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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

At the foot of the bridge

English answer:

at either end of the bridge

Added to glossary by Taylor Kirk
May 5, 2008 00:52
16 yrs ago
10 viewers *
English term

At the foot of the bridge

English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings Idiom
The expression "at the foot of the bridge" refers to the bridge ends or to its pillars, or both?

In other words, if something is said to be "at the foot of the bridge", will it be on one of the shores, or underneath the bridge near on of its columns, or the idiom is ambiguous and can be both?

http://www.google.com/search?q="at the foot of the bridge"

Thank you!
Responses
5 +3 at either end of the bridge
5 +2 depends on the shape, form of construction and position of the bridge wrt the surrounding landscape
3 +1 at the base of the bridge
Change log

May 5, 2008 01:33: Alain Dellepiane changed "Field (specific)" from "Automotive / Cars & Trucks" to "Idioms / Maxims / Sayings"

May 7, 2008 19:27: Taylor Kirk changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/617376">grigua's</a> old entry - "At the foot of the bridge"" to ""at either end of the bridge""

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (1): mediamatrix (X)

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Discussion

lexical May 6, 2008:
It seems to me to be a perfectly reasonable question which, subject to some uncertainty, is susceptible to an answer. I'm not sure why some colleagues feel the need to make a big scene over it.
grigua (asker) May 5, 2008:
(We are two colleagues working together...)
grigua (asker) May 5, 2008:
Explaining again: Game strings are created in english to fit different contexts: the game system could apply "take the blue one" to a ball, a car, or else. I cannot know where it's exactly used, only that I must create a translation that always works.

As stated above, in the present case I need to know from a native speaker if the expression "at the foot of the bridge" is used to refer A) Only to the bridge ends B) Only the bridge pillars C) For both.

After which I will create my translation. Sorry for not explaining these details every time, I just try to save everybody's time.
KathyT May 5, 2008:
Gosh, was that just a coincidence, or is there a case of duplicate profiles happening here? :-o
Jennifer Levey May 5, 2008:
Info: This question has been reported to a moderator for irregular use of the KudoZ system.
Trudy Peters May 5, 2008:
What's the connection to "automotive," "cars & trucks?"
grigua (asker) May 5, 2008:
"To sum up and close the matter: No, I don't have any more context, please don't ask for it. If you feel you can't help without it, alas, you can't help. But that's ok, really."
Jennifer Levey May 5, 2008:
"Out of the blue" is not 'context' - alors pas de reponse possible.
grigua (asker) May 5, 2008:
No context. The quesiton is: if someone told you "it's at the foot of the bridge" out of the blue, what would you think?

http://www.proz.com/forum/kudoz/58508-kudoz_localization_and...
Alain Dellepiane May 5, 2008:
No context. The quesiton is: if someone told you "it's at the foot of the bridge" out of the blue, what would you think?

http://www.proz.com/forum/kudoz/58508-kudoz_localization_and...
Jennifer Levey May 5, 2008:
Your link gives 38,500 google hits. Which one - of all those - is the real subject of your question? In any case, there's no 'idiom' here.
grigua (asker) May 5, 2008:
*Native speakers only, please*

Responses

+3
2 hrs
Selected

at either end of the bridge

The entrance on each side, where someone first steps onto it.
Peer comment(s):
agree Egil Presttun : I can confirm that it (at least sometimes) means just that.
47 mins
agree NancyLynn : I use it all the time to describe the on-ramp to the Seaway International Bridge.
9 hrs
agree lexical : That would be how I would interpret it if asked "out of the blue".
1 day 15 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanx to everyone who contributed in a useful and constructive way!"
+1
1 hr

at the base of the bridge

As a native speaker, that's the first thing I think of. But I realize that's as vague as the term you're asking about, and for good reason. I wouldn't say "at the foot of the bridge." I'd say "at the end of the bridge" or "under the bridge" (there's a Rod Hot Chili Peppers song with that title in fact). If I heard "at the foot of the bridge," I'd guess I'd assume the bridge was tiny, some sort of footbridge, and there was some way to get below it.

Mostly I'd just be confused.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2008-05-05 02:47:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I do notice, and this is very interesting to me, that your Google hits show many, many uses of this term, and nearly all of them from a quickish glance, seem to be in the eastern and southern US. It could very well be a regional term. They all seem to be using it to mean "at the end of the bridge" or "at the edge of the bridge [as you reach the other side]".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-05-05 03:15:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Why not use a term that all English speakers will understand? Such as "edge of the bridge" and "end of the bridge"?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2008-05-05 03:55:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think it's probably what taylorreigne says. "Foot of the bed" is a common phrase for "edge/end of the bed". Some people use the same formulation for bridges, I guess. Unless it's clear they're talking about something under the bridge, I think it's safe to assume it means the end of a bridge.
Note from asker:
Cheers Brett! I forgot to mention: the text was written in Australia, so it might be a bit off standard Us/Uk parlance. Anyone from the area can confirm Brett's analysis?
Als, I can't change it. I can only try to reproduce the same meaning in my translation (if I manage to nail it...)
Peer comment(s):
agree Krisztina Lelik : http://www.corrosion-doctors.org/Arts/bridge-foot.htm
6 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
10 hrs

depends on the shape, form of construction and position of the bridge wrt the surrounding landscape

No context - no sure answer.
Peer comment(s):
agree Mikhail Kropotov : Who are you kidding? You're obviously frustrated. If you weren't, you wouldn't be reporting this question for "irregular use of KudoZ" and posting your answer.
13 hrs
I'm neither confused nor frustrated. I'm annoyed by asker's attitude. *Everything* has context, *always*.
agree Phong Le
18 hrs
Something went wrong...
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