Mar 26, 2008 18:53
16 yrs ago
German term
PoveyTrans (X)
Je runzeliger der Sack, um so glänzender der Lack
German to English
Marketing
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Market research on attitudes to various makes of car
This is taken from an online questionnaire asking car enthusiasts to describe their views on the 'typical' drivers for different makes of car.
Hans aus Heidelburg spricht: Ein Kombi für die Familie? Oder lieber doch der Sportwagen für den Sprint an der Ampel? Früher machten Kleider Leute, heute ist das Auto wohl das wichtigste Prestigesymbol, gerade für die sog. Generation, die es geschafft hat. Der Spruch "Je runzeliger der Sack, um glänzender der Lack" sagt alles.
Does anyone know an idiomatic English version?
Thanks for any ideas?
Hans aus Heidelburg spricht: Ein Kombi für die Familie? Oder lieber doch der Sportwagen für den Sprint an der Ampel? Früher machten Kleider Leute, heute ist das Auto wohl das wichtigste Prestigesymbol, gerade für die sog. Generation, die es geschafft hat. Der Spruch "Je runzeliger der Sack, um glänzender der Lack" sagt alles.
Does anyone know an idiomatic English version?
Thanks for any ideas?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +4 | The older you are, the flashier your car |
Paul Cohen
|
| 3 +7 | wrinkly hide, shiny ride |
NGK
|
| 3 | By the time you can afford it, you're too old to enjoy it. |
mary austria
|
Change log
Mar 28, 2008 10:31: Steffen Walter changed "Field" from "Other" to "Marketing"
Mar 28, 2008 10:32: Steffen Walter changed "Term asked" from "Je runzeliger der Sack, um glänzender der Lack" to "Je runzeliger der Sack, um so glänzender der Lack"
Proposed translations
+4
1 hr
Paul Cohen
Greenland
Greenland
Native in English
Greenland
Will work for blubber
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, French to English, Danish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
32
German term (edited):
Je runzeliger der Sack, um glänzender der Lack
Selected
The older you are, the flashier your car
How true!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-03-26 20:55:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It basically boils down to this: "The older the fart, the flashier the cart."
alter Sack = old fart
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2008-03-26 20:55:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
It basically boils down to this: "The older the fart, the flashier the cart."
alter Sack = old fart
Note from asker:
| Thanks Paul. Welcome back, I thought you might have gotten frozen into passing chunk of the artic ice-cap... |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Bernhard Sulzer
: I like your second one best. :)
1 hr
|
|
Fits the register, eh?
|
|
| agree |
Johanna Timm, PhD
: I shall have this one (version 2) printed as a bumper sticker
5 hrs
|
|
Definitely bumper sticker material
|
|
| agree |
Paul Skidmore
: version 2 is great :-)
13 hrs
|
|
|
|
| agree |
Colin Rowe
: Version 2 gets my vote. Nice one!
15 hrs
|
|
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "So many good options here. In the end I inserted three alternatives for the client to choose from. Paul's answer because the 'fart' seems to hit the right note. Thanks to all for the ideas and comments. "
+7
16 mins
wrinkly hide, shiny ride
This is assuming I understand the German correctly ... it seems to be saying that older guys have more polished or nicer or newer cars.
Note from asker:
| Great - genuis answer! Thanks. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Bernhard Sulzer
: yes, if that's what is meant!:)
14 mins
|
| agree |
Jim Tucker (X)
: good rhyme - I'd do "the older the hide, the shinier the ride" to give it more the ring of a proverb - or even "the older the hide, the slicker the ride"
45 mins
|
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: w/Jim: an improvement on a good idea! Excellent this way! It captures the gist of it..:)
1 hr
|
| agree |
Susanne Rindlisbacher
: with Jim and Ingeborg
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Hilary Davies Shelby
: made me laugh - i'm with Jim, perhaps "the wrinklier the hide, the flashier the ride"!
4 hrs
|
| agree |
Paul Skidmore
: I like Hilary's version
14 hrs
|
| agree |
BirgitBerlin
: Brilliant idea, Norbert! Hillary's version is what I'd go for.
15 hrs
|
25 mins
German term (edited):
Je runzeliger der Sack, um glänzender der Lack
By the time you can afford it, you're too old to enjoy it.
Actually, I like Norbert's better. It's a gas!!
Note from asker:
| Thanks, like the rhyme :-) I am just wondering if the implied regret is the exact intention behind the saying, I cannot read the German clearly enough. |
Discussion