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

Man ist noch weit zurück

English translation: to be (way) behind the times

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Man ist noch weit zurück
English translation:to be (way) behind the times
Entered by: Christine Lam

14:17 Nov 23, 2004
German to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Linguistics
German term or phrase: Man ist noch weit zurück
in einem Brief aus dem Jahr 1926 eines Deutschen, der Moskau besuchte und feststellte, dass "man dort nocht weit zurück" ist.
Hat jemand eine gute Idee, wie man dies am besten ausdrücken kann.
Christine Lam
Local time: 06:50
to be (way) behind the times
Explanation:
another one
Selected response from:

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 12:50
Grading comment
thank you for all the great suggestions, it was a tough choice
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3how far behind the times they are/were
CMJ_Trans (X)
4 +3to be (way) behind the times
Cilian O'Tuama
4 +2They're still very backward (t)here. / Thy're a long way behind us (t)here. / etc.
Richard Benham
4 +2very much lagging behind
IanW (X)
5 +1they were still far behind
Terence Ajbro
3they are still very backward
Allesklar


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Man ist noch weit zurück
They're still very backward (t)here. / Thy're a long way behind us (t)here. / etc.


Explanation:
Take your pick.

Richard Benham
France
Local time: 12:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  swisstell: backward
3 mins
  -> Well, I'm glad you've taken your pick there, "Wilhelm".
agree  gangels (X)
59 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Man ist noch weit zurück
very much lagging behind


Explanation:
How about "very much lagging behind", the implicating being "very much behind German and the rest of Western Europe.

IanW (X)
Local time: 12:50
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 24

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Andrew D
45 mins
agree  Hilary Davies Shelby: lagging very much behind ;-)
4 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
how far behind the times they are/were


Explanation:
....

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-11-23 14:30:46 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

how far they had to go to catch up

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2004-11-23 14:54:23 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

JUST how far behind the times they are

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 12:50
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jonathan MacKerron: like the ring of it
7 mins
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: hey, didn't see you when I posted
12 mins
agree  Hilary Davies Shelby
3 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Man ist noch weit zurück
to be (way) behind the times


Explanation:
another one

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 12:50
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
thank you for all the great suggestions, it was a tough choice

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  CMJ_Trans (X): great minds?
17 mins
agree  Eve Schuttle (X): This is the elegant way of expressing it.
4 hrs
agree  Ellen Zittinger
5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Man ist noch weit zurück
they were still far behind


Explanation:
--

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2004-11-23 14:47:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

then: They are still far behind us there.

Terence Ajbro
Sweden
Local time: 12:50
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Francis Lee (X): They're still a long way behind, there.
33 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Man ist noch weit zurück
they are still very backward


Explanation:
mein senf...

Allesklar
Australia
Local time: 20:20
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4
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