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Glossary entry

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)
3 (because he was) otherwise facing jail-time for numerous crimes
4 faced with conviction(s) for all types of offences
4 -1 In view of all the crimes he would otherwise have had to face, he made off with the money
3 After amassing numerous other convictions, [...]
Change log

Mar 1, 2010 17:19: Bernhard Sulzer Created KOG entry

Discussion

Bernhard Sulzer Feb 24, 2010:
@Timoshka Thank you for confirming "hatte".
Bernhard Sulzer Feb 23, 2010:
@Johanna: your question: nachdem = weil? Hi, Johanna. I didn't have a problem with "because" or "in view of/upon." Your link also confirms it. I am not quite sure what you are asking. Just wondering.
Johanna Timm, PhD Feb 23, 2010:
nachdem=weil? http://de.thefreedictionary.com/nachdem
Timoshka (asker) Feb 23, 2010:
Hello. Although written in old German script, the handwriting is crystal clear: "Nachdem er sonst noch allerlei abzusitzen hatte, hat er sich mit dem Gelde aus dem Staube gemacht."
Bernhard Sulzer Feb 23, 2010:
@Timoshka Hi. Is it hatte or hätte? Would make a slight difference. If it is "hatte", in my opinion, you can interpret it as" because otherwise he was facing quite a lot of jail-time (taking allerlei here as the time he would have to be in jail), he took the money and ran..."
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.

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
--------------------

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
Something went wrong...
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 :)
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"
disagree Jon Fedler : with British Dian. A criminal faces prosecution and conviction, not crimes
9 hrs
Something went wrong...
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.
Something went wrong...
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...?
Something went wrong...
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