Jul 27, 2021 13:54
2 yrs ago
51 viewers *
German term
United Kingdom
Experienced DE/EN technical specialist
Native in: English (Variants: UK, British) 
Works in: German to English
einem Schwaben die Kehrwoche zu verbieten
German to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Hi, I'm translating part of Juli Zeh's novel Ueber Menschen for my Master's final project and have come unstuck on the following idiom. If anyone is reading this book the page number is 44 and the full sentence is : Wahrscheinlich waere es leichter, einem Schwaben die Kehrwoche zu verbieten. As far as I can ascertain 'Kehrwoche' is the weekly duty of cleaning communal living areas, and is a custom in the Swabia region of southwest Germany. A literal translation would be 'It would probably be easier to ban a Swabian from carrying out their cleaning duties'. However, I doubt this would be understood by the target English audience. Would you keep the literal translation? Finding an equivalent idiom that works in English would prove challenging. Thanks for any advice and help.
Regards
Lesley
Regards
Lesley
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
20 hrs
Steve Robbie
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Expertise, accuracy and style
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English, Dutch to English
Related KudoZ points
:
3
Selected
like trying to stop the rain from falling
A suggestion. It sounds idiomatic to me and also finds some hits on the internet, although
the original is possibly more sarcastic (?)
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Note added at 20 hrs (2021-07-28 10:49:46 GMT)
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While googling, I also came across "like trying to stop a mosquito with a chain-link fence".
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Note added at 22 hrs (2021-07-28 12:26:57 GMT)
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"Like telling a dog not to chew a bone"
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Note added at 22 hrs (2021-07-28 12:27:54 GMT)
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"Like telling a Frenchman not to eat garlic"
the original is possibly more sarcastic (?)
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Note added at 20 hrs (2021-07-28 10:49:46 GMT)
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While googling, I also came across "like trying to stop a mosquito with a chain-link fence".
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 hrs (2021-07-28 12:26:57 GMT)
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"Like telling a dog not to chew a bone"
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Note added at 22 hrs (2021-07-28 12:27:54 GMT)
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"Like telling a Frenchman not to eat garlic"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Michele Fauble
: Lots of options - “It’s like telling … not to …”
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Cillie Swart
: I think that is a good interpretation of what the German is trying to convey here.
22 hrs
|
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Steve for your help. That's a good interpretation of the source text. I also thought of trying to stop a priest from praying. "
57 mins
Cillie Swart
South Africa
South Africa
Native in English
South Africa
Finance, Legal, Business Texts
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, Dutch to English, Afrikaans to English, and 1 more.
like pulling teeth
something that is very difficult
1 hr
Gordon Matthews
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
translator - copy-editor - proofreader
Native in: English (Variants: US, British, UK)
Works in: German to English, French to English
forbidding your house-proud aunt to do the spring cleaning
Not an idiom (I just made it up!), but it might do, if no-one comes up with an English idiom which would be a better match than "pulling teeth".
+3
14 hrs
David Hollywood
Native in English
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
50
is probably like asking a carnivor to stop eating meat
that's the idea
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
philgoddard
: Carnivore. Yes, it's telling them to do something that goes totally against the grain
10 hrs
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thanks Phil and "carnivore" of course
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| agree |
Michele Fauble
: Lots of options - “It’s like telling … not to …”
13 hrs
|
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thanks Michele
|
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| agree |
Cillie Swart
: yeah this is a good one.
1 day 4 hrs
|
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thanks Cillie
|
15 hrs
hold back the flood with your hands
Hi Lesley,
This must be some kind of comparison, so:
You' be more likely to/successful holding back the flood with your hands than...
OR TRying to ...... is like holding back the flood with your hands/taking the moon from the sky....
Stopping some kind of natural power as a comparison. Context would be really useful.
This must be some kind of comparison, so:
You' be more likely to/successful holding back the flood with your hands than...
OR TRying to ...... is like holding back the flood with your hands/taking the moon from the sky....
Stopping some kind of natural power as a comparison. Context would be really useful.
2 days 2 hrs
Lancashireman
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Related KudoZ points
:
159
persuade a Bavarian to go teetotal
You'd have more success persuading a Bavarian to go teetotal
Bavaria is one of the few regions in Germany that have recognition value for a EN reader, and there is an instant association with beer culture (Oktoberfest).
Swabia is generally unknown. There is an even greater problem with Styria (sic) in Austria.
Bavaria is one of the few regions in Germany that have recognition value for a EN reader, and there is an instant association with beer culture (Oktoberfest).
Swabia is generally unknown. There is an even greater problem with Styria (sic) in Austria.
2 days 4 hrs
Michael Martin, MA
United States
United States
Native in German
&
English
Works in field
United States
Creativity wins in the long run
Native in: German (Variant: Germany) , English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
43
more breezy about the no handshaking rule
My first version (without knowing the context) was a bit pedestrian so I ditched it.
"It turns out that Brandenburgers are more breezy about the no handshaking rule than football fans are about the no drinking rule on the train to the stadium."
form for financial authorization needs to be sent to Dr.
"It turns out that Brandenburgers are more breezy about the no handshaking rule than football fans are about the no drinking rule on the train to the stadium."
form for financial authorization needs to be sent to Dr.
Discussion
Hi Phil, Many thanks to you all for your replies. Yes, I'm writing in UK English. This is part of the novel where Dora the main protagonist meets Gote the 'village Nazi' as he introduces himself. He stretches his hand over the wall that separates both neighbouring properties to shake hands with Dora. The book is written during the Coronavirus pandemic and Dora thinks to herself that they don't take the ban on handshaking that seriously in Brandenburg . Then goes on to say it would be easier to ban a Swabian from carrying out their cleaning duties. Here is an extract from the source text if this helps: Er reckt sich, neigt sich zur Seite, verliert fast das Gleichgewicht und faengt sich wieder, bis seine rechte Schulter, dann der ganze Arm ueber der Mauer erscheinen. Vorsichtig streckt er die Hand zu Dora herueber, bemueht, die obere Reihe Hohlbausteine nicht runterzuwerfen. Anscheinend nimmt man es mit dem Haendeschuettelverbot in Brandenburg nicht so genau. Wahrscheinlich waere es leichter, einem Schwaben die Kehrwoche zu verbieten. Thanks to you all :-)
Yes, you need an equivalent idiom - I assume you're writing in UK English.