Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
einen Stift in die Hand nehmen
English translation:
pick up a pencil
Added to glossary by
Klaus Urban
Sep 18, 2007 18:56
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
einen Stift in die Hand nehmen
German to English
Bus/Financial
Law: Contract(s)
start doing something
Es geht darum, was das Zustandekommen eines unbefristeten Arbeitsvertrags auslöst. Nach dem Teilzeit-und Befristungsgesetz ist es unbedingt erforderlich, dass ein befristeter Vertrag vor Arbeitsaufnahme geschlossen wird. Ansonsten wird automatisch mit Arbeitsaufnahme ein unbefristeter Vertrag geschlossen. Eine Arbeitsaufnahme liegt schon vor, wenn der Arbeitnehmer ***einen Stift in die Hand nimmt***.
Wer kann helfen?
Wer kann helfen?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
1 hr
Janis Auzins
Native in: Latvian 
Works in: English to Latvian, Russian to English, Latvian to English, and 23 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
when the employee so much as picks up a pencil
It's not really a legal expression (use of "schon"), so why not simply translate what it says?
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Janis! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Susanne Rindlisbacher
12 mins
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| agree |
Nicole Schnell
18 mins
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| agree |
Stephen Sadie
: this is also nice
24 mins
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| agree |
Bernhard Sulzer
: or a "pen"
31 mins
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| agree |
Julia Lipeles
54 mins
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you!"
21 mins
jccantrell
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Was nicht ist, kann noch werden.
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
91
picks up a hammer
I would also go along with showing up for work, but I think the author wanted to give it more ooomph, so this might fit your context.
I think 'Stift' here is much more of a stud or a pin than a pen, but a hammer would fit, imo.
I think 'Stift' here is much more of a stud or a pin than a pen, but a hammer would fit, imo.
Note from asker:
| Thank you! |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Stephen Sadie
: I wouldn't take a hammer with me on my first day of work!
3 mins
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Depends on the type of work you do and whether the employer provides the tools.
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| neutral |
Susanne Rindlisbacher
: Antwort für jccantrell: In beinahe allen Berufen, muss man irgendwann einen Stift (Bleistift oder Kuli) zur Hand nehmen, ein Hammer ist vergleichsweise selten gefragt. Hier geht es mMn nicht darum, etwas zu unterzeichnen.
51 mins
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but the context seems to say that the worker gets a contract 'automatisch' when starting work and so this eliminate having to SIGN something.
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+2
8 mins
Paul Cohen
Greenland
Greenland
Native in English
Greenland
Will work for blubber
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Danish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
32
shows up for the first day of work
...as soon as an employee shows up for the first day of work.
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Note added at 11 mins (2007-09-18 19:08:11 GMT)
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Or rather: "...when an employee shows up for the first day of work."
The "einen Stift in der Hand nehmen" is of course meant in a figurative sense. I'd spell it out in English. When you show up for the first day of work, you've essentially started working for your new employer.
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Note added at 41 mins (2007-09-18 19:37:56 GMT)
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When you show up for your first day of work, the clock starts ticking, so to speak. As soon as you "punch the clock," a work/emplyoment situation has been established.
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Note added at 11 mins (2007-09-18 19:08:11 GMT)
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Or rather: "...when an employee shows up for the first day of work."
The "einen Stift in der Hand nehmen" is of course meant in a figurative sense. I'd spell it out in English. When you show up for the first day of work, you've essentially started working for your new employer.
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Note added at 41 mins (2007-09-18 19:37:56 GMT)
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When you show up for your first day of work, the clock starts ticking, so to speak. As soon as you "punch the clock," a work/emplyoment situation has been established.
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Paul! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Stephen Sadie
: I think you are right Paul// or even "starts his new job"
11 mins
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Yes, starts his/her new job is what it's about. The question is WHEN does this new job begin? When the employee picks up the proverbial pencil/hammer? Maybe...
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| neutral |
Bernhard Sulzer
: I think it's meant to be cynical as in : as soon as he/she just touches that pen it's too late. What do you think? ;-)
1 hr
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Cynical is one way to describe it, I suppose. The pen is just an image. As soon as you punch the clock and are "on the job" there's no going back. You're an employee - whether you pick up a pencil or a hammer (or just twiddle your thumbs).
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| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: I'd go with "punch the clock" m,aybe
4 hrs
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Maybe punch the clock ... and then pick up a pencil? ;-)
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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
...the moment the person moves his or her little finger ...
... just stepping up to the plate to get my three strikes (g)....
Note from asker:
| Thank you, Vito! |
Discussion