Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
von Gnade
English translation:
by grace and favour of
Added to glossary by
Ramey Rieger (X)
Jun 11, 2014 08:52
9 yrs ago
German term
von Gnade
German to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
idiom
Greetings dear Colleagues!
Normally I would translate 'von Gnade' in this context with ' by the grace of'. What irritates me though, is the ensuing sentence, where the father has also paid for his studies. Then I considered 'at the mercy of', but further along one can see that Brian doesn't work with his father, so cannot be 'at his mercy' in this sense. (See second excerpt)
So, dear German native speakers or those close enough - Am I dealing with a redundancy here or does the idiom have a meaning I am not yet aware of? I would be, as ever, grateful for your input!
Here is the context:
Überhaupt geschah so manches in seinem Leben nur, weil sein Vater es wollte. Anwalt von Daddys Gnaden zu sein, war etwas, das er tapfer ertragen hätte. Den Umstand, sein Studium von seinem Vater finanziert zu bekommen, auch. Erst die Tatsache, dass sein Vater ihm dies bei jeder sich bietenden Gelegenheit vorhielt, machte Brian die Vater-Sohn-Beziehung unerträglich.
and the second excerpt belying 'at his mercy'
Von den einhunderttausend Dollar, die Daddy für Brians Studium bezahlt haben will, hatte der ‚dankbare’ Sohn über die Jahre immerhin bereits mehr als die Hälfte zurückgezahlt. Als Junioranwalt in einer eher bescheiden erfolgreichen Kanzlei hielt sich sein Salär in Grenzen.
Normally I would translate 'von Gnade' in this context with ' by the grace of'. What irritates me though, is the ensuing sentence, where the father has also paid for his studies. Then I considered 'at the mercy of', but further along one can see that Brian doesn't work with his father, so cannot be 'at his mercy' in this sense. (See second excerpt)
So, dear German native speakers or those close enough - Am I dealing with a redundancy here or does the idiom have a meaning I am not yet aware of? I would be, as ever, grateful for your input!
Here is the context:
Überhaupt geschah so manches in seinem Leben nur, weil sein Vater es wollte. Anwalt von Daddys Gnaden zu sein, war etwas, das er tapfer ertragen hätte. Den Umstand, sein Studium von seinem Vater finanziert zu bekommen, auch. Erst die Tatsache, dass sein Vater ihm dies bei jeder sich bietenden Gelegenheit vorhielt, machte Brian die Vater-Sohn-Beziehung unerträglich.
and the second excerpt belying 'at his mercy'
Von den einhunderttausend Dollar, die Daddy für Brians Studium bezahlt haben will, hatte der ‚dankbare’ Sohn über die Jahre immerhin bereits mehr als die Hälfte zurückgezahlt. Als Junioranwalt in einer eher bescheiden erfolgreichen Kanzlei hielt sich sein Salär in Grenzen.
Proposed translations
(English)
4 +4 | by grace and favour of | Helen Shiner |
4 | by/through the magnanimity of | Yorkshireman |
Proposed translations
+4
30 mins
Selected
by grace and favour of
See discussion entry
Peer comment(s):
agree |
mill2
4 mins
|
Thanks, mill2
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|
agree |
H. C. Centner
: Excellent choice, Helen
5 hrs
|
Thanks, Helen
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agree |
Kirsten Bodart
: Personally I would leave 'favour off' as 'grace and favour' has something temporary that goes with position. 'By the grace of'?
1 day 1 hr
|
Thanks, but that is only its literal use. it is perfectly ok and idiomatic to use it as I suggest. And there is a suggestion of power relations in that the father has the money and dictates what the son does as a result.
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agree |
Lancashireman
: The perils of agreeing - and then suggesting a tweak that actually negates it.
1 day 8 hrs
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Thanks, Andrew
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you Helen! I used it verbatim.
And thank you all for the excellent discussion. As always, I'm indebted. I've just begun the novel, so you'll be hearing from me soon!"
1 hr
by/through the magnanimity of
by or through
"...through Daddy's magnanimity was a burden he would have bravely borne."
goodwill and benevolence would also work
"...through Daddy's magnanimity was a burden he would have bravely borne."
goodwill and benevolence would also work
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Helen Shiner
: These are all fine if a positive note needs to be sounded. I read the passage as sarcastic or highly ironic, but I guess it will be down to Ramey to sort out how she wants to play it./Grace and favour is only positive in, e.g., an 18th cent. context!
49 mins
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Properties occupied rent-free by employees of the Crown are also still known as grace and favour homes, e.g. 10 Downing Street, Chequers, Admiralty House.
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Discussion
Had he become a lawyer whose studies were initiated and paid for by his father’s grace and favor, he could have bravely borne the burden. But his father’s insufferable habit of rubbing his nose in it at every opportunity rendered their relationship unbearable.
I think maybe instead of 'insufferable', 'unbearable' or 'insupportable' woould fit too.
@ Wendy - yes 'merely become - would do nicely- thanks!
@ Yorkshireman - I NEVER get notifications on time, there is always a delay, sometimes of days. I only play kudoz when I have the time anyway.
I just this moment (13:45) received a whole spate of them from 12:00-13:00)
I'm tending towards something like this -
Had he become a lawyer by his father’s saving grace he could have bravely borne the burden. Had it been his father’s benevolence that had financed his entire education - well, he could have lived with that, too. It was his father’s habit of rubbing his nose in it at every possible opportunity that rendered their relationship insufferable.
What do you think?
@ Helen
I see where you draw the conclusion that his father claims to have paid more than he actually had (bezahlt haben will). I read this more as an indication of Brian's mistrust regarding his father. The following third person singular narrative is the entire excerpt. We are looking in on Brian's thoughts:
The above posted context immediately follows this. I don't believe his father exaggerated the amount, but rubbed his nose in it at every opportunity. I get the sarcasm and the condescension. By the grace of his father he became a lawyer, but Brian didn't want to become a lawyer in the first place, but only did so because his father wanted him to - touching on the aristocratic or royal authority.
But usually, even when one receives something by the grace of a condescending mentor, it is something desirable, despite the sense of indebtedness.
Difficult question because "von Gnaden" frequently (as in this case) has a negative touch - dependence is involved, frequently also condescension.
"Er ist Abteilungsleiter von Herrn Müllers Gnaden" - should Mr. Müller leave the company the guy won't stay head of the department for much longer.
I was thinking of "clemency" but in a way that still seems to positive a term.
that's how I read it...
-> as the obedient son he was to his father/for his father's grace...