breath of their nostrils.

English translation: as vital as the air they breathe

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:breath of their nostrils.
Selected answer:as vital as the air they breathe
Entered by: S.J

21:16 Jan 24, 2021
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / breath of their nostrils.
English term or phrase: breath of their nostrils.
The traditions are the very breath of their nostrils.

Historian describes how meant the traditions for old people. Does he mean that's the traditions in their blood?

Thanks in advance,
S.J
Canada
Local time: 12:55
as vital as the air they breathe
Explanation:
This is how I read it: without traditions, a culture is doomed to failure. No culture, no history. Traditions like as vital as the air we breathe.

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Note added at 1 hr (2021-01-24 22:57:09 GMT)
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Correction: Traditions are as vital for a society as the air we breathe.
Selected response from:

Oliver Simões
United States
Local time: 09:55
Grading comment
Thank you.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +4as vital as the air they breathe
Oliver Simões


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
as vital as the air they breathe


Explanation:
This is how I read it: without traditions, a culture is doomed to failure. No culture, no history. Traditions like as vital as the air we breathe.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2021-01-24 22:57:09 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Correction: Traditions are as vital for a society as the air we breathe.

Oliver Simões
United States
Local time: 09:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 24
Grading comment
Thank you.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard
7 hrs

agree  Sarah Maidstone
7 hrs

agree  Alina Ionas
8 hrs

agree  Bashiqa
8 hrs

neutral  Yvonne Gallagher: "the traditions for old people" not necessarily "a culture is doomed to failure" //it's over-translation. Deal with the ST. It says zilch about culture
12 hrs
  -> I’ve never seen a culture without traditions. :-) That’s the point I was trying to make. // Not translation; text interpretation. Why not culture? History -> humans -> culture. I guess one could argue birds or apes have a history too; most unlikely here.
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