Glossary entry (derived from question below)
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
13 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term
United Kingdom
Founder & CEO of www.linguagloss.com
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English
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
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 |
Sarah Bessioud
|
| 3 +8 | to be missing a few screws / nuts and bolts / marbles / buttons |
NGK
|
| 5 | doesn't have all buttons on |
gangels (X)
|
| 4 | to be a bit confused as to what you want |
Robin Salmon (X)
|
| 4 | to have a screw loose |
Wendy Streitparth
|
| 4 | isn't playing with a full deck |
Ramey Rieger (X)
|
| 3 | to have lost (all of) one's marbles |
Thayenga
|
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
Proposed translations
+7
5 hrs
Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
A way with words
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK, US) 
Works in: German to English, French to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
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?
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 ;-)
|
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...
--------------------------------------------------
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
|
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."
3 hrs
Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
45 years experience
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
11
to have a screw loose
Or yes, nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank haben is equivalent
3 hrs
isn't playing with a full deck
an alternative
1 day 3 hrs
to have lost (all of) one's marbles
;)
1 day 8 hrs
doesn't have all buttons on
just another definition of our 'maddening times'
Discussion
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.