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01:05 Dec 27, 2010
Russian to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Slang
Russian term or phrase:"крутиться"
Those who grew up in the old country in the 70s and 80s would know what I mean by that: " "крутиться" as in go about your own business, maybe making a little cash on the side, and not necessarily sharing it with the taxman. Он крутится. Они крутятся потихоньку. В Одессе все крутятся, кто не дурак. This is not a translation, strictly speaking, but as I write my original text in English I can't help thinking in both my working languages, and sometimes find it hard reconciling one to the other. I would be particularly interested in hearing what US natives and semi-natives like myself have to say on the matter. Many thanks in advance. Merry whatever and happy everything, everyone!
Explanation: Once upon a time I translated Stanislav Govorukhin's "Великая криминальная револющия" (the filmscript, and the book). Fairly often I found it appropriate to translate крутиться as "wheeling and dealing," which even is similar in its derivation, although I'm not against "hustle," either.
Он крутится. He's a wheeler-dealer.
Они крутятся потихоньку. They do a bit of wheeling and dealing on the side(lines).
В Одессе все крутятся, кто не дурак. Everybody in Odessa who's not a complete idiot does some wheeling and dealing.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 24 mins (2010-12-27 01:29:55 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
революция
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 1 hr (2010-12-27 02:44:18 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Now that you've revealed the context, I wouldn't propose either wheeling-dealing or hustling (although it's true that "to hustle" can be used in the non-criminal sense, say, in sports - but if you use it in an economic context it immediately starts to sound shady). There are other options.
I'd have to bust my ass twice as hard. Use "behind" or "rear end," if "ass" is too vulgar for the context.
I'd have to sweat twice as hard / sweat it twice as hard.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 13 hrs (2010-12-27 14:17:09 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Yes, "bust my chops" did also come to mind as I was falling asleep last night.
In the end, I decided to go with sweat it - as in "I would have to sweat it twice as hard" - which is just about perfect for what I want to say here. Of course, there is no indomitable Party line here and no one single "correct" answer. Many thanks to everyone for a great discussion. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Reference information:
A "hustle" can be illegal, but the word isn't always used to mean an illegal activity. See the second definition:
•sell something to or obtain something from by energetic and especially underhanded activity
•get by trying hard; "she hustled a free lunch from the waiter"
•bunco: a swindle in which you cheat at gambling or persuade a person to buy worthless property
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
6 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +4
hustling
Explanation: Automatic match popping up at least in my head. For ex.: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/hustling
has:
- To obtain something by deceitful or illicit means
- To sell or get by questionable or aggressive means
- An illicit or unethical way of doing business or obtaining money
My take on it anyway.
Kiwiland Bear New Zealand Local time: 13:22 Works in field Native speaker of: Russian PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Wow, that was fast, thanks. First, I found "hustling" a little too strong for my particular situation here, but then, on second thought, I realized I only got what I asked for, and it kind of works. What I am trying to say here (comparing food prices at home in Brooklyn and at a country store I recently visited in upstate New York) is that I'd have to hustle twice as hard if I had to pay that kind of prices for my daily groceries. Yeah, it works, even though freelance translation isn't strictly speaking a hustle. I should have thought of it myself, but didn't, so kudoz to you, kind sir. Many thanks.
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +4
