息巻くしか能がないのだろう

[zeroh4nter]

Appreciates if someone could explain what does 息巻くしか能がないのだろう mean here in a novel.
Context: A bandit boss with his gang is being surrounded by the castle guard (kind of like police), when he and his gang is carrying gold outside of a bank. (it seems the human in this world use demon and monster race as soldiers/guards ?)
ドラムス(Bandit Boss)「おれは、おめえらみたいな馬鹿と裏切り者に捕まる趣味は ねえんだ。城の守備隊に入るなんざ、魔族の風上にも置けねえ野郎だぜ」
魔族兵Ｂ(Castle guard member)「うるせえ！ おとなしくお縄をちょうだいしやがれ！」
魔族兵が怒鳴り返す。
相変わらずうるさい連中だとドラムスは思った。守備隊の隊長が不在だから、息巻くしか能がないのだろう。

 

[SomeCallMeChris]

This is just the primary meanings of the words with the しか・ない grammar, with the softening のだろう making it a colloquial observation rather than a flat statement of fact.

息巻く１ 激しく言いまくる。気炎をあげる。

https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/息巻く/#jn-10479

能 １ ある物事をなしとげる力。はたらき。能力。

https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/能/#jn-171193

"Seems like they have no ability to do anything except talk big."

 

[SomeCallMeChris]

Appreciates if someone could explain what does 息巻くしか能がないのだろう mean here in a novel.
Context: A bandit boss with his gang is being surrounded by the castle guard (kind of like police), when he and his gang is carrying gold outside of a bank. (it seems the human in this world use demon and monster race as soldiers/guards ?)
ドラムス(Bandit Boss)「おれは、おめえらみたいな馬鹿と裏切り者に捕まる趣味は ねえんだ。城の守備隊に入るなんざ、魔族の風上にも置けねえ野郎だぜ」
魔族兵Ｂ(Castle guard member)「うるせえ！ おとなしくお縄をちょうだいしやがれ！」
魔族兵が怒鳴り返す。
相変わらずうるさい連中だとドラムスは思った。守備隊の隊長が不在だから、息巻くしか能がないのだろう。

I answered this a little while ago here Need a word or phrase translated? but the question seems to have disappeared from that thread.

 

[zeroh4nter]

re post your answer in this new topic, in case people need to learn JP in the future
This is just the primary meanings of the words with the しか・ない grammar, with the softening のだろう making it a colloquial observation rather than a flat statement of fact.

息巻く１ 激しく言いまくる。気炎をあげる。

https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/息巻く/#jn-10479

能 １ ある物事をなしとげる力。はたらき。能力。

https://dictionary.goo.ne.jp/word/能/#jn-171193

"Seems like they have no ability to do anything except talk big."

 

[Toritoribe]

I answered this a little while ago here Need a word or phrase translated? but the question seems to have disappeared from that thread.

I moved the post probably while you were writing the reply. Sorry for that!

 

[SomeCallMeChris]

I moved the post probably while you were writing the reply. Sorry for that!

No worries. Thanks for keeping the forums organized.