Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Nachdem er sonst noch allerlei abzusitzen hatte
English translation:
(because he was) otherwise facing jail-time for numerous crimes
Added to glossary by
Bernhard Sulzer
Feb 23, 2010 18:49
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
Nachdem er sonst noch allerlei abzusitzen hatte
German to English
Social Sciences
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
In an old letter, dated 1925, a writer in Germany warns relatives in the U.S. about another relative who may seek refuge with the American relatives. The person in question was apparently involved in fraudulent business practices and had absconded with a large sum of money. As the writer puts it: "Nachdem er sonst noch allerlei abzusitzen hatte, hat er sich mit dem Gelde aus dem Staube gemacht."
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Mar 1, 2010 17:19: Bernhard Sulzer Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
1 day 6 mins
Selected
(because he was) otherwise facing jail-time for numerous crimes
or:
he otherwise had to face up to several other crimes/all kinds of crimes
...all sorts of crimes/offenses (offences)
or, as Jonathan put it: faced with...
or:
because he (knew for certain that he) had to spend time in jail for several crimes
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The question is : if he was convicted, why was he not already in jail?
I think he wasn't convicted but would have been, so it's more in the sense of:
it was clear to him and his family he would have had to do jail-time
he knew he had this coming to him, so he took the money and ran
PS: "allerlei" does most likely refer to "various" crimes/offences
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Note added at 1 day12 mins (2010-02-24 19:02:19 GMT)
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"absitzen" clearly relates to "jail-time"
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Note added at 1 day27 mins (2010-02-24 19:16:41 GMT)
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alternatives for jail-time:
incarceration, prison sentence
he otherwise had to face up to several other crimes/all kinds of crimes
...all sorts of crimes/offenses (offences)
or, as Jonathan put it: faced with...
or:
because he (knew for certain that he) had to spend time in jail for several crimes
--------------------
The question is : if he was convicted, why was he not already in jail?
I think he wasn't convicted but would have been, so it's more in the sense of:
it was clear to him and his family he would have had to do jail-time
he knew he had this coming to him, so he took the money and ran
PS: "allerlei" does most likely refer to "various" crimes/offences
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day12 mins (2010-02-24 19:02:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
"absitzen" clearly relates to "jail-time"
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day27 mins (2010-02-24 19:16:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
alternatives for jail-time:
incarceration, prison sentence
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Vielen Dank!"
-1
3 mins
In view of all the crimes he would otherwise have had to face, he made off with the money
my ideas ..
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: I like that
19 mins
|
thanks Ingeborg :)
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disagree |
British Diana
: Surely he doesn't have to face the crimes, but the punishments?
24 mins
|
well they are linked so a fine line but ok :) In reviewing this one I think the problem is with "hatte" ... might be "hätte"
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disagree |
Jon Fedler
: with British Dian. A criminal faces prosecution and conviction, not crimes
9 hrs
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19 mins
German term (edited):
Nachdem er sonst noch allerlei abzusitzen hatte, [...]
After amassing numerous other convictions, [...]
...or something like "After being sentenced (to incarceration) for numerous other crimes, [...]."
I read it to mean that he not only committed the crimes, but had also already been convicted.
I read it to mean that he not only committed the crimes, but had also already been convicted.
9 hrs
faced with conviction(s) for all types of offences
Alternatives
One could maybe leave out 'after' or 'after being'
For a little drama, how about 'confronted with...?
One could maybe leave out 'after' or 'after being'
For a little drama, how about 'confronted with...?
Discussion
But the way it is written, it could also mean:
because he had to do/was scheduled for some jail-time for several other crimes/was already convicted for several other crimes, he took off with the money.
The question is though: if he was convicted, why was he not already in jail?
If the word would be "hätte" one could say 'would have had to face up for several other crimes/all kinds of crimes/ would have had to be in jail for quite a while....etc.