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Explanation: ...oder "in einer defensiven Haltung zu zwingen"
Das deutsche ist zwar nicht idiomatisch, aber vielleicht hilft es trotzdem.
Ich habe schon "to keep someone on their toes" (d.h. jemanden Beschäftigt zu halten) gehört, aber nicht "to keep someone on their heels". Wenn man mit Google danach sucht, fällt es auf, dass es häufig mit Sport (vor allem Boxing, aber auch andere Sportarten wie Tischtennis und Basketball) zu tun hat:
"“It created an interesting fight – a lot less technical, because I just wanted to stay in his face and keep him on his heels so he wasn’t dangerous,” said ..." (vgl. www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/anmviewer.asp?a=8184 ).
Es kann aber auch im übertragenen Sinne verwendet werden:
"t r u t h o u t | A Calm Obama Weathers a Storm of Sarcasm 27 Sep 2008 ... And I think the GOP strategy was to keep him on his heels by a steady flow of accusations. Yes, he was measured, articulate, ..." (vgl. www.truthout.org/092708A ).
=)
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 hrs (2009-02-25 11:26:31 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Jemand in einer offensiven Haltung wäre auf den Fußbällen.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 11 hrs (2009-02-25 11:31:03 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Bah, entschuldige bitte die vielen Fehler--sollte es "in eine definsive Haltung zwingen" sein (akkusativ)? Na ja, ich hoffe du weißt, was ich sagen wollte. :-P
The normal expression in BE at least is to keep someone on their toes - to give them the roundabout - force them to stay alert by sending them here and there. It is the kind of thing my Grandma would say if she was having to provide food and drink for children racing in and out of her kitchen. I have never heard of this expression, though, so wonder if it is, indeed, a play on words in the opposite direction.
Hi Veronika, nein, ich bin mir ziemlich sicher, dass sich they auf diejenigen bezieht, die "should be kept on THEIR heels". Dereks Ansatz gefällt mir sehr gut - jemanden in der Defensive zu halten... Vielen Dank für die vielen Überlegungen auf jeden Fall.
I thought that words are sometimes not what they appear to be. Especially, when they are out of context. It was an idea and BAM hopefully has enough information to know who is meant by 'their'. We were also influenced by the initial question which was: 'keep him on his heels'.
Ah, I see (now) what you mean. Please correct me if I am wrong, but you are saying that "their" could be referring to some other third party. Well, that very well could be, but I seriously doubt it, and that would not be my initial understanding of "their."
The sentence is quite clear to me. The author is giving tips to keep the reader's opponents from being able to attack: "I can give you some tips that will keep your opponents on their heels."
It says "to keep your opponents on their heels." The word "their" is referring to the opponents, i.e., the opponents' heels--at least, that is how I understand the sentence provided.
Kann es sein, dass 'their' sich auf andere Personen bezieht, als - those, who should be kept on ... bezieht? Es könnte ja auch sein, dass die Gegener anderen auf den Fersen bleiben sollen??? Oder ist das mit dem restlichen Kontext ausgeschlossen?
Okay, sorry for that, yes, some people. And before... I can give you some tips that will keep your opponents on their heels... (okay and no after, as this is the end of the line). I know "to BE on someone's heels" but I wonder about the "to KEEP someone on his heels" - keep guessing sounds good to me ;) - I thought a native English would instantly know ... thanks for your help!
Hi BAM, are they talking about two people? "To be on someone's heels" means "jemandem auf den Fersen sein". Can you please provide the sentence before and after this line? TIA!
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
Canada
02:47 Feb 25, 2009
you mean, " they kept him guessing?"
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
Canada
01:13 Feb 25, 2009
w/ inge: this is not enough context to give an appropriate answer.
