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My attempt is to translate the phrase into an equally metaphorical image. The further context does not refer to marching, but to standing still, hence my suggestion.
Horst Huber (X)
United States
@ Ramey, "literally"
03:38 Nov 5, 2015
you would not be borrowing it from me. One of the most frequent users is VP Biden. It tends to be a sort of malapropism. What one is saying is most likely not literally the case.
"had us literally quaking in our shoes". Hmm, am not convinced yet. There doesn't seem to be any sense of 'zittern'. The setting is a parade ground with the drill sergeant putting the newly enlisted through marching drills. They are so intimidated by him that their arms and legs are just flying in their efforts to please him by marching correctly in 'Stechschritt' ('goose step' has derogatory overtones). Oder habe ich daneben geschossen?
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Why?
19:28 Nov 4, 2015
What pulls you into this particular war's maelstrom?
Thank you so much for your information. You are right. These are memoirs (1914-1918), but from different people, the previous posting was written in 1932 by a lieutenant and this one by a recruit both referring to WWI.
Here is the rest of the paragraph: "Die Stimme dieses Allgewaltigen nahm uns fast den Atem und infolge seines forschen Aussehens und Auftretens verstummte sofort jedes Gespräch. Grabesstille lag über den Kasernenhof, als er sagte: „Ich werde Euch schon die Flötentöne beibringen.“ By the way, that allusion to the "Flötentöne" does not make sense to me -
“Nur so” is a common device that intensifies the associated verb, e.g. “ dass die Glieder nur so schlotterten” .. “dass die Arme und Beine nur so flogen” = causing arms and legs to flail about in all directions” .. so yes, that’s creating a hyperbolic effect..
Horst Huber (X)
United States
"Nur so"
13:59 Nov 4, 2015
serves to turn the phrase into metaphor, or rather hyperbole. One would expect "daß wir ...nur so flogen". Some people would say "literally", which I tend to find amusing.
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Hello Clive
11:29 Nov 4, 2015
I am rather certain that 'nur so' in this context means 'only' in the sense that ' we could only stand there quaking (in fear)' or'there was nothing for it but to scurry into action (to obey his orders). the period is WWI, I believe, as Yini has asked other questions along this line. These are memoires.
Am with Ramey. It would be useful to have more context - and the period. For consideration: is 'nur so' translatable as 'just' or is there some other meaning?
Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Good morning Yini
07:25 Nov 4, 2015
We need the sentence folowing this one in order to know in which direction the 'arms and legs flew'. I don't think the metaqphor is directly translatable, but both Johanna and Michael could be right. Johanna's suggestion is more stationary: we stood quaking; Michael's they 'got moving like there's no tomorrow'.
Reference information: Russian Germans preserved many of the old German names and words, and this Russian dictionary offers the following translation for "fliegen":
a)..., b)..., c)..., d) zittern дрожа́ть . am ganzen Körper fliegen vor Aufregung, Angst дрожа́ть всем те́лом
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peer agreement (net): +2
