German Phrase?

[di_glossia]

"Man legt sich Kontaktsperren auf, die man sowieso nicht einhält, deutet aus jeder veränderten Facebook-Statusnachricht eine bevorstehende Apokalypse und das Einzige, was in dieser Zeit auf Eis liegt bist entweder du selbst, wenn du voll wie 10 Russen auf die Fresse fliegst oder deine sozialen Kontakte, weil man ja im ach so schönen Selbstmitleid

Comments

[stefanyeah]

Never seen the the phrase "voll wie zehn Russen" before, but I guess it means utterly drunk. "Auf die Fresse fliegen" means tumbling, falling over. In this context it feels like a metaphor for failing spectacularly at something and having everyon see and point and laugh.

[di_glossia]

Thank you.

[bemysty]

"voll wie x Russen" (the number is variable) just means really, really drunk, playing on stereotypes of vodka-guzzling Russians.

[di_glossia]

Thank you! Does it have an overtly racist connotation or would the average speaker see it as just a phrase? I'm very confused, as it seems a bit out of character for this particular author to say something that reads so offensive to me.

[bemysty]

I wouldn't call it intentionally racist. It's certainly kinda "...uuuuuh"-inducing, but it's just another thoughtless idiom to me, and I assume your average speaker would think the same.

Quick googling doesn't really spit up anything in regards to the origin of the phrase, apart from the fact that there apparently is a similar phrase in French which substitutes "like a Pole".

[di_glossia]

Okay. I've noticed that I'm more prone to noticing offensive terms in other languages than in my own. It just seemed odd to me as this wasn't a humorous piece so if it was racist, it would definitely reflect an actual belief of the author.

Strangely, English uses a bunch of animal names for this: drunk as a skunk, fox, fish, monkey, bat, etc. You can say you "drink like an Irishman" but that's, in my experience, typically said by those of Irish descent.

Thanks so much for your help!

[kegel84]

I've never heard the actual phrase, but I would understand what it means (being really drunk) because I know the stereotype about Russians that's very wide-spread.

[aim_of_destiny]

"Voll wie zehn Russen" means really, really drunk. "Auf die Fresse fliegen" means to fall flat on one's face. Both are colloquial and, as far as I'm aware, not particularly regional.

(Native speaker from the north, for reference.)

My take on that diddy of a piece of writing

[writermaven]

It seems everyone covered the translation pretty much on point.

I have a feeling the person who wrote that piece is having issues with Live Journal and blaming the Russians who bought it from the Americans who created it.

I think this person has forgotten that a lot of Live Journal users had issues with Live Journal while it was owned by the Americans and rejoiced when the Russians bought it outright from the Americans.

Live Journal will survive.....It is one of the longest running journalling sites....Most likely it still will be around long after we are no longer around.....
W.M.

[di_glossia]

Woah. For one, the article is not related to LiveJournal in any way, shape or form. For another thing, the author has a strong Russian fanbase and has visited Russia several times.

Thanks for your insight, but I think that was a stab in the dark and you missed the mark by miles.

[writermaven]

Thank you for your insight and your comment. I stand corrected. I always like to know when I am wrong and off the mark because I get to learn something new that I have not known before.
Hugs.
W.M.