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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

divided the waters

Danish translation: delte vandene

00:36 Jun 1, 2014
English to Danish translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: divided the waters
No, it's not Moses we're dealing with here.

I'm editing a DA>EN translation done by someone else (probably a Dane). For the life of me, I can't guess what Danish idiom was translated into this oddity so that I can fix the translation. I don't have access to the Danish source.

"Oxholm was an enterprising man who divided the waters. But he ended up with the powerful position of Governor-General and his unique mapping of the islands is of great importance for posterity."
Charles Ek
United States
Local time: 00:43
Danish translation:delte vandene
Explanation:
It is almost the same as in English. It means that some people like . . . and some people dislike. The middle ground does not seem to exist.

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Note added at 30 mins (2014-06-01 01:06:47 GMT)
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I tried to look it up in Glydendal as well . . . and Merriam-Webster . . . no luck
Selected response from:

Jørgen Ellekjær
Denmark
Local time: 07:43
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3delte vandene
Jørgen Ellekjær
Summary of reference entries provided
Vague explanation
564354352 (X)

Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
delte vandene


Explanation:
It is almost the same as in English. It means that some people like . . . and some people dislike. The middle ground does not seem to exist.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2014-06-01 01:06:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I tried to look it up in Glydendal as well . . . and Merriam-Webster . . . no luck

Example sentence(s):
  • Oxholm var en . . . mand som delte vandene
Jørgen Ellekjær
Denmark
Local time: 07:43
Native speaker of: Danish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks! I tried finding it in Gyldendals in that form, but there were too many weeds in the water to find it.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lisbeth Mejer: I can't think of any oter explatation either.
6 hrs
agree  Susanne Hemdorff
7 hrs
agree  LoneNE (X)
9 hrs
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Reference comments


7 hrs peer agreement (net): +1
Reference: Vague explanation

Reference information:
Skille/dele vandene

Difficult to find a good definition, but it means that something is controversial, so that people will be divided in different/opposing camps.

'spark controversy' maybe?


    Reference: http://ordnet.dk/ddo/ordbog?mselect=59011751&query=vand
564354352 (X)
Denmark
Native speaker of: Danish

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  RikkeLouise (X)
2 days 3 hrs
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