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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Life is not a potato.
I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's "My Wife". Is it a Russian saying, or merely an eccentricity of this character? And what does it mean? After all, who on earth, apart from a few beetles, does think life is a potato?
"Yes . . ." Ivan Ivanitch muttered inappropriately. "Burov, the merchant, must have four hundred thousand at least. I said to him: 'Hand over one or two thousand to the famine. You can't take it with you when you die, anyway.' He was offended. But we all have to die, you know. Death is not a potato."
Peasemarch.
"Yes . . ." Ivan Ivanitch muttered inappropriately. "Burov, the merchant, must have four hundred thousand at least. I said to him: 'Hand over one or two thousand to the famine. You can't take it with you when you die, anyway.' He was offended. But we all have to die, you know. Death is not a potato."
Peasemarch.
Top answer
[nq:1]I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's "My Wife". Is it a Russian saying, ... ' He was offended.
- [nq:1]I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's "My Wife".
- Is it a Russian saying, ...
- ' He was offended.
- But we all have to die, you know.
- "[/nq] Can we free-wheel on this?
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84 Answers
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[nq:1]I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's "My Wife". Is it a Russian saying, ... when you die, anyway.' He was offended. But we all have to die, you know. Death is not a potato."[/nq]
Can we free-wheel on this? Since we don't know what local sayings that Chekov may have been familiar with in his part of Russia, we can only speculate.
I'd go with that life o
Can we free-wheel on this? Since we don't know what local sayings that Chekov may have been familiar with in his part of Russia, we can only speculate.
I'd go with that life o
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[nq:1]I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's "MyWife". Is it a Russian saying, or ... when you die, anyway.' He was offended. But we all have to die, you know. Death is not a potato."[/nq]
I can't see the expression "life is not a potato".
Adrian
I can't see the expression "life is not a potato".
Adrian
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[nq:2]I was confused by the expression "life is not a ... have to die, you know. Death is not a potato."[/nq]
[nq:1]I can't see the expression "life is not a potato". Adrian[/nq]
Life. Death. You know, Nigel, in a way they are the same thing ...
John Dean
Oxford
[nq:1]I can't see the expression "life is not a potato". Adrian[/nq]
Life. Death. You know, Nigel, in a way they are the same thing ...
John Dean
Oxford
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[nq:1]I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's"My Wife". Is it a Russian saying, or ... when you die, anyway.' He was offended. But we all have to die, you know. Death is not a potato."[/nq]
I don't speak Russian but I believe in this context "potato" means trivial matter. So life (or death) is a serious thing.
I don't speak Russian but I believe in this context "potato" means trivial matter. So life (or death) is a serious thing.
00
Aforethought:
[nq:1]I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's"My Wife". Is it a Russian saying, or merely an eccentricity of this character?And what does it mean? After all, who on earth, apart from a few beetles, doesthink life is a potato?[/nq]
I don't believe it's a Russian saying, unless it's a poor translation. It's the translator's job to also convey the me
[nq:1]I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's"My Wife". Is it a Russian saying, or merely an eccentricity of this character?And what does it mean? After all, who on earth, apart from a few beetles, doesthink life is a potato?[/nq]
I don't believe it's a Russian saying, unless it's a poor translation. It's the translator's job to also convey the me
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On 26 Jan 2005 12:53:54 -0800, "Arcadian Rises"
Could've been translated "small potatoes", then. "Death ain't small potatoes" might be a bit too colorful (as well as the sort of transparent obviousness that might qualify the translator for a Bulwer-Lytton award), though.
Chris Green
Could've been translated "small potatoes", then. "Death ain't small potatoes" might be a bit too colorful (as well as the sort of transparent obviousness that might qualify the translator for a Bulwer-Lytton award), though.
Chris Green
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[nq:2]And what does it mean? After all, who on earth, apart from a few beetles, does think life is a potato?[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't believe it's a Russian saying, unless it's a poor translation. It's the translator's job to also convey the ... the Russian color, since peanuts, at least in Chekhov's times, were a delicacy, if not unheard of, in the countryside.[/nq]
Not just peanuts, but trifle
[nq:1]I don't believe it's a Russian saying, unless it's a poor translation. It's the translator's job to also convey the ... the Russian color, since peanuts, at least in Chekhov's times, were a delicacy, if not unheard of, in the countryside.[/nq]
Not just peanuts, but trifle
00
[nq:1]Arcadian Rises wrote[/nq]
[nq:2]I don't believe it's a Russian saying, unless it's a ... were a delicacy, if not unheard of, in the countryside.[/nq]
[nq:1]Not just peanuts, but trifles. Life is not a trifle, nor a triflingmatter. Nor is death. But the translator has ... a trifle". Neither of these translations is satisfactory, and he has offered us the one which he thinks least bad.
[nq:2]I don't believe it's a Russian saying, unless it's a ... were a delicacy, if not unheard of, in the countryside.[/nq]
[nq:1]Not just peanuts, but trifles. Life is not a trifle, nor a triflingmatter. Nor is death. But the translator has ... a trifle". Neither of these translations is satisfactory, and he has offered us the one which he thinks least bad.
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[nq:1]This interpretation isn't really making it for me. Look at theimmediate context: "But we all have to die, you know. ... potatoes, when they"die", sprout, and can be planted and produce new plants. On the other hand,when we die, we die.[/nq]
That's an interesting interpretation, which raises the fundamental question: when does the potato die? I believe, in your view it's before it starts
That's an interesting interpretation, which raises the fundamental question: when does the potato die? I believe, in your view it's before it starts
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[nq:1]I was confused by the expression "life is not a potato" in Chekhov's "My Wife". Is it a Russian saying, ... when you die, anyway.' He was offended. But we all have to die, you know. Death is not a potato."[/nq]
Looks like a matter of life and death.
William Golding (in "Free fall") said that freedom is like the taste of potatoes.
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
Looks like a matter of life and death.
William Golding (in "Free fall") said that freedom is like the taste of potatoes.
Steve Hayes from Tshwane, South Africa
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