Feb 17, 2008 14:08
17 yrs ago
6 viewers *
German term
United Kingdom
For the Love of Language
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
ins Wasser fallen
German to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Book title
I'm translating the blurb for a children's book. The title of the book is "Als Weihnachten fast ins Wasser fiel" and the blurb runs as follows:
"Dass Weihnachten ins Wasser fällt, das hätte der einsame Leuchtturmwärter Claus am liebsten. Doch als der Weihnachtsmann und sein Rentier auf dem Dach des Leuchtturms notlanden, kommt alles anders: Claus soll dem Weihnachtsmann beim Einsammeln der Geschenke helfen. Kaum zu glauben, denn Claus entdeckt dabei die Freude am Weihnachtsfest wieder!"
I'd like to find a translation for "ins Wasser fallen" that works with the literal meaning and the lighthouse imagery as well as the figurative one but at the moment I'm at a bit of a loss. Anybody feeling inspired?
"Dass Weihnachten ins Wasser fällt, das hätte der einsame Leuchtturmwärter Claus am liebsten. Doch als der Weihnachtsmann und sein Rentier auf dem Dach des Leuchtturms notlanden, kommt alles anders: Claus soll dem Weihnachtsmann beim Einsammeln der Geschenke helfen. Kaum zu glauben, denn Claus entdeckt dabei die Freude am Weihnachtsfest wieder!"
I'd like to find a translation for "ins Wasser fallen" that works with the literal meaning and the lighthouse imagery as well as the figurative one but at the moment I'm at a bit of a loss. Anybody feeling inspired?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 1 | on the rocks |
Hilary Davies Shelby
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| 3 +2 | splash-land |
David Moore (X)
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| 4 | goes down the drain |
Vito Smolej
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| 3 +1 | when Christmas was [almost] washed out |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
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| 4 | to be a flop |
Catherine Eising (X)
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| 3 | take a nosedive (or) do a bellyflop |
LP Schumacher
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| 3 | to be a wash-out/go down the plug hole |
CMJ_Trans (X)
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| 3 | to be dead in the water |
S Ben Price
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| 3 | "could be rained off" |
Stephen Gobin
|
| 3 | because of bad weather |
Stephen Gobin
|
| 3 -1 | Mayday from Christmas |
Anne Schulz
|
Proposed translations
21 hrs
Hilary Davies Shelby
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
German and "Geek" to English!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
Selected
on the rocks
This might be pushing it a bit, but I'm thinking along the lines of:
For Claus, the lonely lighthouse keeper, Christmas was on the rocks. [He just wasn't feeling festive] ....
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Note added at 21 hrs (2008-02-18 11:25:04 GMT)
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You might have to add something to it, as I've done in brackets!
For Claus, the lonely lighthouse keeper, Christmas was on the rocks. [He just wasn't feeling festive] ....
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Note added at 21 hrs (2008-02-18 11:25:04 GMT)
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You might have to add something to it, as I've done in brackets!
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Kcda
: Why? Claus drinks whisky "on the rocks" like - James Bond? The days when Sean Connery was acting as James it was a common expressions, phrase etc... The "rocks" are figurative: ice cubes in the glass surrounded by whisky./Wasn't my intention to confuse!?
53 mins
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I'm confused..."on the rocks" means "to be going badly", and is a shipwreck metaphor. It's fitting here as Claus is a lighthouse keeper - someone who would prevent this from happening.
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Hilary - I might go off in another direction altogether but this metaphor has given me something to work on! :o)"
+2
22 mins
splash-land
How about "When Christmas nearly splash-landed" for your title?
Just an idea to get the ball tolling...
Just an idea to get the ball tolling...
59 mins
LP Schumacher
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
Raising the standard, one word at a time
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
4
take a nosedive (or) do a bellyflop
This can't top David's "spash landing," but for the sake of having a selection, I'll offer these two related terms.
I don't believe "bellyflop" is used in the figurative sense nearly as often as "nosedive;" but the concept of someone's Christmas "being a flop" is common enough, I suppose.
I don't believe "bellyflop" is used in the figurative sense nearly as often as "nosedive;" but the concept of someone's Christmas "being a flop" is common enough, I suppose.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Kcda
: The word "flop" is all right to build on. IMO "flop" would work. Example: this christmas was almost going to turn out to be a flop for Claus. Nosedive: in a hurry,eager etc... could maybe work. Bellyflop? In my opinion (IMO) no way!
8 hrs
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(IMO) Thanks! ;)
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1 hr
Vito Smolej
Germany
Germany
Germany
passion for technical excellence
Native in: Slovenian 
Works in: English to Slovenian, German to Slovenian, Slovenian to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
goes down the drain
... possibly too hard: "That Xmas goes down the drain ..."
1 hr
to be a wash-out/go down the plug hole
to be a damp squib
2 hrs
S Ben Price
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Spain
+34 669 829 437 [email protected]
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English, Catalan to English
to be dead in the water
or 'to see it dead in the water'. I like ' go down the drain' too. Mine and that one are both a bit harsh.
+1
4 hrs
when Christmas was [almost] washed out
another variation on the theme...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Roy Williams
: I like washout best. How about: The lonley lighthouse keeper, Clause, would have preferred that Christmas was a washout...
12 hrs
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I like your idea: was a washout; let's see what the asker has to say about that :) / thanks
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18 hrs
Stephen Gobin
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Soaring over the language barrier
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
"could be rained off"
"Claus , the lonely lighthouse keeper, would have preferred it if Christmas could be rained off."
Fairly similar image taken from the world of sport though.
Fairly similar image taken from the world of sport though.
19 hrs
to be a flop
Claus, the lonely lighthouse keeper, wanted nothing more than that Christmas should be a flop.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Kcda
: Yes in the sentence you built corrrect grammar & tense for "flop". As a standalone term "to be a flop" IMO not appropriate.
3 hrs
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-1
19 hrs
Mayday from Christmas
for a title
I am not sure about using this or any other image or figurative expression in the sentence you gave. Why not use a figurative title, and simply "...would have loved to see Christmas canceled" for the first sentence?
I am not sure about using this or any other image or figurative expression in the sentence you gave. Why not use a figurative title, and simply "...would have loved to see Christmas canceled" for the first sentence?
1 day 42 mins
Stephen Gobin
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Soaring over the language barrier
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
16
because of bad weather
Claus, the lonely lighthouse keeper, would have much preferred it if Christmas were called off/cancelled because of bad weather.
A workable solution. The link between lighthouse keeping and where a lighthouse is located, what it does and what it's exposed to is clear to the reader.
A workable solution. The link between lighthouse keeping and where a lighthouse is located, what it does and what it's exposed to is clear to the reader.
Discussion