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
Bevor der Spruch kommen kann
Hausbank
Oct 18, 2003 08:08
21 yrs ago
7 viewers *
German term

Auch mal alle Fünfe gerade sein lassen

German to English Marketing
This is another phrase, which cannot be translated literally. Would be grateful for any suggestions.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +1 'let things slide for awhile'
4 +4 Let's not be overly precise.
3 +4 kick back / chill (out) / take it easy / take time out / veg (out) / hang loose / slack
3 +3 to adopt/show a more relaxed attitude towards <whatever>
4 +1 (one needs to) be able to bend the rules once in a while
4 turn a blind eye
4 Don't be a stickler for the rules.
3 let the grass grow underfoot just now

Discussion

Kim Metzger Oct 18, 2003:
Useful link: http://www.redensarten-index.de/register/f.php4
Steffen Walter Oct 18, 2003:
As before, please provide context.

Proposed translations

+1
3 hrs
Selected

'let things slide for awhile'

or 'watch the world go by for a change'

or 'kick back and relax for a change'

'taking it easy', 'lying low'

are approximate equivalents in the US

Peer comment(s):
agree sylvie malich (X) : yep, but not "lying low" that means trying not to look conspicuous...
7 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I took the idea "sit back and relax for a change". I appreciate your help, all the other suggestions, and the good advice to add more context :-) reb"
+4
21 mins

Let's not be overly precise.

One suggestion.
I am sure many other inventive interpretations will follow.
Literal translation: "Let five be an even number every once in a while".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-10-18 09:12:06 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

\'Ne 4 ist keine 5. Also, -> man muss es nicht so genau nehmen -> which leads to my suggestion.

\"Relax\" from Steffen, could be a part of such a construction, like \"Relax, don\'t be overprecise\", which is \"5 of one and a half-dozen of the other\", which could be another suggestion, too.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Steffen Walter : The only meaning of "alle fünfe gerade sein lassen" which sprang to my mind was "to relax" or similar ("sich mal gehen lassen", "vom Stress entspannen" etc.). Your suggestion is a bit too speculative IMHO, which illustrates that context is essential.
16 mins
See my addition!
agree Endre Both : Auch für mich ist das die Standardbedeutung, nicht dass etwas Kontext nicht hilfreich wäre.
47 mins
agree Anglo-German (X) : Ich kann die "relax"-Variante nicht als erste Assoziation teilen.
4 hrs
agree Kim Metzger : According to Duden Redewendungen - the expression means 'etwas nicht so genau nehmen.'
5 hrs
Thanks for the confirmation Kim.
agree sylvie malich (X) : I'm with Kim
11 hrs
Something went wrong...
35 mins

turn a blind eye

look the other way

Sometimes even completely ignore what is right under our noses

A few more options
Peer comment(s):
neutral Steffen Walter : as speculative as Alexander's suggestion - we'd need the whole paragraph to be sure.
3 mins
For sure!
Something went wrong...
+3
40 mins

to adopt/show a more relaxed attitude towards <whatever>

Welcome to the realm of speculation and blurred assumptions!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 41 mins (2003-10-18 08:49:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

to let go/loose
Peer comment(s):
agree Christine Bollmann : yep, I do not think there is an adequate idiom for this in the english lenguage.
42 mins
agree Cilian O'Tuama : du mußt fünfe gerade sein lassen = you mustn't be so critical, you must take a more relaxed view of things (Langenscheidt)
2 hrs
agree Anglo-German (X)
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

let the grass grow underfoot just now

if an idiom is what you're looking for

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs 10 mins (2003-10-18 12:18:59 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

OR leave the circles unsquared
Something went wrong...
+4
4 hrs

kick back / chill (out) / take it easy / take time out / veg (out) / hang loose / slack

Probably this sentence refers to relaxing and destressing, so these would be some translation options.

As some colleagues have mentioned, it might also refer to relaxing one's standards or becoming negligent. In this case I would suggest:

goof off / slack / let it go / drag one's feet / drag one's ass / spin one's wheels
Peer comment(s):
agree Sybille Brückner : I also wuld prefer; chill out or take time out or kick back
2 hrs
agree Jeannie Graham : chill out
4 hrs
agree sylvie malich (X) : but not spinning your wheels
6 hrs
agree vafo
8 hrs
neutral Johanna Timm, PhD : 'chill out' might be a little too general
11 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
9 hrs

(one needs to) be able to bend the rules once in a while

another idea which may or may not work.

Just think what wonderful ideas we might have had, fantastic idioms we might have come up with, inspired word plays we might have dreamed up – if only we’d been provided with a little bit of context!


Peer comment(s):
agree sylvie malich (X) : good
1 hr
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

Don't be a stickler for the rules.

Trash Talk - Australian Ultimate News
... As I know you are a stickler for the rules, could you please clarify this ruling...
www.afda.com/trashtalk/showarticle.php?articleid=61 - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

My Concept of the Campaign
... You see, I started playing the game back when one of the major tenets was "all rules are optional". Therefore, I'm not a stickler for the rules. ...
www.geocities.com/Area51/Labyrinth/ 3957/thornevale/concept.html - 5k - Cached - Similar pages

Mainichi Interactive - Top News from the MDN
... committee's stance, saying it was "ridiculous" considering kids had been able to leave the nationality section blank until OPFA became a stickler for the rules ...
www.mainichi.co.jp/english/news/ archive/200005/12/news03.html - 19k


Or more formally

It's the spirit of the law that counts, not the letter.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search