Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Ein Lügengebäude ist wackelig
English translation:
You can't build on a foundation of lies
Added to glossary by
Textklick
Dec 15, 2007 13:23
16 yrs ago
German term
Ein Lügengebäude ist wackelig
German to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Egal wie sehr eine derartige Befragung einen zer_mürbt – sagt man die Wahrheit, hält man letztlich durch. Ein Lügengebäude ist wackelig. In der eigenen Geschichte kenne ich mich aus, egal auf welchen brüchigen Steg sie mich führen, ich kippe nicht um.
Is there a good English equvalent to this? Tissue of lies just doesn't sit right with the whole structural metaphor, and I'm not sure about a literal translation. This is for a novel, someone's memoirs. The situation that the quote comes from is that the writer is being grilled under oath, and because her remains truthful, his story holds up. Any help is appreciated!
Is there a good English equvalent to this? Tissue of lies just doesn't sit right with the whole structural metaphor, and I'm not sure about a literal translation. This is for a novel, someone's memoirs. The situation that the quote comes from is that the writer is being grilled under oath, and because her remains truthful, his story holds up. Any help is appreciated!
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Dec 16, 2007 17:40: Steffen Walter changed "Field (write-in)" from "Ein Lügengebäude" to "(none)"
Dec 29, 2007 09:28: Textklick Created KOG entry
Jan 4, 2008 00:00: Textklick changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/19251">Textklick's</a> old entry - "Ein Lügengebäude ist wackelig"" to ""You can't build on a foundation of lies""
Proposed translations
+3
3 hrs
Selected
You can't build on a foundation of lies
You can't build on a foundation of lies. With Brigitte about keeping it concise.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+2
3 mins
A house of lies stands on sandy foundations
Bringing up images of the leaning tower of Pisa
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Frosty
: Howzabout "wobbly foundations"? It gets some 600+ Googlies, covering most everything from religion & evolution to economics! Where these three subjects are concerned there is lots of scope for telling porkies! Nuff said.
1 hr
|
agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: yes... maybe to avoid the distraction of "lies stands": A house of lies is built on sand.
4 hrs
|
+1
5 mins
a house of cards
should work here
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Claire Cox
: Found this quote: "Eventually, the truth will emerge. And when it does, this house of cards, built of deceit, will fall." — Robert C. Byrd - maybe that could be worked in somehow?
9 hrs
|
+1
29 mins
If you want a house built on sand, start with a foundation of lies
I found this here: You want a house built on sand - start with a foundation built on lies and ...
www.msco.com/blog/moments-of-truth-moments-of-lies - 74k - Cached - Similar pages
Does this sound literary enough?
www.msco.com/blog/moments-of-truth-moments-of-lies - 74k - Cached - Similar pages
Does this sound literary enough?
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: can't open your website, but sounds good
2 hrs
|
thanks, Ingeborg!
|
+1
37 mins
you can't build on lies
I would keep it simple (gets a few google hits, too)
2 hrs
tissue of lies
is what Muret-Sanders proffers
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-12-15 15:48:12 GMT)
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it's all a flimsy tissue of lies
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Note added at 2 hrs (2007-12-15 15:48:12 GMT)
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it's all a flimsy tissue of lies
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
Jim Tucker (X)
: this doesn't have much to do with kleenex - or fragility - in this phrase "tissue" emphasizes complexity and multi-layeredness
3 hrs
|
2 hrs
a house of lies is built on shaky grounds / tower of lies do not stand
I suppose these could work:
tower of lies do not stand on solid ground
house of lies are built on shaky grounds
pack of lies can't stand straight against the truth
tower of lies do not stand on solid ground
house of lies are built on shaky grounds
pack of lies can't stand straight against the truth
1 day 36 mins
Lies don't last.
Just another suggestion...
1 day 1 hr
You can't hide (forever) behind a veil of lies
A slightly different image - but more idiomatic in English.
"You can't hide (forever) behind a veil of lies. My story is watertight, so no matter how hard they try to trip me up, I've got myself covered."
"You can't hide (forever) behind a veil of lies. My story is watertight, so no matter how hard they try to trip me up, I've got myself covered."
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