Blick

English translation: the best he could hope for was to catch a fleeting glimpse of

09:15 Apr 25, 2005

German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Linguistics

German term or phrase: Blick

San Gusepppe Jato, ein dusters Bergdorf 30 Kilometer südwestlich von Palermo, seit Generationen im Machtbereich der Brusca-Familie, war logischer Ausgangspunkt der polizeilichen Ermittlungen. Doch De Santis war bald klar, daß dies keine normale Überwachung sein konnte. Hier fuhr höchstens all zehn Minuten ein Auto vorbei, und ein Fremder würde sofort auffallen - Also nutzte er unverdächtige Fahrzeuge - meist Postautos order Lieferwagen -, die aber höchstens viermal am Tag die Umgebung abfuhren. Mehr als eine flüchtigen Blick auf ein Mitglied des Brusca Clans im Vorbeifahren konnte De Santis kaum erhoffen. Für jede Runde mußte ein anderes Fahrzeug verwendete werden, damit es unverdächtig wirkte.

In the sentence: “Mehr als eine flüchtigen Blick auf ein Mitglied des Brusca Clans im Vorbeifahren konnte De Santis kaum erhoffen”, it seems strange he did not want to have a glance on a member of the clan. If so what is the point of monitoring? Of course my understanding may be wrong. :-)
TIA!!!

Jianming Sun KudoZ activity Questions: 2132 (none open) (13 closed without grading) Answers: 1174
Local time: 10:38

English translation:the best he could hope for was to catch a fleeting glimpse of

Explanation:
he couldn't afford to stop and stare, since that would have given him and his assignment away. So he had to drive around in various disguises and hope to catach a fleeting glimpse of his prey

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2005-04-25 09:20:45 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

catch TYPO

Selected response from:

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 04:38

Grading comment

Thank you all for help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +2

the best he could hope for was to catch a fleeting glimpse of

CMJ_Trans (X)

glimpse

Elvira Stoianov

brief glance

Sue Maatz

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

1 min confidence:

glimpse

Explanation:
I think you can say quick glimpse

Elvira Stoianov
Luxembourg
Local time: 04:38
Native speaker of:

Romanian,

Hungarian
PRO pts in category: 8

3 mins confidence:

brief glance

Explanation:
in this context they mean, that in spite of all the carefull observation, he could not hope to get more than a glance at the observed person while driving by. He could not very well stop and stare if he wanted to remain inobtrusive.

Sue Maatz
Germany
Local time: 04:38
Native speaker of:

English,

German

4 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

the best he could hope for was to catch a fleeting glimpse of

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 04:38
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 20

Grading comment

Thank you all for help!

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

Blick

English translation: the best he could hope for was to catch a fleeting glimpse of

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

Blick

English translation: the best he could hope for was to catch a fleeting glimpse of

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language