ihn

English translation: a man, the sight of whom is enough to almost cost him the game

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:einem Mann, dessen Anblick ihn um ein Haar zum Verlierer macht
English translation:a man, the sight of whom is enough to almost cost him the game
Entered by: Marcus Malabad

16:20 Mar 11, 2005
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
German term or phrase: ihn
Hi all -
this is a sentence from a blurb about a novel, and I have to admit that I'm not sure what is meant here. Does it mean that the Taeter is in danger of losing the "game", or X? And by Anblick, is "appearance" in the sense of "auftauchen" meant?

X steht dem Taeter gegenueber, einem Mann, dessen Anblick *ihn* um ein Haar zum Verlierer macht.

Many thanks!
Hilary Davies Shelby
United States
Local time: 21:35
a man, the sight of whom is enough to....
Explanation:
just a thought -
It seems to me that the 'Täter' has killed 'x's' girlfriend and x knows it. Then the Täter unexpectedly meets up with x again as an opponent in some sort of match, and that almost costs x the game.
Selected response from:

lenzer
Local time: 03:35
Grading comment
I think that this is actually what is meant here (makes most sense as I don't think that there is anything special about the Taeter's appearance!) I have referred it to the author of the text, though. Thanks everyone!
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +14ihn refers to X
Edith Kelly
4 +2X
BrigitteHilgner
4a man, the sight of whom is enough to....
lenzer
3X
verbis


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +14
ihn (hier!)
ihn refers to X


Explanation:


X is confronted by the perpetrator, a man whose appearance i.e. the way he looks almost makes X .....


Edith Kelly
Switzerland
Local time: 03:35
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Maria Ferstl
1 min

agree  Friderike Butler: that's right - I first read it differently, but this makes (more) sense.
2 mins

agree  verbis: :))))))))))))))
3 mins

agree  Martina Burkert
7 mins

agree  Dr.G.MD (X)
8 mins

agree  JeffFish (X)
14 mins

agree  Laurel Porter (X): You've answered the asker's main question. I would counsel against using "perpetrator" (or indeed "culprit") if there is no antecedent ref. to the crime - these words aren't usually used this way in English. We'd say "criminal" or "crook".
18 mins
  -> Thanks, yes, that really depends on the context. You do say perpetrator depending on context.

agree  Yvonne Becker
30 mins

agree  Ingrid Blank
32 mins

agree  Ulrike Walpert
1 hr

agree  Susanne Rindlisbacher
6 hrs

agree  Uta Waller
15 hrs

agree  Elimar Orlopp
22 hrs

agree  lenzer
1 day 1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
ihn (hier!)
X


Explanation:
X faces the culprit whose sight nearly makes him (X) the loser.

BrigitteHilgner
Austria
Local time: 03:35
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 53

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  verbis: :))))))))))))))))))))
2 mins

agree  Martina Burkert
6 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
ihn (hier!)
X


Explanation:
I think "ihn" refers to X

as for "Anblick", it may mean "sight", "look", whereas "Anblick" obviously refers to "Taeter"

wenn meine grammatische Kenntnisse nicht zu verrostet sind.....

hth

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 mins (2005-03-11 16:26:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

p.s.: sorry, \"grammatischeN\"...........

verbis
Local time: 03:35
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
.......... einem Mann, dessen Anblick
a man, the sight of whom is enough to....


Explanation:
just a thought -
It seems to me that the 'Täter' has killed 'x's' girlfriend and x knows it. Then the Täter unexpectedly meets up with x again as an opponent in some sort of match, and that almost costs x the game.

lenzer
Local time: 03:35
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 2
Grading comment
I think that this is actually what is meant here (makes most sense as I don't think that there is anything special about the Taeter's appearance!) I have referred it to the author of the text, though. Thanks everyone!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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