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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

einen Bogen spannen (figurative use)

English translation: to form a bridge between; to link together

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:einen Bogen spannen (figurative use)
English translation:to form a bridge between; to link together
Entered by: Rowan Morrell

09:58 Sep 26, 2003
German to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Idiom
German term or phrase: einen Bogen spannen (figurative use)
"Die Kombination von aktuellen Berichten aus Wissenschaft und Forschung mit konkreten Fallbeispielen aus der Praxis namhafter Zahnärzte und Dozenten in ganz Europa spannt einen Bogen von der Theorie zur Praxis und bietet Orientierungshilfe auf dem zunehmend unübersichtlich erscheinenden Markt der restaurativen Möglichkeiten."

From a scientific publication put out by a dental company.

The literal meaning of "einen Bogen spannen" is "to draw a bow", but here it's being used figuratively. What would be a good figurative translation? Draw a line from theory to practice, maybe? Connect the dots between theory and practice? TIA for your ideas.
Rowan Morrell
New Zealand
Local time: 17:39
bridges theory and praxis
Explanation:
:-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2003-09-26 10:05:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

brings together ...
Selected response from:

Norbert Hermann
Local time: 06:39
Grading comment
My warmest thanks to both the answerers and peer graders. Your help is greatly appreciated. I think I'll go with "form a bridge between", although I liked "link together" also and will put that in the glossary too. Thank you all once again for your assistance.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +10bridges theory and praxis
Norbert Hermann
4 +2to bridge the gap between theory and practice
IanW (X)
3 +2link together ...
D D (X)
3 +2...connects theory to practice
Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
4bridge the distance
Mario Marcolin


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
link together ...


Explanation:
-

D D (X)
Local time: 06:39
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  shabda
3 mins
agree  roneill
12 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +10
bridges theory and praxis


Explanation:
:-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2003-09-26 10:05:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

brings together ...

Norbert Hermann
Local time: 06:39
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
My warmest thanks to both the answerers and peer graders. Your help is greatly appreciated. I think I'll go with "form a bridge between", although I liked "link together" also and will put that in the glossary too. Thank you all once again for your assistance.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Monika Leit
1 min
agree  shabda
4 mins
agree  David Moore (X): or "forms a bridge between"
13 mins
agree  Mario Marcolin: build a bridge between theory and practice
1 hr
agree  TonyTK: or "practice" even?
1 hr
agree  Michele Johnson
2 hrs
agree  jerrie: definitely use bridge for the dental pun!...bridge the gap
2 hrs
  -> thanks Jerry - didn't think of the pun :-)
agree  Trudy Peters: forms a bridge between theory and practice. I don't think we're filling any gaps.
6 hrs
agree  Susan Geiblinger
8 hrs
agree  Steffen Walter: with Trudy
11 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
...connects theory to practice


Explanation:
What about this one, Rowan?

or "theory connects to practice", depending on how you eventually phrase it.

http://web.hamline.edu/ucouncil/straplan.html

Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
Germany
Local time: 07:39
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 7

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Edhild: like this ohne best
7 hrs
  -> thanks Edhild!
agree  roneill
11 hrs
  -> thanks
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
bridge the distance


Explanation:
between theory and practice..

Mario Marcolin
Sweden
Local time: 07:39
Native speaker of: Native in SwedishSwedish, Native in EnglishEnglish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
to bridge the gap between theory and practice


Explanation:
Not a million miles away from some of the above suggestions, but every little helps, I suppose ...

IanW (X)
Local time: 07:39
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 83

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nancy Arrowsmith
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Nancy - hope no-one takes "gap" as another dental pun ...
agree  Ellen Zittinger
3 hrs
neutral  Aniello Scognamiglio (X): "einen Bogen spannen" does not necessarily imply there are gaps to bridge
9 hrs
  -> True, but there is always a gap between theory and practice, isn't there. Schönes WE!
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