This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
interaortocaval
BK Inhaber

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

nicht mehr alle Latten am Zaun haben

English translation:

a few planks short of a fence

Added to glossary by Sarah Bessioud
Jan 20, 2011 04:19
14 yrs ago
4 viewers *
German term

nicht mehr alle Latten am Zaun haben

German to English Marketing Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Dieser nette Herr hat nicht mehr alle Latten am Zaun. Schließen Sie Lücken durch personalisierte Produktempfehlungen.

Is this like "nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben"? Or is it meant literally? It's the first sentence in a doc that goes on to talk about customising online shops and making recommendations so customers buy more products.
Thanks
Gillian
Proposed translations (English)
4 +7 a few planks short of a fence
3 +8 to be missing a few screws / nuts and bolts / marbles / buttons
5 doesn't have all buttons on
4 to be a bit confused as to what you want
4 to have a screw loose
4 isn't playing with a full deck
3 to have lost (all of) one's marbles
Change log

Jan 20, 2011 05:06: NGK changed "Field" from "Bus/Financial" to "Marketing" , "Field (specific)" from "Business/Commerce (general)" to "Idioms / Maxims / Sayings"

Jan 21, 2011 09:33: Sarah Bessioud Created KOG entry

Discussion

Robin Salmon (X) Jan 20, 2011:
@horst huber Yes, it is old news now, as the customer is changing the text but that is how I was thinking, too.
Horst Huber (X) Jan 20, 2011:
The purpose? Most suggestions so far read the phrase as expressing doubts of the customer's sanity. It should be done gently, with a bit of humor, if he is supposed to be buying? He lacks something, he has been coming up short, and his needs are to be met ...
jccantrell Jan 20, 2011:
wow! Now let me see:
A few bricks shy of a full load.
Not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Not the sharpest knife in the drawer.
Ten cents short of a nickel. (OK, USA only maybe)

And I am sure there are many more.
Cetacea Jan 20, 2011:
@Textklick Your last remark must be politically incorrect. Which is probably why I like it. And I agree, to. ;-)
Textklick Jan 20, 2011:
What did the customer change the first 3 sentences to? Sounds like he's a few balls short of an attitude. ;-)
Gillian Searl (asker) Jan 20, 2011:
The customer wimped out and said he'll change the first three sentences. I quite like a "few planks short of a fence". English-speakers would get it without problems, esp. if there was a photo.

Proposed translations

+7
5 hrs
Selected

a few planks short of a fence

This is a common way of expressing "a few screws loose" in English, which (I believe) began with the expression "two rungs short of a ladder". There are now hundreds of ways of expressing this to fit the occasion, a few of which are listed here: http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t71417.html

I can't help but feel that it is important to keep the idea of the fence in your translation, due to the fact that the gaps then need to be 'filled' with product recommendations. Maybe the text is illustrated, or if online, there may be a 'drag and drop' element. Perhaps worth checking out with the client?
Peer comment(s):
agree Cetacea : Even if it isn't important to keep the idea, it's funny just the same...
2 hrs
Thanks Cetacea
agree British Diana : I hope you get the four points all the same!
3 hrs
Thank you Diana, but the points should go to the most 'fitting' translation - not easy for the asker if her client keeps moving the goalposts;-)
agree Helen Shiner
3 hrs
Thank you Helen
agree Horst Huber (X) : Yes, it needs to be gently funny. Maybe "has come short a few planks in his fence"?
8 hrs
Thank you Horst
agree Ramey Rieger (X) : Now that is brilliant!
10 hrs
Thanks Ramey
agree Jenny Streitparth
12 hrs
Thank you Jenny
agree Colin Rowe : Better late than never!
1 day 8 hrs
Thank you Colin and welcome back to Kudoz ;-)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+8
35 mins

to be missing a few screws / nuts and bolts / marbles / buttons

Normally it's like "nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben," but the twist here seems to be that it's taken literally, i.e. a customer needs something. So I you might go for something like "This nice gentleman is missing a few buttons. Fix him up with custom-tailored product recommendations." (Of course, if there's an actual picture of a picket fence, you're SOL.)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 54 mins (2011-01-20 05:13:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

If you need more ideas, check this out:
http://www.fun-with-english.co.uk/2005/02/politically-correc...
Peer comment(s):
agree IngePreiss
28 mins
agree Johanna Timm, PhD : nice:-) thanks for the link!
1 hr
agree BrigitteHilgner : Good suggestions.
2 hrs
agree Cilian O'Tuama : a sandwich short of a picnic
5 hrs
agree Moira Monney
5 hrs
agree Cetacea : a couple of burritos short of a combination plate
5 hrs
agree Clive Phillips : A few cans short of a six-pack or The lights are on but no-one's at home or A kangaroo loose in the top paddock.
8 hrs
agree Jenny Streitparth
17 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

to be a bit confused as to what you want

I think it means, "This nice gentleman is a bit confused as to what he wants. Fill in the gaps for him by making some product recommendations to suit his needs."
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

to have a screw loose

Or yes, nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank haben is equivalent
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

isn't playing with a full deck

an alternative
Something went wrong...
1 day 3 hrs

to have lost (all of) one's marbles

;)
Something went wrong...
1 day 8 hrs

doesn't have all buttons on

just another definition of our 'maddening times'
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search