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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

деревья не дают на лес посмотреть

English translation: can't see the forest for the trees

11:15 May 3, 2011
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Russian term or phrase: деревья не дают на лес посмотреть
В итоге, можно сказать, что готовая вакцина у них в руках, но им деревья не дают на лес посмотреть! Вся проблема в том, что вирус тут абсолютно не причем.

I am flooded with idioms. Helppp! :) To be honest, this doesn't make a lot of sense to me in Russian not to mention translating it into English. Do any of you wise RPOZ folks have any suggestions?
DrWord
Local time: 22:16
English translation:can't see the forest for the trees
Explanation:
http://www.answers.com/topic/can-t-see-the-forest-for-the-tr...
Selected response from:

Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 21:16
Grading comment
Oh so there is actually the same idiom. Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +8can't see the forest for the trees
Mikhail Kropotov
3 +6can't see the forest for the trees
Sona Petrosyan
5 +3can't see the wood for the trees
Samantha Payn
5Blind to the "big picture"
Paul Raines
4they can't see what they have
rns
3the trees prohibit the forest view
Kiwiland Bear


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +8
can't see the forest for the trees


Explanation:
http://www.answers.com/topic/can-t-see-the-forest-for-the-tr...

Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Local time: 21:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 63
Grading comment
Oh so there is actually the same idiom. Thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Paul Raines: Yep
5 mins
agree  Ingunite
29 mins
agree  Judith Hehir
4 hrs
agree  Maria Fokin
7 hrs
agree  MariyaN (X)
7 hrs
agree  erika rubinstein
10 hrs
agree  interprivate
1 day 8 hrs
agree  cyhul
13 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +6
can't see the forest for the trees


Explanation:
.

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Note added at 3 րոպե (2011-05-03 11:18:58 GMT)
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sorry
can't see the forest through the trees

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Note added at 5 րոպե (2011-05-03 11:20:57 GMT)
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the first version

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Note added at 6 րոպե (2011-05-03 11:21:39 GMT)
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Definition: overly concerned with detail; not understanding the whole situation

Explanation: Used when expressing that a person is focusing too much on specific problems and is missing the point

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 րոպե (2011-05-03 11:23:14 GMT)
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http://www.lmn.org/magazine/168/Forest.html

Sona Petrosyan
Armenia
Local time: 23:16
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArmenianArmenian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Denis Shepelev
7 mins
  -> Спасибо!
agree  Ingunite
29 mins
  -> Спасибо!
agree  erika rubinstein
10 hrs
  -> Спасибо!
agree  Angela Greenfield
12 hrs
  -> Спасибо!
agree  DTSM
21 hrs
  -> Спасибо!
agree  interprivate
1 day 8 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Blind to the "big picture"


Explanation:
"Can't see the forest for the trees"

You focus on the small details, and thus are blind to the actual big picture



Paul Raines
Finland
Local time: 22:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +3
can't see the wood for the trees


Explanation:
This is the phrase I use and hear in conversation in the UK.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2011-05-03 11:34:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The explanations of the meaning given by paulraines, Sona Petrosyan and in Mikhail Kropotov's link are correct.

Samantha Payn
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Halyna Maksymiv
0 min
  -> Thank you, Halyna!
agree  Jack Doughty
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Jack!
agree  erika rubinstein
9 hrs
  -> Thank you, Erika!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
им деревья не дают на лес посмотреть
they can't see what they have


Explanation:
proof of usage: http://goo.gl/IDIsu

rns
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 36
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the trees prohibit the forest view


Explanation:
Of variations on prohibit: preclude, rule out.

The idea is that the "trees" play an active part in prohibiting the full view, not just passively stand there.
[See discussion]


Kiwiland Bear
New Zealand
Local time: 07:16
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 32
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