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lclaroche · Joined: 16 Jun 2003 Posts: 21 Location: Seattle, USA

I just got this msg from a friend of mine who's a translator in Cuba. Though Cuban, she was raised partially in the US and speaks fluent English and is an excellent translator, but is stumped with this one! Anyone have the answer?!?

Chris

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Who can help me? In a movie translation I came to the phrase "to take the six-iron (or sixth-iron) to the green". I know it's related to golf, but since I'm a complete ignorant in golf I do not have the slightest idea of the meaning. If you do not know the figurative meaning, which would be the one I really need, maybe you can explain a bit: like is it absurd to use the sixth-iron in the green (which I gather is the lawn area?) or is it the perfect iron!

dduck · Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Posts: 422 Location: In the middle

Never been much of a golfer, but I imagine if you used a 6-iron on the green you'd probably get banned from the club. I can't imagine anyone using anything other than a putter. So, the expression means trying way too much to achieve something, I imagine. Never heard it before, myself.

Iain

Mark-O · Posted: Mon Oct 20, 2003 3:47 pm Post subject:

Yes, it definitely rings bells in my head. Dduck has it spot-on, I believe. Just out of curiosity, which film was it in? It sounds like a British turn of phrase.

Penelope Pitstop · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 11

As a golfer myself (British too), on a par 4 hole, the second shot would be with a 5 or 6 iron from the fairway, hopefully landing the ball on the green. Not the destructive 'tear the green up' with the wrong club scenario Wink

My take on the phrase is - a lucky shot, a means to an end, getting out of trouble, a near impossible feat.........

......depends on the actual context of the phrase in the OP