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входить в воронку

English translation: reach a dead end / run completely into the ground

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Russian term or phrase:входить в воронку
English translation:reach a dead end / run completely into the ground
Entered by: David Koppel

17:19 Mar 3, 2009
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Russian term or phrase: входить в воронку
The context relates to the following conversation between two persons about some goals of a religious imperium. Could the meaning of "входит в воронку" here be to "run into a blind alley"?

"Идея империи привлекательна своей стабильностью и обещанием процветания."
-"Но история нас учит, что все империи рано или поздно терпят крах".
-"Ничего, лет восемьсот нам хватит. Потом настанет конец света, и уже будет не до того."
-"Когда, по-вашему, придет час империи?"
-"При той скорости, с которой происходят события - через 10-15 лет. Когда система входит в воронку, любое действие только ухудшает ситуацию."
David Koppel
Denmark
Local time: 10:54
reaches a dead end / is run completely into the ground
Explanation:
I don't remember encountering this expression, but that's what it seems to imply in this context.

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Note added at 6 mins (2009-03-03 17:25:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Perhaps also 'set on a course of self-destruction'
Selected response from:

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 04:54
Grading comment
Thanks for the replies.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3goes down the pipe/drain
Paul Kachur
3 +2reaches a dead end / is run completely into the ground
Mark Berelekhis
5start descending in a whirl of (irreversible) degradation
DTSM
4 +1gets sucked into the vortex
Eric Candle
3gets caught in the quicksands of collapse
stasbetman


  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
reaches a dead end / is run completely into the ground


Explanation:
I don't remember encountering this expression, but that's what it seems to imply in this context.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2009-03-03 17:25:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Perhaps also 'set on a course of self-destruction'

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 04:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 136
Grading comment
Thanks for the replies.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jack Doughty: "Never" is a long time, someone will overtake it in the end.
9 mins
  -> Thank you, Jack. By the way, You're closing in on 10,000 in Ru-En -- a record that will never be broken :)
agree  Anna Fominykh
10 mins
  -> Thank you, Anna.
neutral  Alexandra Taggart: Powerful, but dull.
3 hrs
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
goes down the pipe/drain


Explanation:
"voronka" is a funnel, the image is that of liquid running down the drain

Paul Kachur
Germany
Local time: 10:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Viacheslav Tibilashvili: "...starts going down the drain..."
22 mins
agree  Rachel Douglas: "is going down the tube"
1 hr
agree  svetlana cosquéric
1 hr
neutral  Alexandra Taggart: I just cannot imagine the size of this drain hole looking at the map of RF. But the expression itself is very good.
3 hrs
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
start descending in a whirl of (irreversible) degradation


Explanation:
/

DTSM
Local time: 11:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Alexandra Taggart: Very good -" turbulance vortex" -great as an idea.
3 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
gets sucked into the vortex


Explanation:
Vortex as a nexus to the point of no return

Eric Candle
Local time: 04:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexandra Taggart: I would even say "Bermuda triangle vortex" , It is important to detect the humour.
16 mins
  -> thank you, Alexandra
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23 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
gets caught in the quicksands of collapse


Explanation:
quicksands - для связи со второй частью предложения, поскольку принцип тот же - лишние движения ухудшают положение

stasbetman
Ukraine
Local time: 11:54
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 4
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