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. Danish to English
  3. IT (Information Technology)

en elefant på larvefødder

English translation: juggernaut

19:41 Sep 22, 2009
Danish to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - IT (Information Technology) / idioms
Danish term or phrase: en elefant på larvefødder
Can more or læess guess what it means although after 28 yeas in DK I have never heard it before?? Help?
phil curry
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:41
English translation:juggernaut
Explanation:
juggernaut

Either of the other suggestions might be good, depending on your context, but here is another suggestion for something that simply crushes everything in its path.

I think the Danish expression is, as Marianne Sørensen and Anna Haxen suggest, a modern development of "en kolos på lerfødder" created specially.

Concise Oxford Dictionary:
juggernaut
n noun
1 British a large heavy vehicle, especially an articulated truck.
2 a huge and overwhelming force.

ORIGIN
C19: via Hindi from Sanskrit Jagannatha 'Lord of the world', the name of an image of the Hindu god Krishna carried in procession on a heavy chariot.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2009-09-23 07:09:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A little context would be helpful, because the 'colour' or metaphor depends on it.

The colossus fell, because its clay feet gave way under it, but I am not sure whether 'elefant på larvefødder' implies collapse or just something huge, and possibly threatening or destructive.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day18 hrs (2009-09-24 13:49:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

an outdoor version of the bull in a china shop, perhaps? :-D

From my knowledge of Danish humour, on consideration I would guess at the 'colossus on feet of clay' angle, with the double-entendre of 'larvefødder' and associations to the mouse and the elephant. ("Ih, hvor vi gungrer," sagde musen, da den fulgtes med elefanten over broen.)
Selected response from:

Christine Andersen
Denmark
Local time: 16:41
Grading comment
Thanks for all your suggestions, but I think Christine was the one who hit the nail on the head for me. I knew kolos på lerfødder as a comparison but had forgotten it in the heat of translation. I had originally used unwieldy, but when juggernaut came up, that seemed to fit the bill. Context? Not very interesting, I'm afraid - answers fro an employee questionnaire on company performance.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1giant on clay feet
Diarmuid Kennan
4[ Direct Translation] An elephant on caterpillar treads
kolya
3juggernaut
Christine Andersen


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
giant on clay feet


Explanation:
this is the English equivalent I think

Diarmuid Kennan
Ireland
Local time: 15:41
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 79

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Marianne Sorensen: This must be a translation of the Danish idiom 'Kolos på lerfødder' http://www.idiomordbogen.dk/idiom.php?site=7&page=0 I never heard of 'Elefant på larvefødder' though. Sometimes people mix things up? :-)
56 mins
agree  Anna Haxen: Or "colossus with feet of clay" (which is not a specifically Danish idiom). Never heard of "elefant på larvefødder" either. Sounds like a made-up idiom. A bit of context would be nice, though.
2 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
[ Direct Translation] An elephant on caterpillar treads


Explanation:
(larvefødder er caterpillar treads paa engelsk) but as it is being used in this context, I believe strongly it means a very big troublesome situation at hand, that is set on a course, that might have to face an unknown and uneven pathway. In short a giant situation is set to resolve on a week, incompatible course with an uneven and risky path.

kolya
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in Persian (Farsi)Persian (Farsi), Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
juggernaut


Explanation:
juggernaut

Either of the other suggestions might be good, depending on your context, but here is another suggestion for something that simply crushes everything in its path.

I think the Danish expression is, as Marianne Sørensen and Anna Haxen suggest, a modern development of "en kolos på lerfødder" created specially.

Concise Oxford Dictionary:
juggernaut
n noun
1 British a large heavy vehicle, especially an articulated truck.
2 a huge and overwhelming force.

ORIGIN
C19: via Hindi from Sanskrit Jagannatha 'Lord of the world', the name of an image of the Hindu god Krishna carried in procession on a heavy chariot.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2009-09-23 07:09:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A little context would be helpful, because the 'colour' or metaphor depends on it.

The colossus fell, because its clay feet gave way under it, but I am not sure whether 'elefant på larvefødder' implies collapse or just something huge, and possibly threatening or destructive.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day18 hrs (2009-09-24 13:49:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

an outdoor version of the bull in a china shop, perhaps? :-D

From my knowledge of Danish humour, on consideration I would guess at the 'colossus on feet of clay' angle, with the double-entendre of 'larvefødder' and associations to the mouse and the elephant. ("Ih, hvor vi gungrer," sagde musen, da den fulgtes med elefanten over broen.)


Christine Andersen
Denmark
Local time: 16:41
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
Thanks for all your suggestions, but I think Christine was the one who hit the nail on the head for me. I knew kolos på lerfødder as a comparison but had forgotten it in the heat of translation. I had originally used unwieldy, but when juggernaut came up, that seemed to fit the bill. Context? Not very interesting, I'm afraid - answers fro an employee questionnaire on company performance.
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