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klods om benet

English translation: a (major) drag

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Danish term or phrase:klods om benet
English translation:a (major) drag
Entered by: Erik Macki

21:24 Jan 4, 2005
Danish to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / employee survey answers
Danish term or phrase: klods om benet
Here is the original sentence, part of an answer to a survey about employee satisfaction at company XYZ:

Det er spændende, om XYZ nogensinde bliver andet end en kolossal klods om benet.

I'm a bit confused by "end en kolossal klods om benet." Does anyone have any ideas for a good U.S. English translation?

Thanks in advance!
Erik Macki
Local time: 21:53
a (major) drag
Explanation:
or
a drag (on somebody)
or
a millstone round your neck!

Good luck!
Selected response from:

lone (X)
Canada
Local time: 00:53
Grading comment
Everyone's suggestions were great, but I went with "major drag," which fit the context and need for U.S. English best. Thanks Lone!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +7"a ball and chain" or "dead wood"
Jørgen Madsen
5be a millstone around somebody's neck
Eva Harbo Andersen (X)
4a (major) drag
lone (X)


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
a (major) drag


Explanation:
or
a drag (on somebody)
or
a millstone round your neck!

Good luck!


    Vinterberg og Bodelsen
lone (X)
Canada
Local time: 00:53
Native speaker of: Danish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Everyone's suggestions were great, but I went with "major drag," which fit the context and need for U.S. English best. Thanks Lone!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +7
"a ball and chain" or "dead wood"


Explanation:
Politikens Engelsk-dDansk Idiomordbog

Jørgen Madsen
Local time: 06:53
Native speaker of: Native in DanishDanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Suzanne Blangsted (X)
2 hrs
agree  Jande: ball and chain
6 hrs
agree  pcovs: :o)
10 hrs
agree  Christine Andersen: ball and chain is literally closest, but I think dead wood fits the situation very well too.
13 hrs
agree  Roald Toskedal
16 hrs
agree  Harry Nissen (X): Agree...."I Love You Like A Ball And Chain" by Eurythmics
2 days 13 hrs
agree  Mihaela Nissen (X)
2 days 14 hrs
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
be a millstone around somebody's neck


Explanation:
alternatively: be an enormous drag on somebody

Eva Harbo Andersen (X)
Denmark
Local time: 06:53
Native speaker of: Native in DanishDanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Harry Nissen (X): Bruger man mest i bibliske texte, men meningen er ikke forkert.Passer dog ikke saa godt i denne forbindelse."You know, it's written in the Bible that better that a millstone was hanged at your neck and drowned ..."
2 days 3 hrs
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