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Какова теория – таков и результат

English translation: A poor theory is poor in practice

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Russian term or phrase:Какова теория – таков и результат
English translation:A poor theory is poor in practice
Entered by: rns

14:13 May 2, 2011
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Russian term or phrase: Какова теория – таков и результат
Такой итог от этой ненаучной, пустой и безосновательной теории можно было предвидеть и ожидать. Какова теория – таков и результат.

Дословно тут никак не вяжется. Интересно какие тут можно применить идиомы?
DrWord
Local time: 08:15
A poor theory is poor in practice
Explanation:
 
Selected response from:

rns
Grading comment
This is best for my purposes. Thanks for your ideas!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +6Garbage in, garbage out
Jack Doughty
3 +3A result is only a good as the theory on which it is based
GaryG
3 +1A poor theory is poor in practice
rns
4You get from something only what you put into it....
Paul Raines


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
Garbage in, garbage out


Explanation:
If the theory is such a poor one, only poor results can be expected from it.
"Garbage in garbage out" (or abbreviation GIGO) is used mainly in a computer context, but I think it would fit here.

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:15
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 80

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alex Marshall: Sounds great
0 min
  -> Thank you.
agree  sokolniki
1 hr
  -> Thank you.
agree  tschingite: lovely
1 hr
  -> Thank you.
agree  Ingunite
1 hr
  -> Thank you.
agree  MariyaN (X)
4 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Sona Petrosyan
14 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
A result is only a good as the theory on which it is based


Explanation:
I added "on which it is based" because I think it would be otherwise unclear without this context

GaryG
Local time: 01:15
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  rns: as good as the underlying theory? // :))) Poor me. :)
8 mins
  -> I like it better than my wording...or your answer!
agree  Angela Greenfield
46 mins
agree  sokolniki: Don't you love it when somebody which is not a native English speaker is trying to correct you?
1 hr
  -> Hey, we're all more or less bilingual, and IMHO his version of my answer was better than mine!
agree  dennis_bg: By far the best fit for this particular context
10 hrs
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
A poor theory is poor in practice


Explanation:
 

rns
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
This is best for my purposes. Thanks for your ideas!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cyhul
14 days
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
You get from something only what you put into it....


Explanation:
This phrase could be interpreted in many ways (a few have already been supplied)

A literal translation is pointless, naturally. What is required is an interpretation of the context :

".........you get (from something) only what you put into it...."





Paul Raines
Finland
Local time: 08:15
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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