Dec 9, 2004 05:20
19 yrs ago
English term
United Kingdom
Bilingual Finance, Law & Business Pro
Native in: English 
, Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English, English to Russian
"we are looking at our wake"
English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
I can pretty much figure out what it means, but a detailed explanation would be great. Thanks.
Responses
+3
10 mins
English term (edited):
wake
Selected
Moving waves that a boat leaves behind it
WAKE - Moving waves, track or path that a boat leaves behind it, when moving across the waters.
if this fits your context - we are looking to the past instead of to the future
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Note added at 11 mins (2004-12-09 05:32:10 GMT)
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http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/gloss.htm#W
if this fits your context - we are looking to the past instead of to the future
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Note added at 11 mins (2004-12-09 05:32:10 GMT)
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http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/gloss.htm#W
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
moken
: Hi Rita - do you think this would be to just gaze lazily into the past, as you might do at the wake of a boat, or maybe a little more, like looking at look at the consequences of one's actions? (as the wake is the consequence of the boat passing)? :O)
1 hr
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thanks Alvaro, I found this used by a politician, who felt too much time was spent looking at the past
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Tony M
: I would see it as looking at the past with too much nostalgia, without looking where you're going. How do YOU 'feel' it?
2 hrs
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also possible; I admit I had never heard this phrase before
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Paula Vaz-Carreiro
: Certainly a possible meaning but context is all.
4 hrs
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thanks Paula! context is what a translator stands on, take that away and our work collapses
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "given the context it's definitely this answer, thanks a lot to everyone."
+3
1 hr
Kevin Kelly
Native in English
&
English
Works in field
Impeccable quality, on-time delivery.
Native in: English
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
we are witnessing our own demise
Konstantin, I think the other suggestions are most likely correct. I am offering this one as a possible alternative, albeit highly context-dependent. A "wake" can mean a funeral.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
: Interesting point, Kevin! I'm more familiar with similar expressions saying "...our/your OWN wake", but I can see how it might well be able to be read this way, all depending, as you so rightly say, on context!
1 hr
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Thank you.
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CMJ_Trans (X)
: I go with this one but see more below
1 hr
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Thank you.
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| agree |
Paula Vaz-Carreiro
: Also a possible meaning - context is all.
2 hrs
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Thank you.
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3 hrs
FYI a "wake" is usually a watch or vigil after someone dies
- sometimes accompanied by rituals including eating and drinking.
The sentence therefore means that if something (not shown in your question) happens, or if we do a particular thing, then all we can look forward to is people mourning us because we will be "dead" (literally or figuratively)
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Note added at 2004-12-09 08:33:24 (GMT)
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of course, it could mean looking backwards but, unless you give more context, how can we tell?
The sentence therefore means that if something (not shown in your question) happens, or if we do a particular thing, then all we can look forward to is people mourning us because we will be "dead" (literally or figuratively)
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Note added at 2004-12-09 08:33:24 (GMT)
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of course, it could mean looking backwards but, unless you give more context, how can we tell?
4 hrs
airmailrpl
Brazil
Brazil
Native in English
&
English
Brazil
Technical - Fast - good price - accurate
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Related KudoZ points
:
19
looking backwards
looking at our wake => looking backwards
Discussion