KudoZ question not available

English translation: ...off with your heads...

17:15 Apr 4, 2016

German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Cinema, Film, TV, Drama

German term or phrase: Und besser noch gleich Rübe ab

Hi everyone,

I'm subtitling a German film from the '60s ("Karriere" just in case you're interested), and I've come unstuck with these lyrics from a song. The singer - rather sarcastically - suggests that left-wing demonstrators could be taught a lesson by being given a good thrashing:

"Ich bring Euch Lumpen schon auf Trab, und besser noch gleich Rübe ab, der Strauss ist mir noch viel Schlapp."

Maybe I've lost the plot, but would "noch gleich Rübe ab" be something like "knocking someone's block off"? And when it mentions Strauss, what would an appropriate slang term for "Schlapp" be? Lenient or lackadaisical seem a little mild and formal. Wimpish? Wussy? It is the '60s, though...

Look forward to your feedback.

Cheers.

Desmond

Desmond Graal KudoZ activity Questions: 57 (1 open) (1 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 5
Local time: 06:40

English translation:...off with your heads...

Explanation:
Ok, I'll try something which more or less fits the German metrum and rhymes.
Whether this is short enough for the actual subtitles I don't know, of course.

"I'll whip you blackguards back in line, off with your heads - to me that's fine, what Strauss says is just a wimpy whine"

just another attempt...

Selected response from:

beermatt
Local time: 06:40

Grading comment

In the end, I opted for "off with your heads!" As far as schlapp is concerned, given that the film is from the late '60s, I used "soft" rather than wimpy. The rhyming suggestion, however, was superb (but couldn't fit it in the subtitle due to timing issues). Thanks to everyone who participated.
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +2

...off with your heads...

beermatt

I'll make you bums step to it, heads rolling while you do it, Strauß is such a loser

Ramey Rieger (X)

Discussion entries: 8

Answers

15 hrs confidence:

I'll make you bums step to it, heads rolling while you do it, Strauß is such a loser

Explanation:
To get thing started

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Note added at 15 hrs (2016-04-05 08:40:45 GMT)
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It ALMOST rhymes

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 06:40
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 25

17 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

...off with your heads...

beermatt
Local time: 06:40
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German,

English
PRO pts in category: 2

Grading comment

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