This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Kulissenneigung/Kulisse
Unfallvorsorge, Unfallbetreuung und Unfallrettung
Jun 20, 2014 08:54
9 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

German aphorism

German to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Der Mann, der ist der Kopf, nach ihm muss alles gehen.
Die Frau, die ist der Hals, sie weiß den Kopf zu drehen

A saying that stands on a greeting card to newly-weds. Only two ghits to be found.

TIA for your input
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 If the man is the head...
3 +2 The man may be...
3 Another couple of suggestions
Change log

Jun 20, 2014 10:36: Steffen Walter changed "Field (specific)" from "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters" to "Idioms / Maxims / Sayings"

Discussion

philgoddard Jun 20, 2014:
Jonathan Why are you translating it? Does it need to rhyme, or were you just looking for an explanation?
Yorkshireman Jun 20, 2014:
Equally cheesy The man is the captain, but it is the woman who sets the course.

Vintage Cheddar:
It is said that the spouse is the head of the house.
But it's his wife who fills it with life"

The man is said to be the head of the house.
But the woman has the brains to run it.
Thayenga Jun 20, 2014:
cheesy Aren't all of these cards supposed to be this way? LOL

How about "...turning his head..."? She turns his head, which means the head of the household. ;) To make it a little more personal.
Yorkshireman Jun 20, 2014:
@Jonathan Positively Double Gloucester :-)
Jonathan MacKerron (asker) Jun 20, 2014:
Alternatively (OK, so it's cheesy...) The man is the head, over the firmament doth he hold sway.
The woman is the neck, turning the head every which way.
Thayenga Jun 20, 2014:
Rhyme Since it's a wedding card it should rhyme. Unless the client insists on a near-literal translation.

"The man is the head that runs the show.
The woman is the neck that keeps him in tow."

This does rhyme nicely. And... Google doesn't know everything. -:)
Yorkshireman Jun 20, 2014:
Nia Vardolos... BTW I didn't know this until a couple of minutes ago, but Nia Vardolos also wrote the screenplay.

So it's very probably not a German aphorism - unless SHE translated from the German :-) Maybe a Greek (or Canadian?) aphorism?

I would write it as a quote, with a reference to Ms Vardolos and the movie
Jonathan MacKerron (asker) Jun 20, 2014:
Lots of ghits for "Man is the head of the family and woman is the neck that turns the head", but no rhyme unfortunately.
Thayenga Jun 20, 2014:
@ Jonathan The rhythm of your translation flows nicely. Go ahead and post it as an answer...and I will agree. ;)
Jonathan MacKerron (asker) Jun 20, 2014:
First thought it might have a sexual connotation but now think it's more along the lines of "men think they are in control, but it's really the women who wear the pants". Would be great if the rhyme could be somehow kept.
"The man is the head that runs the show.
The woman is the neck that keeps him in tow."
Googling also turned this up
"The Man, might be the head of a family, but the Woman is the neck that controls the Head"

Proposed translations

+2
2 hrs
Selected

If the man is the head...

If the man is the head, and master of all he surveys,
The woman is the neck, and able to direct his gaze.

rhyming version, with the hint of female control
Peer comment(s):
agree Helen Shiner : Getting there... maybe draw his gaze. I get the impression his eyes are meant to be on her.
2 hrs
Thanks Helen! Hadn't got that impression myself, but maybe.
agree Thayenga : Yes, we're getting there. Enjoy your weekend, Kate. :)
3 hrs
Thanks Thayenga! You too :)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
14 mins

The man may be...

"The man may be the head, but it is the woman that turns it."

On failing to find a decent translation on the Web, I would go for something like this.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 mins (2014-06-20 09:11:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Here's a line from the movie "My Big fFat Greek Wedding:

"The man is the head, but the woman is the neck. And she can turn the head any way she wants."

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 mins (2014-06-20 09:12:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Fat has, of course only one "f" :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2014-06-20 09:16:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Quote from Nia Vardolos (Greek actress in My Big Fat Greek Wedding)

“The man may be the head of the household. But the woman is the neck, and she can turn the head whichever way she pleases.”

― Nia Vardalos

I wonder why the script and the actress quotes differ?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 30 mins (2014-06-20 09:24:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I must admit, Jonathan, that your rhyming couplet takes the day.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 31 mins (2014-06-20 09:26:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I expect that the lines in the card are taken from the movie. After all, they and the quotes both relate to newlyweds.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 49 mins (2014-06-20 09:43:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Trivia:

In Yorkshire, we would say:

Appen its 't usband that weers the trahsers, burrits 'is missus what sews 'em.
Note from asker:
Thanks.
Peer comment(s):
agree mill2
16 mins
THX, mill2
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : I love the Yorkshire version of it :)
2 hrs
Ee lass, tha wor fair capped wi' it, woyya? Ta, luv.
Something went wrong...
3 days 6 hrs

Another couple of suggestions

The husband may be the head, but the wife is the neck
And where the neck turns, the head must follow

And my attempt at a rhyme:

The husband is the head - yes, but one thing he will learn
The wife she is the neck that decides how it will turn

Does it really matter if it doesn't rhyme, as long as it's sufficiently humorous? Whatever you use in the end, I think it's a good idea to stress the newly-wed aspect by using husband and wife rather than man and woman.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search