Glossary entry (derived from question below)
angielski term or phrase:
caught in the middle
polski translation:
być pomiedzy młotem a kowadłem
Added to glossary by
Rafal Korycinski
May 22, 2011 16:20
13 yrs ago
3 viewers *
angielski term
Polska
Business, IT, hospitality industry
Native in: polski 
Works in: angielski > polski, francuski > polski, polski > angielski, and 1 more.
caught in the middle
angielski > polski
Literatura/sztuka
Idiomy/powiedzenia/przysłowia
lyrics
The free dictionary reads "to be in a difficult situation because two people who you know well are arguing and both of them criticize each other to you".
This meaning is quite obvious for me, but I am not sure if it reflects the real meaning as in 'The Show' by Lenka:
"I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why [...]"
or in 'Caught in the middle' by A1
"Things are so different now you're gone
I thought it'd be easy i was wrong
And now i'm caught
And now, i'm caught in the middle
Even though i'm with someone new
All i can think about is you
And now i'm caught
And now, i'm caught in the middle"
In fact I cannot see the two arguing parties.
Could someone shed some light on how should this be understood.
Thanks in advance
This meaning is quite obvious for me, but I am not sure if it reflects the real meaning as in 'The Show' by Lenka:
"I'm just a little bit caught in the middle
Life is a maze and love is a riddle
I don't know where to go I can't do it alone I've tried
And I don't know why [...]"
or in 'Caught in the middle' by A1
"Things are so different now you're gone
I thought it'd be easy i was wrong
And now i'm caught
And now, i'm caught in the middle
Even though i'm with someone new
All i can think about is you
And now i'm caught
And now, i'm caught in the middle"
In fact I cannot see the two arguing parties.
Could someone shed some light on how should this be understood.
Thanks in advance
Proposed translations
(polski)
| 3 +2 | być pomiedzy młotem a kowadłem |
Qnio
|
| 4 | zagubiona |
Polangmar
|
Change log
May 22, 2011 16:25: Darius Saczuk changed "Language pair" from "polski > angielski" to "angielski > polski"
Proposed translations
+2
1 godz.
Selected
być pomiedzy młotem a kowadłem
nieśmiała propozycja
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Polangmar
: Wybór między dwiema alternatywami nie musi dotyczyć wyboru mniejszego zła - może to być też brak wiedzy, która z alternatyw jest lepsza.
4 godz.
|
| agree |
Dorota Madrzyk
: to jest dokładnie to! nasz polski idiom.
6 godz.
|
| agree |
Karolina Cichocka
17 godz.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Dziękuję :-)"
1 godz.
zagubiona
skonsternowana
"Zagubiona" będzie pasować do labiryntu.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2011-05-22 22:19:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"It is in this sense that you are "lost" i.e. you do not know what direction to go in."
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/English/4371493 :-)
"Zagubiona" będzie pasować do labiryntu.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2011-05-22 22:19:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"It is in this sense that you are "lost" i.e. you do not know what direction to go in."
http://www.proz.com/kudoz/English/4371493 :-)
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Dorota Madrzyk
: polski odpowiednik "między młotem a kowadłem" lepiej tutaj pasuje:)/Dla mnie ciągle "między młotem a kowadłem":) ona nie jest zagubiona, jest trochę zakłopotana i musi wybrać tzw. lepsze zło.
6 godz.
|
|
Czytajmy: love is a riddle - jeśli dziewczyna nie wie, czy wybrać Piotra, czy Pawła, to powiemy, że jest między młotem a kowadłem? No chyba, że jest zmuszana do małżeństwa i tylko niechcianych partnerów jej dano do wyboru - co jednak nie ma tu miejsca.
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Discussion
In the first case, it stands for - I am at crossroads - should I be alone or should I be with someone (love) - I can't decide
In the second case - I am torn between two sentiments - toward the new lover or the old one (apparent conflict of loyalty)