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. German to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

für etwas einstehen

English translation: to risk something* for something / vouch for

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:für etwas einstehen
English translation:to risk something* for something / vouch for
Entered by: Bernhard Sulzer

11:22 Aug 22, 2007
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Fantasy novel
German term or phrase: für etwas einstehen
This is another section from the fantasy novel where I'm not sure that I quite understand what the author's getting at. "They" here are a race of people. Sapius is not one of them but is helping them:

"Sapius schüttelte den Gedanken an das möglicherweise Bevorstehende ab, wie sollten sie auch erkennen können, was hinter dem Ganzen steckte und wozu dieser Krieg eigentlich diente. Ein einziges Ablenkungsmanöver vom Wesentlichen. Sie wussten nicht, was geschah oder warum oder für was sie **einstanden**."
Rachel Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:35
to risk something* for something / vouch for
Explanation:
depends. But maybe a little stronger than just "stand for".

*as in: to risk one's neck for something

or:

to defend something

here: didn't know what ... they were fighting for, defending, risking their neck for...


http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Rede/2007/02/2007-0...
Alle müssen deutlich machen, wofür wir einstehen – für Frieden und für Sicherheit. Dabei ist uns Kuwait ein guter Partner. Dafür möchte ich danken.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2007-08-22 22:48:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.eirene.org/fix/files/Kindling_RB2_Oktober06.pdf

Die wenigen Frauen, die aktiv und
öffentlich für ihre Rechte einstehen,
scheinen vielen Männern hier tatsächlich
Angst zu machen.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2007-08-22 23:07:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or maybe:

...stick their necks out
Selected response from:

Bernhard Sulzer
United States
Local time: 12:35
Grading comment
Aha! Light dawns! Thanks both but this fits better I think.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +8stand for
Paul Cohen
3 +1to risk something* for something / vouch for
Bernhard Sulzer


  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +8
einstehen
stand for


Explanation:
as in "what they stand for"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2007-08-22 11:41:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"stood for" - since it's in the past.



Paul Cohen
Greenland
Local time: 15:35
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 26

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Francis Lee (X): assuming the "warum" belongs to the "was geschah". Alternative: "what their convictions were"
10 mins
  -> Yes, as in "standing for the courage of their own convictions"
agree  Henry Schroeder
54 mins
agree  Katarina Peters
1 hr
agree  PoveyTrans (X): Yep
1 hr
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X)
1 hr
agree  Ken Cox: probably in the sense of 'what they were fighting for', but that's interpretation
2 hrs
agree  Lori Dendy-Molz
3 hrs
agree  Bernhard Sulzer: Maybe also a stronger version, possibly. See my entry.
11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to risk something* for something / vouch for


Explanation:
depends. But maybe a little stronger than just "stand for".

*as in: to risk one's neck for something

or:

to defend something

here: didn't know what ... they were fighting for, defending, risking their neck for...


http://www.bundesregierung.de/Content/DE/Rede/2007/02/2007-0...
Alle müssen deutlich machen, wofür wir einstehen – für Frieden und für Sicherheit. Dabei ist uns Kuwait ein guter Partner. Dafür möchte ich danken.



--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2007-08-22 22:48:26 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.eirene.org/fix/files/Kindling_RB2_Oktober06.pdf

Die wenigen Frauen, die aktiv und
öffentlich für ihre Rechte einstehen,
scheinen vielen Männern hier tatsächlich
Angst zu machen.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2007-08-22 23:07:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or maybe:

...stick their necks out

Bernhard Sulzer
United States
Local time: 12:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 55
Grading comment
Aha! Light dawns! Thanks both but this fits better I think.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Paul Cohen: Hard to say without knowing more about the characters involved and the plot. Perhaps "fighting for" or even "risking their necks for". Interesting suggestions, Bernhard!
17 mins
  -> Agree. Thank you much!
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