задеть рогами провода

English translation: the antlers catching on the overhead wire

15:13 Aug 12, 2015
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Printing & Publishing
Russian term or phrase: задеть рогами провода
This is included in part of a description about the breve above a lower-case й. The sentence is:

Над строчной й значок можно ставить, не опасаясь задеть рогами провода.

From the context, I would say that it means something like "without fear of its antlers touching the letter" (i.e. it can be placed higher on a lower-case й than an upper-case Й), but I could be well off the mark. I can't work out what the word провод is doing there. Unless провод refers to the line above and so it means something more like "without fearing of its antlers touching the line above".

All suggestions most gratefully received!

Thanks in advance :)
Nicky Brown
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:59
English translation:the antlers catching on the overhead wire
Explanation:
IMHO, the metaphor works in English just as well. Native speakers know better, of course

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Note added at 3 hrs (2015-08-12 18:20:36 GMT)
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catching *in*, perhaps
Selected response from:

Vladimir Zakharov
Russian Federation
Local time: 20:59
Grading comment
Thanks, Vladimir. I think using "overhead wire" in this particular context would not necessarily be taken as a metaphor but more literally, although your answer was very helpful. And I like "catching on" very much :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4be beyond the set boundary
OWatts
3the antlers catching on the overhead wire
Vladimir Zakharov


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
be beyond the set boundary


Explanation:
I think the author means to say that this type of breve (the Cyrillic one) is easier to use than the Latin one. The Cyrillic breve is smaller so, if you use it, you won't have to worry that it may be beyond the set boundary. The phrase “задеть рогами провода” is used metaphorically here.

OWatts
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:59
Native speaker of: Russian
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the antlers catching on the overhead wire


Explanation:
IMHO, the metaphor works in English just as well. Native speakers know better, of course

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2015-08-12 18:20:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

catching *in*, perhaps

Vladimir Zakharov
Russian Federation
Local time: 20:59
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks, Vladimir. I think using "overhead wire" in this particular context would not necessarily be taken as a metaphor but more literally, although your answer was very helpful. And I like "catching on" very much :)
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