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. Linguistics

Das was sich vorstellt, braucht man nicht zu verlieren

English translation: That which is imagined need never be lost

11:06 Aug 13, 2002
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Linguistics / language
German term or phrase: Das was sich vorstellt, braucht man nicht zu verlieren
What is the equivalent english idiom?

Das was sich vorstellt, braucht man nicht zu verlieren
Rachel
English translation:That which is imagined need never be lost
Explanation:
Assuming "Was man sich vorstellt, braucht man nie zu verlieren'

Above translation found at link below ...

Alternatively,

You need never lose the things you imagine.

Things you imagine will stay with you forever.

Not sure there's an idiomatic version.

HTH

Mary
Selected response from:

Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:55
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1That which is imagined need never be lost
Mary Worby
4You can never lose what you keep in your mind.
m-svenja
3Hold on to your dreams
jerrie
2vorstellen=present?
Kurt Beals


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


57 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
That which is imagined need never be lost


Explanation:
Assuming "Was man sich vorstellt, braucht man nie zu verlieren'

Above translation found at link below ...

Alternatively,

You need never lose the things you imagine.

Things you imagine will stay with you forever.

Not sure there's an idiomatic version.

HTH

Mary


    Reference: http://www3.sympatico.ca/ci.kerr/tales.html
Mary Worby
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:55
Native speaker of: English
Grading comment
Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  gangels (X)
1 hr
disagree  Karlo Heppner: Der deutsche Satz gibt immer noch keinen Sinn. Wenn da stünde, kann man nicht verlieren.....
2 hrs
neutral  Steffen Walter: Original seems to be a re-translation which is not at all idiomatic German. You seem to take the right direction though: "Das, was man *sich* vorstellt, *kann* man nicht verlieren", which would be rendered quite well by your last option "Things..."
2 hrs
agree  Kurt Beals: I'm not sure, but that looks like a good guess--the addition of the first "man" is a reasonable interpretation. (Disregard my own attempt below).
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
You can never lose what you keep in your mind.


Explanation:
Since the original sentnece does not really make sense and is no popular saying either (as far as I know) I suggest what I think was meant.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-08-13 13:14:39 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

A literal translation of the original would be: You don\'t need to loose what introduces itself.

m-svenja
Local time: 14:55
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Karlo Heppner: Eben eine Vermutung. Aber eigentlich ist es unnütz, ins Blaue hineinzustochern.
54 mins
  -> Nee, nicht unnütz, denn der Frager könnte es hilfreich finden.
neutral  Steffen Walter: Für eine Vermutung aber nicht schlecht! Kommentar zum Original s.o.
59 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Hold on to your dreams


Explanation:
The power of the imagination is important.

Probably way off the mark here, but it seems to be to be saying you don't need to supress/lose/delete what is just imagined.

jerrie
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:55
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
vorstellen=present?


Explanation:
Could it be "sich vorstellen" in the sense of "presents itself"--i.e. opportunities, etc., that present themselves of their own accord? In that case, an English approximation might be something like "Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"--but I'm a little confused about the German idiom as you have it here too.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-08-13 18:33:26 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On reflection, I\'m pretty sure that that isn\'t what\'s meant here.


    Reference: http://phrases.shu.ac.uk/meanings/117000.html
Kurt Beals
United States
Local time: 05:55
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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