Apr 19, 2000 20:27
24 yrs ago
German term
Tom Funke
...haben kräftig daran verdient.
German to English
Other
Meaning/translation IN THIS CONTEXT? -- General context: A skit (spoof, with overtones of a roast) concerning the real life of executive directors of corporations. -- Specific context, after a change of scene: >>[Sprecher]: Der Alltag mit all seinen dezentralen Anforderungen fordert lokal seinen Tribut. Herr X und Herr Y haben kräftig daran verdient. Herr Z ist inzwischen in xxxx eingetroffen.> ...have made the best of it.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
6 hrs
Selected
profited handsomly
well, you have a lot to choose from. I agree that an explict reference to money is inappropriate, but the literal meaning is of course 'to earn (money)', and that should be retained. but the ambiguity of the figurative meaning should also be present.
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Wow, what a prolific bunch of helpers! Thanks to all for your instructive answers. All of the answers had merit, but only one could be awarded points. So I considered the broader context: The tone of this sketch is very tongue-in-cheek throughout, and neither the CEO nor any of the other executive board members in the story (who will also be in the audience) is spared by the satirical wit of the script. So 3 points go to the answers that IMO best acknowledged the potential for ambiguity in the passage. (I wish I had more points to award to more of your answers.) BTW I went with: >> Narrator: Elsewhere, everyday life with its diverse local needs must go on. XX and YY have had a very good day. Meanwhile, ZZ has arrived in xxxxxx."
33 mins
Carmen Berelson
United States
United States
Native in German
United States
20 years in legal/financial
Native in: German 
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
86
...made good money on it.
I think this simply refers to making money as an executive. I don't think "Made the best of it" is correct.
54 mins
Addendum about "making money": ...I'm not so sure !
Remember, this skit is a spoof and a roast. In the text I've translated in the meantime, the CEO is sending them all urgent emails about silly projects he's dreamed up while he's vacationing on the beach. They're all passing the buck with executive-speak excuses, while they're really at their favorite ski slope or piling whipped cream on their Sachertorte or whatever.
2 hrs
Hartmut Lau
United States
United States
United States
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
10
Actually, I like your "made the best of it."
Perhaps "took full advantage of" may be a way to go. It does not seem to refer to money income, but to psychic income - eg: a local "Anforderung" might be "being forced to" look out the office window and admire the pretty girls on the beach.
2 hrs
Nina Gettler
Austria
Austria
Native in English
Austria
experienced and dependable
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
36
to profit from
I don't think that "made the best of it" is correct. "An etwas verdienen" does usually mean to make money on, however, in this case, I think that "they profited quite handsomely from it" would fit, esp. since it could also encompass profit that was not just monetary.
Hope this helps.
Hope this helps.
3 hrs
Jutta Schandel
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in German
United Kingdom
ITI Associate with 20+ years experience
Native in: German (Variants: Germany, Austrian, Swiss)
Works in: English to German, Dutch to German, German to English, and 1 more.
...have made a tidy profit.
Hope that is "colloquial" enough for your story!
3 hrs
"made a killing on it" or "made money hand over fist on it" or "profited handsomely from it" or...
"haben kräftig daran verdient" is almost always used here to mean making money hand over fist. If, however, from your further translation you learn for sure that they do not mean money or money only, you might use "profited handsomely from it" or "enjoyed the benefits of it".
4 hrs
Have made a bundle/taken advantage of it
In the snippet you have given us, I don't see "make the best of it" as fitting. Unless there is something in the greater context tht makes you absolutely sure that the normal definition is not correct (for this text, I would translate it as "make a bundle"), then you might consider "take advantage of it." IMO it is midway between the normal definition and your gut feeling. HTH, Will
4 hrs
made the best of it, made a handsome profit on it, made a killing on it,
"haben kräftig daran verdient" has definitely to do with profit, usually, if not always, with money.
It is a somewhat, but not too colloquial expression, also businessmen intern speech. If you do not want to refer directly to money profit, leave your "...made the best of it", it fits pretty well and transfers the ironic undertone of the scene.
All the best.
It is a somewhat, but not too colloquial expression, also businessmen intern speech. If you do not want to refer directly to money profit, leave your "...made the best of it", it fits pretty well and transfers the ironic undertone of the scene.
All the best.
4 hrs
have/ had been raking in the cash
I don't think "verdient" can seen in the sense you suggest. In connection with the word "kräftig" it obviously means money. The way it is put even hints at ill gotten gains.
Reference:
5 hrs
Joseph Hovan
Germany
Germany
Germany
You get what you pay for! No surprises!
Works in: German to English, Italian to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
2
"earned a fortune" "have struck gold" "have made a killing"
The phrase is indeed colloquial and not literary and has overtones of sarcasm. I like "have struck gold" because it reminds me of "golddiggers" or "speculators". Best Regards, J. Hovan
Something went wrong...