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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

den inneren Schweinehund überwinden

English translation:

overcome one\'s baser instincts

Added to glossary by Edith Kelly
Mar 1, 2012 06:27
12 yrs ago
13 viewers *
German term

den inneren Schweinehund überwinden

German to English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings Idiom
This is usually rendered as "to conquer/overcome one's weaker self". I am wondering whether anyone knows another expression that is both idiomatic and also reflecting the German a bit better.

Schweinehund as such would be bastard but this is not the issue here.

TIA
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 overcome one's baser instincts
4 +2 overcome/beat your inner daemons
4 +1 to overcome (or fight/battle) one's inner couch potato
3 +1 overcome ones lack of willpower
3 +1 break the beast within
3 +1 light a fire under one's own butt/ass/rear/behind
4 "push beyond your comfort zone"
3 come to grips with oneself
2 to get (yourself) into gear (or such)
References
...und so sieht er aus :-)

Discussion

Edith Kelly (asker) Mar 3, 2012:
WML no need to say shame. I already said that I do not have any context at all at all, I was just wondering how it could be rendered in different contexts. Instead of posting "shame", you might have read the discussions.
Wendy Lewin Mar 1, 2012:
and despite all the suggestions and discussion, still no further context has been supplied - shame!
Nicola Wood Mar 1, 2012:
@ Lonnie which is why it would be nice to have a bit more context, and know what is appropriate here. That is why I originally only posted this as a discussion entry, as I could not be sure whether it would fit the bill, or be, as you say, too dramatic.
Lonnie Legg Mar 1, 2012:
Demons, beast, etc. Would be nice in that, like the source, they're metaphorical. But too (melo)dramatic for most contexts.
Nicola Wood Mar 1, 2012:
@ Lesley Thanks. Will do that.
Edith Kelly (asker) Mar 1, 2012:
Ramey no real context here but you are right, different renderings possible according to context.
Lesley Robertson MA, Dip Trans IoLET Mar 1, 2012:
@ Nicola Your suggestion is good - to break/overcome the beast/demon within.
You should post it as an answer!
Ramey Rieger (X) Mar 1, 2012:
Hello EdithK What exactly IS the issue here? That would help enormously!
Kick in one's gears? Get off one's ass? Beat one's lazy beast?
Wake up and smell the coffee? Get a move on?
Nicola Wood Mar 1, 2012:
the beast inside might fit here - perhaps to break or beat the beast inside?

Another possibility that came to mind would be to use inner demon, but I don't think the meaning is quite the same.

Proposed translations

+1
2 hrs
Selected

overcome one's baser instincts

Langenscheidt lists "innerer Schweinehund" as "baser instincts"
Peer comment(s):
agree Rebecca Garber
7 hrs
Thank you!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Very difficult to come to a decision and overcome my inner "pigdog". Thanks to everyone for your suggestions, much appreciated. "
+1
44 mins

overcome ones lack of willpower

I found several examples on Linguee.com This or alternatively "inner demon", or " go beyond ones comfort zone" might be an option to reflect the German expression a bit
Reference:

http://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch/uebersetzung/den+inneren+schweinehund+%FCberwinden.html

Note from asker:
not sure about anything one finds on Linguee e.g. the spelling, should be one's .....
Peer comment(s):
agree BrigitteHilgner : I prefer your first suggestion (and would not opt for "comfort zone").
25 mins
neutral Kim Metzger : "one's" and maybe it's not willpower that's lacking but courage, for example.
33 mins
neutral Lonnie Legg : w. Kim re spelling. Willpower, drive...
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

to get (yourself) into gear (or such)

Or, maybe:
light a fire under your ass
get moving
get a move on
do something even if its wrong
get off your ass and do something
grit your teeth
take a deep breath and
man up
context...context...context
Something went wrong...
+2
3 hrs

overcome/beat your inner daemons

this is what immediately springs to mind for me
Peer comment(s):
agree Trudy Peters : I like this. 'demons' for the US.
4 hrs
Thanks Trudy!
agree Melanie Meyer
4 hrs
Thanks Melanie!
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

come to grips with oneself

get (a) hold of oneself

Not so idiomatic but conveys the meaning

Something went wrong...
+1
4 hrs

break the beast within

or alternatives to break such as beat, overcome, subdue
Peer comment(s):
agree Lesley Robertson MA, Dip Trans IoLET
1 hr
Thanks, Lesley
Something went wrong...
+1
4 hrs

light a fire under one's own butt/ass/rear/behind

just another one to spice the soup with
Peer comment(s):
agree opolt : I like this one best among all of the proposals. Maybe we could add a little qualifier to that badonkadonk, e.g. "lazy, slothful".
3 hrs
sluggish? loathing? Thanks, opolt, have a good evening!
Something went wrong...
+1
5 hrs

to overcome (or fight/battle) one's inner couch potato

If the particular "innere Schweinehund" is lethargy/laziness....
Example sentence:

I battled my inner couch potato.

Reference:

http://luckytiff.wordpress.com/2012/01/12/inner-couch-potato-vs-inner-athlete/

Peer comment(s):
agree Cilian O'Tuama : or lethargy
12 hrs
Thanks, Cilian.
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

"push beyond your comfort zone"

As others have noted, context is everything, as always. This one works best for physical challenges but perhaps less so for internal conflicts.
Something went wrong...

Reference comments

11 hrs
Reference:

...und so sieht er aus :-)

Note from asker:
Super und danke, Johanna
Something went wrong...
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