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German: betontes Nichtstun als Demonstration eines gesellschaftl. hervorhebobenen Status

English translation: ostentatious idleness as a display of privileged social status/ rank







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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:betontes Nichtstun als Demonstration eines gesellschaftlich hervorgehobenen Status
English translation:ostentatious idleness as a display of privileged social status/ rank
Entered by:Steffen Walter
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9:50pm May 7, 2004Login or register (free) for more options.
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Anthropology
German term or phrase: betontes Nichtstun als Demonstration eines gesellschaftl. hervorhebobenen Status
Die Forumulierung bezieht sich auf den Müßiggang der Gentry im 18. Jahrhundert; auf Gentlemen, die durch \\\'idleness\\\'ihre priviligierte soziale Stellung herauskehrten.
Julia Moreau
ostentatious/obviou idleness as a display of one's/their exalted/privileged/high social status/rank
Explanation:
a couple of renderings in one :)

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Note added at 12 mins (2004-05-07 22:03:12 GMT)
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\"obvious\" that is :)
Selected response from:

David Hollywood
Argentina
Note from asker to answerer
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2ostentatious/obviou idleness as a display of one's/their exalted/privileged/high social status/rankDavid Hollywood
4conspicuous idleness as demonstration of socially privileged statusrjbemben
4parading their lack of activity as an indication of their (exalted) social status
xxxIanW


  


Answers

12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
ostentatious/obviou idleness as a display of one's/their exalted/privileged/high social status/rank

Explanation:
a couple of renderings in one :)

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Note added at 12 mins (2004-05-07 22:03:12 GMT)
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\"obvious\" that is :)

David Hollywood
Argentina
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Note from asker to answerer
Graded automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree Kim Metzger: Plenty to choose from. I like ostentatious idleness and privileged social status.
16 mins
  -> thx Kim, there are so many ways to translate this one

agree Ken Cox: agree with Kim; 'betont' suggests intention, which is missing with 'conspicuous' and 'obvious'; another option is 'elevated social rank/standing' (closer to the German, but 'privileged status' is not bad)
1 day14 hrs
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21 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
parading their lack of activity as an indication of their (exalted) social status

Explanation:
Another option: "parading their lack of activity as an indication of their (exalted) social status"

xxxIanW
Germany
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
conspicuous idleness as demonstration of socially privileged status

Explanation:
This is analogous to the 'conspicuous consumption' of modern post-industrial society.

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Note added at 22 hrs 4 mins (2004-05-08 19:55:04 GMT)
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I get 14 relevant Google hits on \"conspicuous idleness\"....

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Note added at 22 hrs 10 mins (2004-05-08 20:01:07 GMT)
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...and 10 relevant Google hits for \"ostentatious idleness\".



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Note added at 2 days 19 hrs 5 mins (2004-05-10 16:56:14 GMT)
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Webster\'s Int\'l Dictionary:
\"conspicuous consumption: lavish or wasteful spending regarded as establishing or enhancing social prestige.\"

Intention is embedded in this phrase.

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Note added at 2 days 19 hrs 20 mins (2004-05-10 17:10:26 GMT)
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\"ostentatious\" on the other hand suggests visual gaudiness or ornate showiness, as in clothing or architecture. Baroque.

rjbemben
United States
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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