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. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

Kern des Pudels

English translation: nub, hub, o. crux of the matter

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Kern des Pudels
English translation:nub, hub, o. crux of the matter
Entered by: Martin Henderson

16:46 Feb 19, 2016
German to English translations [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Commissioning of generator protection systems
German term or phrase: Kern des Pudels
This phrase occurs, believe it or not, in a book about the commissioning of generator protection systems. The full sentence is (author's quotation marks):

Nur im Rahmen einer Lastfahrt dringen wir zum „Kern des Pudels“ durch.

I'm tending to think along the lines of the "nub of the matter", but I may well be completely off beam. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks in advance for all replies.
Martin Henderson
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:35
nub, hub, o. crux of the matter
Explanation:
der springende Punkt

you said it yourself...

Pudel m übertragen
das also ist des Pudels Kern - so that's what it's all about

© 2001 Langenscheidt KG, Berlin und München
Selected response from:

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 18:35
Grading comment
Thanks to Cillan (and to everyone else). In these days of online resources, we (i.e. I) sometimes too quickly overlook the old-fashioned resources still at our disposal...
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2nub, hub, o. crux of the matter
Cilian O'Tuama
4the gist of it; the crux of thematter
Andrew Bramhall
3the source/essence/solution
Ramey Rieger (X)
3get to the bottom of this
Michael Martin, MA
2heart of the matter
Jonathan MacKerron


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the source/essence/solution


Explanation:
http://www.navigator-allgemeinwissen.de/die-wichtigsten-frag...

http://www.redensarten-index.de/suche.php?suchbegriff=des Pu...[]=rart_ou

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 18:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 70
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your responses to my question Ramey. FYI, a "Lastfahrt" in this context is a "load test".


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: This is right, but it loses the colour of the original.
1 hr
  -> True, Phil. Let's see if I can up with something better...
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
nub, hub, o. crux of the matter


Explanation:
der springende Punkt

you said it yourself...

Pudel m übertragen
das also ist des Pudels Kern - so that's what it's all about

© 2001 Langenscheidt KG, Berlin und München

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 18:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 109
Grading comment
Thanks to Cillan (and to everyone else). In these days of online resources, we (i.e. I) sometimes too quickly overlook the old-fashioned resources still at our disposal...

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
1 hr
agree  Frosty
1 hr
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the gist of it; the crux of thematter


Explanation:
We only get down to the crux/ gist/ hub of the matter when...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 10 mins (2016-02-19 16:56:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'the matter', with space, obviously; sorry.

Andrew Bramhall
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:35
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Oliver, I awarded the points to Cillan on a purely chronological basis.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
heart of the matter


Explanation:
might fit

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2016-02-19 16:58:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

but the real proof of the pudding is...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2016-02-19 17:01:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

but when it comes right down to it

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2016-02-19 17:04:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

but ultimately

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 63
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Jonathan, all perfectly acceptable proposals. I awarded the points to Cillan as he was first with this suggestion. I feel a bit dumb for not looking in the dictionary...

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
get to the bottom of this


Explanation:
IMO, it may be best to use normal (=colloquial) English for this.. The German text looks pretty informal, too. Of course, the author is aware that his expression is an odd choice in this context. That's why he set it off with quotation marks...

The only way to get to the bottom of this/to figure (straighten) this out...

It took a....to get to the bottom of this/figure (straighten) this out...


Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 12:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 63
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