“He isn’t rushing back into the cut and thrust of the game any time soon”

VANESSA CLARK betrachtet Worte und Wendungen, deren Übersetzung nicht immer ganz einfach ist.

USAGE

The phrase cut and thrust is used to describe a competitive situation, especially in which the competition is strong and dynamic, such as in a fight or a battle.

The “cut and thrust” of football can happen directly on the pitch, but there is also “cut and thrust” in the competitive world of football management.

A common use of the phrase is “the cut and thrust of politics”, which describes the fierce powerplay between different political parties. A businessperson might talk about “the cut and thrust of the business world” or “the cut and thrust of international finance”, while a lawyer might refer to “the cut and thrust of the courtroom”.

The German translation of the phrase, needless to say, depends on its context. In politics or in a heated debate, you might use the term Schlagabtausch. When talking about sports, as in our example above, Getümmel or Gefecht could be a better choice. Depending on whether the cut and thrust is seen as positive or negative, your translation of it might range from Meinungsaustausch to Hauen und Stechen.

BACKGROUND

The phrase “cut and thrust” comes from the language of sword fighting. The “cut” is a slashing movement with the sword, while the “thrust” is a push forward with its point. The phrase brings to mind images of medieval knights fighting with swords, two gentlemen duelling at dawn or, in more modern times, fencers competing for Olympic gold.