Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
viel(es) bewegen
English translation:
make every effort to ... / do a lot to ... / go to great lengths to ... / move mountains to ...
Added to glossary by
Ulrike Kraemer
May 26, 2009 11:09
15 yrs ago
6 viewers *
German term
Germany
Combining technical expertise and style
Native in: German 
Works in: English to German, German to English
viel(es) bewegen
German to English
Bus/Financial
Human Resources
"XXX (name of company) bewegt viel(es), um den Mitarbeitern ein motivierendes Arbeitsumfeld zu bieten."
This is from an article in a company newspaper/magazine reporting about an award they've received for being a good employer.
There are several entries in the KOG referring to "etwas bewegen" or "in Bewegung bringen" but I'm not really happy with any of them.
Creative input much appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance.
This is from an article in a company newspaper/magazine reporting about an award they've received for being a good employer.
There are several entries in the KOG referring to "etwas bewegen" or "in Bewegung bringen" but I'm not really happy with any of them.
Creative input much appreciated. Thanks a lot in advance.
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
May 27, 2009 11:59: Ulrike Kraemer changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/104447">Ulrike Kraemer's</a> old entry - "viel(es) bewegen"" to ""make every effort to ... / do a lot to ... / go to great lengths to ...""
Proposed translations
+6
13 mins
Denise Dewey-Muno
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Specializes in field
Germany
Idiomatic and clear
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
does a lot
Means something along the lines of "does a lot/ great deal" for staff, although that sounds rather vague. Perhaps you could use "works hard" or "strives":
- XXX does a great deal to create a motivated working environment for staff/ to offer staff a motivated working environment.
- XXX undertakes a great deal to create a motivated working environment for staff/ to offer staff a motivated working environment.
- XXX works hard to create a motivated working environment for staff/ to offer staff a motivated working environment.
- XXX strives to create a motivated working environment for staff/ to offer staff a motivated working environment.
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Note added at 15 mins (2009-05-26 11:24:24 GMT)
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Or perhaps you could also use "endeavour" or "makes every effort".
- XXX does a great deal to create a motivated working environment for staff/ to offer staff a motivated working environment.
- XXX undertakes a great deal to create a motivated working environment for staff/ to offer staff a motivated working environment.
- XXX works hard to create a motivated working environment for staff/ to offer staff a motivated working environment.
- XXX strives to create a motivated working environment for staff/ to offer staff a motivated working environment.
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Note added at 15 mins (2009-05-26 11:24:24 GMT)
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Or perhaps you could also use "endeavour" or "makes every effort".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Susan Welsh
: I prefer any of these "plain vanilla" answers to the others submitted, which seem to be "over the top" (too much) for improving an industrial worksite. However, they COULD be valid, if the company were really doing a HUGE amount (like providing a day
12 mins
|
| agree |
Stephen Sadie
: indeed, KISS (keep it short and simple)
17 mins
|
| agree |
maja.freelan (X)
: I like your answer. It's how I would translate it as well.
1 hr
|
| agree |
robin25
1 hr
|
| agree |
casper (X)
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Inge Meinzer
5 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Several good answers here, as usual. I was tempted to use Alan's suggestion but decided to go with "makes every effort" in the end because I think it fits the overall register better. I also liked "goes to great lengths" and will include it in the glossary. Many thanks to you all for your help."
+1
8 mins
polyglot45
Native in English
Native in: English 
, French
Works in: English to French, French to English, German to French, and 4 more.
bends over backwards//pulls out the stops
does its utmost/moves mountains and so on...
19 mins
invest huge efforts
the company invests huge efforts......
meaning that the company is doing a lot or very much engaged in order to create a good working environment for the employees.
meaning that the company is doing a lot or very much engaged in order to create a good working environment for the employees.
25 mins
Martin Wenzel
Germany
Germany
Native in German
&
English
Germany
Never lost in translation
Native in: German , English
Works in: English to German, German to English, French to English, and 4 more.
puts its back into providing
if it was "setzt alles in Bewegung" I would agree with bends over backwards as suggested by polyglot...
Another English idiom would be: Draws the bow up to the ear...
The German equivalent would be "sich ins Zeug legen"...
"Does a lot" renders it perfectly in my opinion, except it does sound a bit trite in English...
Another English idiom would be: Draws the bow up to the ear...
The German equivalent would be "sich ins Zeug legen"...
"Does a lot" renders it perfectly in my opinion, except it does sound a bit trite in English...
30 mins
BrigitteHilgner
Austria
Austria
Native in German
Austria
b2b/economics/marketing/market research/
Native in: German
Works in: German to English, French to German, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
96
We do our utmost / we do our best / we move heaven and earth
Hallo Ulrike,
ich bin sicher, jemand kommt mit der zündenden Idee, von der wir dann alle sagen: Genau, das is'es! Bis dahin einfach ein paar Gedankenanstöße ... Liebe Grüße ins Rheinland!
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Note added at 33 mins (2009-05-26 11:42:11 GMT)
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Oder ganz umstellen: Offering a motivating environment ... is one of our key objectives
ich bin sicher, jemand kommt mit der zündenden Idee, von der wir dann alle sagen: Genau, das is'es! Bis dahin einfach ein paar Gedankenanstöße ... Liebe Grüße ins Rheinland!
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Note added at 33 mins (2009-05-26 11:42:11 GMT)
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Oder ganz umstellen: Offering a motivating environment ... is one of our key objectives
Note from asker:
| Danke, Brigitte. Ebenso liebe und (noch) sonnige Grüße nach Wien! |
+2
3 hrs
moves mountains
Given that you've now said that the client is a construction machinery manufacturer, I think my previous example of moving mountains (earg moving machines) may be appropriate.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-05-26 14:25:11 GMT)
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I don't think much of the 'plain Jane' (or James - take your pick) or the KISS (keep it short and simple) replies in a case like this. Every client is individual and doesn't want utterly boring marketing text, even, or especially, in their own company rag.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-05-26 14:26:00 GMT)
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Blimey: _earth_ moving machines
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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-05-26 14:25:11 GMT)
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I don't think much of the 'plain Jane' (or James - take your pick) or the KISS (keep it short and simple) replies in a case like this. Every client is individual and doesn't want utterly boring marketing text, even, or especially, in their own company rag.
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Note added at 3 hrs (2009-05-26 14:26:00 GMT)
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Blimey: _earth_ moving machines
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Stephen Sadie
: I would honestly use this for "Berge versetzen"
10 mins
|
|
I would honestly use it for that, too, which doesn't mean you can't (dis)honestly use it for something else. Translation is not a world of 1-1 equivalents. Don't y'know.
|
|
| agree |
Lirka
: I like it. Esp. since they are in the construction business...
1 hr
|
| agree |
Helen Shiner
: Very nice - and fun marketing copy, too, which I agree is what is called for here.
2 hrs
|
+2
4 hrs
is going to great length...
....in providing outstanding work conditions
moving mountains and bending over backwards rings a bit of desperation to please
moving mountains and bending over backwards rings a bit of desperation to please
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Helen Shiner
: goes to great lengths
39 mins
|
| agree |
Stephen Sadie
: with helen here, also a very good solution
2 hrs
|
Discussion
Not that I'm very good at this kind of thing, but it may help to know what the company actually does. That could provide clues for a free translation for the more imaginative among us. You know, like Blah-di-Blah moves mountains for an earth moving company.