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
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. German to English

auf's falsche Pferd gesetzt

English translation: bet on the wrong horse

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:auf's falsche Pferd gesetzt
English translation:bet on the wrong horse
Entered by: Ursula Peter-Czichi

16:55 May 12, 2002
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
/ Redewendungen
German term or phrase: auf's falsche Pferd gesetzt
Jemand hat auf das falsche Pferd gesetzt.
Stehende Redewendung für eine Fehlentscheidung/eine falsche Auswahl, wie beim Pferderennen.
Eine ebenfalls stehende Redewendung ist erwünscht.
Richard Krebs
bet on the wrong horse
Explanation:
same thing

HTH

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-12 18:45:26 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

betting: trying to make a quick buck gambling on the track
backing sth.: support w. money

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-12 23:35:17 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

betting: trying to make a quick buck gambling on the track
backing sth.: support w. money
Selected response from:

Ursula Peter-Czichi
United States
Local time: 23:46
Grading comment
Ich weiß nicht, was besser ist: to bet oder to back. Aber Danke an alle!
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6to back the wrong horse
blomguib (X)
4 +4bet on the wrong horse
Ursula Peter-Czichi
4 +2to back the wrong horse
Cilian O'Tuama
4 +1has backed the wrong horse
jkjones
4 +1vielleicht hilfts noch ein bisschen
Uschi (Ursula) Walke
4Sentence option:
brute (X)
4bet on or to back
Beth Kantus


  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
bet on the wrong horse


Explanation:
same thing

HTH

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-12 18:45:26 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

betting: trying to make a quick buck gambling on the track
backing sth.: support w. money

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-12 23:35:17 (GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

betting: trying to make a quick buck gambling on the track
backing sth.: support w. money

Ursula Peter-Czichi
United States
Local time: 23:46
PRO pts in pair: 242
Grading comment
Ich weiß nicht, was besser ist: to bet oder to back. Aber Danke an alle!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Dr.G.MD (X)
0 min
  -> Thank You!
agree  Trudy Peters
13 mins
  -> Thank You!
agree  Theo Bose
16 mins
  -> Thank You!
agree  Сергей Лузан
15 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
to back the wrong horse


Explanation:
is the expression I know...

blomguib (X)
Local time: 00:46
Native speaker of: Native in FlemishFlemish, Native in DutchDutch
PRO pts in pair: 145

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: yes, I prefer "to back" than "to bet on"
4 mins
agree  Elvira Stoianov
9 mins
agree  Bob Kerns (X)
15 mins
agree  Susan Geiblinger
1 hr
agree  jerrie
1 hr
agree  Сергей Лузан: Better, I presume.
15 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
to back the wrong horse


Explanation:
literal but also idiomatic

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-12 17:00:06 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

rather:
to have backed the wrong horse

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 05:46
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 7294

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  jerrie
1 hr
agree  Сергей Лузан: Better, I presume.
15 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Sentence option:


Explanation:
"Someone set on the wrong horse"!

brute (X)
PRO pts in pair: 255

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Cilian O'Tuama: I've never heard this option in BE (new to me)
3 mins
  -> Try US English, Cilian!
neutral  Kim Metzger: Setzen auf is to bet. To set on a horse? Never heard of it in US English either.
16 mins
  -> That's right, Kim; betting is a favorite racetrack activity!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
has backed the wrong horse


Explanation:
same as above but in context

jkjones
Local time: 04:46
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 153

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Сергей Лузан
14 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
vielleicht hilfts noch ein bisschen


Explanation:
to back the wrong horse entspricht ganz genau der Deutschen Redewendung.

Da sagt man ja auch nicht: ich habe für das falsche Pferd gewettet.

Das klingt nach meiner Meinung genauso komisch wie : I bet on the wrong horse.

Das kann man sagen, wenn man beim Pferderennen ist, aber in anderen Lebenslagen, in denen man eine falsche Entscheidung getroffen hat, sagt mans nicht.

Gruß

Uschi (Ursula) Walke
Local time: 13:46
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 492

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Сергей Лузан
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

17 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
bet on or to back


Explanation:
My first instinct was "bet on", so mayit's a BE-AE thing. It seems to me you could avoid the issue altogether if you wanted, and use "put my/your/their money on the wrong horse".
HTH!

Beth Kantus
United States
Local time: 23:46
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 924
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search