Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
um ihr Letztes besorgt
English translation:
worried about what little they have left
Added to glossary by
Timoshka
Jul 22, 2023 02:57
10 mos ago
40 viewers *
German term
um ihr Letztes besorgt
German to English
Social Sciences
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
From a 1938 letter:
"Jetzt habe ich leider durch die Affaire mit Ihrem Bruder großen Kummer und Sorgen. Es ist nicht nur meine Sorge, sondern die Sorge einiger anständiger, unglücklicher Familien, die um ihr Letztes besorgt sind. Die Leute haben Ihren Bruder durch mich kennengelernt und ihm Vertrauen geschenkt. Jetzt denken Sie sich meine Situation, die Vorwürfe und bestürmende Anfragen."
In another part of the letter: "Ich habe ihm meine Freunde vorgestellt, die mit größtem Vertrauen ihm ihre Aufträge übergeben haben." The nature of these "Aufträge" is never specified, but I would assume they involve property and/or money.
So, does "um ihr Letztes besorgt" mean something like "concerned about their last penny/what little they have left," etc.?
"Jetzt habe ich leider durch die Affaire mit Ihrem Bruder großen Kummer und Sorgen. Es ist nicht nur meine Sorge, sondern die Sorge einiger anständiger, unglücklicher Familien, die um ihr Letztes besorgt sind. Die Leute haben Ihren Bruder durch mich kennengelernt und ihm Vertrauen geschenkt. Jetzt denken Sie sich meine Situation, die Vorwürfe und bestürmende Anfragen."
In another part of the letter: "Ich habe ihm meine Freunde vorgestellt, die mit größtem Vertrauen ihm ihre Aufträge übergeben haben." The nature of these "Aufträge" is never specified, but I would assume they involve property and/or money.
So, does "um ihr Letztes besorgt" mean something like "concerned about their last penny/what little they have left," etc.?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 1 +2 | worried about what little they have left |
andres-larsen
|
Proposed translations
+2
10 hrs
andres-larsen
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Works in: Spanish to English, English to Spanish, German to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
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4
Selected
worried about what little they have left
"Now, unfortunately, I have a great deal of grief and concern over the affair with your brother. It's not just my concern, it's the concern of some decent, unfortunate families who are worried about what little they have left. People got to know your brother through me and put their trust in him. Now imagine my situation, the accusations and overwhelming inquiries."
What is the meaning of "what little I have left."? - HiNative
https://hinative.com › ... › Have
17 jun. 2020 — “little i have left” would usually be “i have little left” this means you don't have a lot of that specific thing for example money.
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Note added at 2 days 11 hrs (2023-07-24 14:15:11 GMT) Post-grading
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Glad to have been of help! Happy hunting.
What is the meaning of "what little I have left."? - HiNative
https://hinative.com › ... › Have
17 jun. 2020 — “little i have left” would usually be “i have little left” this means you don't have a lot of that specific thing for example money.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days 11 hrs (2023-07-24 14:15:11 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
Glad to have been of help! Happy hunting.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Adrian MM.
: Letzerl in wienerisch also means 'Näscherei, Abschiedsgeschenk'. Turning to die Aufträge, I think these could be 'obligs./ritual errands' https://www2.proz.com/kudoz/yiddish-to-english/general-conve...
2 hrs
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Thanks, also for your peer comment.
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| agree |
Michael Martin, MA
: You're on the right track. Tweak it a little, though: "scared to lose all they had left"
7 hrs
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Thanks, also for your peer comment.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
Discussion
https://www2.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/philosophy/713...
...you should bookmark the following page: https://woerterbuchnetz.de/#0
Like the Jewish Encyclopedia and the DWDS, this page can be a big help. Bavarian:
"letzter Rest
Sachgruppen
...
2
ganzes Vermögen
..."
https://bdo.badw.de/suche?lemma=Letztes&stichwort=&options[case]=1&options[exact]=1
My assumption: Ihr Letztes = Ihr Erspartes
They trusted the brother she mentions; now, considering the affair (and all the half-truth or lies involved, I guess), they don't know whether their "Aufträge" will ever be completed and the money for them is gone.
Best wishes