Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
eine zähflüssige Tunke aus Beschwichtigung und Harmonieappellen darüber gießen.
English translation:
sugar-coat them with a syrupy sauce of conciliatory comments and attempts at appeasement
Added to glossary by
Trans-Marie
Oct 10, 2005 19:58
18 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
eine zähflüssige Tunke aus Beschwichtigung und Harmonieappellen darüber gießen.
German to English
Bus/Financial
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
. So genannte "nette", das heißt harmoniebedürftige oder gar -süchtige Vorgesetzte sind aufgrund ihrer Konfliktscheu besonders gefährdet, eine lange Kette kleiner, mittlerer und größerer Enttäuschungen zu hinterlassen, weil sie bei Auseinandersetzungen ungern Farbe bekennen und Konflikte nicht wirklich ausräumen, sondern nur *eine zähflüssige Tunke aus Beschwichtigung und Harmonieappellen darüber gießen*. Die logische Folge ist, dass die Mitarbeiter keinerlei Sinn darin sehen, sich vertrauensvoll an solche Vorgesetzten zu wenden, wenn wirklich heikle Themen anstehen.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +2 | a syrupy sauce of conciliatory comments and attempts at appeasement |
Tom Funke
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| 3 +4 | a turgid mix of appeasement and appeals for harmony |
Lancashireman
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| 3 | an unctuous mixture of ... |
Armorel Young
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Proposed translations
+2
26 mins
German term (edited):
eine z�hfl�ssige Tunke aus Beschwichtigung und Harmonieappellen dar�ber gie�en.
Selected
a syrupy sauce of conciliatory comments and attempts at appeasement
...but sugar-coat them with a syrupy sauce of conciliatory comments and attempts at appeasement
[or you might write new English copy -- perhaps around 'straddling the fence' instead of taking a clear-cut position]
[or you might write new English copy -- perhaps around 'straddling the fence' instead of taking a clear-cut position]
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Susanne Rindlisbacher
1 hr
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| agree |
Kieran McCann
: 'syrupy' 'sugary' work well
15 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Tom"
30 mins
German term (edited):
eine z�hfl�ssige Tunke aus Beschwichtigung und Harmonieappellen dar�ber gie�en.
an unctuous mixture of ...
... appeasing words and calls for harmony.
+4
23 mins
German term (edited):
eine z�hfl�ssige Tunke aus Beschwichtigung und Harmonieappellen dar�ber gie�en.
a turgid mix of appeasement and appeals for harmony
They try to pour oil on troubled waters but it just ends up as a turgid mix of appeasement and vain appeals to everyone's better nature
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Note added at 1 hr 34 mins (2005-10-10 21:32:43 GMT)
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There is the scope for imagery here and it would be a pity not to exploit it. Weak management see their role as ‘pouring oil on troubled waters’. This conditions not only their behaviour but the rest of the extended metaphor. If the decision is taken to go with ‘oil on troubled waters’ it is then important to avoid mixed metaphors. ‘Gravy’, ‘sauce’ and ‘syrup’ are fine in isolation but will not work in the context proposed here. That is why, Kudoz rules notwithstanding (10 words max), this phrase cannot be effectively conveyed without reference to what has gone before.
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Note added at 1 hr 34 mins (2005-10-10 21:32:43 GMT)
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There is the scope for imagery here and it would be a pity not to exploit it. Weak management see their role as ‘pouring oil on troubled waters’. This conditions not only their behaviour but the rest of the extended metaphor. If the decision is taken to go with ‘oil on troubled waters’ it is then important to avoid mixed metaphors. ‘Gravy’, ‘sauce’ and ‘syrup’ are fine in isolation but will not work in the context proposed here. That is why, Kudoz rules notwithstanding (10 words max), this phrase cannot be effectively conveyed without reference to what has gone before.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Susanne Rindlisbacher
1 hr
|
| agree |
Hilary Davies Shelby
: oil and water? surely that would make it a "turgid dispersion..."? ;-)))
2 hrs
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Thanks, Hil. That was a 'slick' observation ;-)
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|
| agree |
Ulrike Kraemer
12 hrs
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| agree |
Sara Noss
12 hrs
|
| neutral |
Tom Funke
: The copy should probably suit a business audience rather than a literary or general audience.
2 days 8 hrs
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Have you only just spotted this answer, Tom? Your own answer is a worthy winner. Strange, though, that the asker did not offer a general round of thanks...
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Discussion