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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

'ran gewichst und nicht gezittert

English translation:

let's get on with it no matter what; let's get to it without delay ( no time to be afraid)

Added to glossary by Ingeborg Gowans (X)
Nov 13, 2008 16:24
15 yrs ago
German term

'ran gewichst und nicht gezittert

German to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
In a 1941 letter, a soldier begins a letter to his wife as follows:
Trotz eines augenblicklichen physischen Unbehagens (Kater was schnurrst Du so nett) ••'ran gewichst u. nicht gezittert.•• Und wenn der olle Schädel noch so brummt u. stöhnt, es wird geschrieben, es muss geschrieben werden, mach ein, mach hin, und Nerven behalten.

I found "hinein gewichst und nicht gezittert" as a Skat expression, of which I assume this is a variation, but I'm not sure of the meaning, especially in the hangover context. The first word appears to be 'ran, but it could be 'rein with an undotted i. Any suggestions?
Proposed translations (English)
2 +1 let's get on with it no matter what; let's get to it without delay ( no time to be afraid)
References
ran an den Feind
Change log

Nov 14, 2008 22:36: Ingeborg Gowans (X) changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/5155">Ann C Sherwin's</a> old entry - "'ran gewichst und nicht gezittert"" to ""let's get on with it no matter what; let's get to it without delay ( no time to be afraid)""

Discussion

Ann C Sherwin (asker) Nov 14, 2008:
Clarification and thanks to all Thanks to all responders. I can only add (having translated some 30 of his letters) that the writer was excruciatingly delicate about what he put on paper with regard to sex. And any fear in this instance would be of embarrassing himself. This was his first letter after returning from a Christmas leave, and it was a duty only in that he had promised it; in all other respects, writing to his wife was clearly a pleasure. Again, I really appreciate your input. I decided to give the points to Johanna for identifying the source of the expression.
Helen Shiner Nov 14, 2008:
Or even, 'over the top, keep your nerve, old boy'.
Helen Shiner Nov 14, 2008:
It seems to me the soldier is jokingly comparing writing to his wife to preparing to fight. I wonder if something like: 'Here goes (as you suggest), keep your nerve, old boy...' would get that across?
Jalapeno Nov 13, 2008:
Then again ... Since the letter is from 1941, I'm not too sure about the sexual connotation. "wichsen" used to be nothing more than a harmless synonym for "to polish [e.g. boots]". I'm not sure when the sexual connotation first came up, but it could well be that in 1941 "wichsen" was still harmless.
Olaf (X) Nov 13, 2008:
There might be a sexual connation This might be a Skat expression, but you're probably aware of sexual connotation of the first part of the expression. If it indeed refers to the Skat term than any synonym of "Zähne zusammenbeißen" , e.g. grit your teeth and carry on, should work.
Ann C Sherwin (asker) Nov 13, 2008:
Possible translation My first thought is something like "here goes".

Proposed translations

+1
5 hrs
Selected

let's get on with it no matter what; let's get to it without delay ( no time to be afraid)

not at all sure of the tone here, if he writes to his wife, even with a hangover, one would hope he is not afraid and it is a bit more than duty?? Maybe I would even leave out"und nicht gezittert" "and not be afraid" since it doesn't seem to be necessary
Peer comment(s):
agree Johanna Timm, PhD
21 hrs
thank you very much, Johanna, an agree from you matters to me:) Have a nice weekend!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, Ingeborg. You deserve the points. I hadn't noticed that Johanna's note was just a reference for your answer. "

Reference comments

1 hr
Reference:

ran an den Feind

The Skat expression is a variation on the expression “Ran an den Feind und nicht gezittert” which dates back to the times of World War I where it was used to root for young athletes to work out and train their bodies to be fit for the war.
http://shortify.com/8084
I’ve often heard the two parts of this expression: “ran an den feind” and “…und nicht gezittert” being used separately, or like in this case, one part replaced with a variation.
Meaning: to unflinchingly face something that is maybe a little uncomfortable/difficult/tricky, “just getting it over with”

Agree with Olaf re the sexual connotation.
Peer comments on this reference comment:
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : good reference/ not sure about the sexual connotation, m. I would think more along the lines of "Stiefel wichsen", duty calls or something like that
3 hrs
you are right regarding Stiefel wichsen - that's a plausible explanation
agree hazmatgerman (X) : Yes and with shoe polish: like "shipshape and Bristol fashion", i.e. dressed to kill so to speak. Another var. of "ran an den Feind" was "Näher Ran, Gropius" with Gropius being a proper name. Regards.
13 hrs
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