company of Americans apparently (http://septicscompanion.com/dictionary/h.html)
5 hrs
  -> those were the days... :)
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17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
quick to lash out


Explanation:
"Být od rány" is an idiomatic expression that means "to be energetic and resolute; not to hesitate to use a strong word or action". The question means: "Were you able to face the difficult people briskly and with resolution?"

The interviewer used the idiom and the artist replied playfully and indirectly, with a joke: He took the word „rána“ literally as „a blow, a punch“, and mentioning his experiences from playing ice hockey, he drew sort of parallel between a sport match and fighting opponents in everyday life.


Example sentence(s):
  • Eva je energická ženská od rány, která si rozhodně nebere servítky a na rovinu vám řekne, co si myslí.
Hana Pernicova
Czech Republic
Local time: 04:07
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in CzechCzech
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Hana, for the explanation of the term, it's very helpful. A person who is quick to "lash out", though, is someone who (over)reacts with aggression and violence to the slightest perceived injury or insult. I think this is different from what you have explained.

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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
hard man to deal with/hard nut to crack


Explanation:
OK - taking into account Hana's explanation, this maybe captures both meanings to a certain extent :)

Gerry Vickers
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:07
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Wish I could split the points between you and Hana, but your suggestion is closest to what I will use (hard man to run up against).

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Stuart Hoskins: If it’s a man, I think “hard nut” covers it from all aspects. Think Begbie in Trainspotting. I don't think "lash out", whether more accurate or not, would work in this particular translation - the Q wouldn't match the A for the English reader = confusion.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks!
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