Es wird nichts so heiss gegessen wie es gekocht wurde
English translation: Some things are worth waiting for!
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10:10 Mar 30, 2006
German to English translations [PRO] Social Sciences - Cooking / Culinary / Idiomatic
German term or phrase:Es wird nichts so heiss gegessen wie es gekocht wurde
Hello,
I have this text, which uses the above saying. I know its meaning, but that doesn't really fit into the English text. Any suggestions? Here's the original text:
Wenn wir am Tisch sitzen, warten wir, bis alle ihr Essen vor sich haben. Dann sagen wir «en Guete mitenand» (good appetite), und erst dann fangen wir an zu essen. — Nicht von ungefähr stammt die schweizerdeutsche Redensart: Es wird nichts so heiss gegessen wie es gekocht wurde. Bei den Inderinnen und Indern sieht es etwas anders aus.
Explanation: Just another option if you choose to replace the idiom you were given with a different one. (Just remember to remove (with the author's permission, obviously) the reference to it being a Swiss saying.
To answer Brie's question, what the author says is not entirely wrong, but I wouldn't generalise. And sometimes, Indian food needs to be eaten hot, otherwise, it does not taste good. For example, rotis (Indian bread) is often served hot from the pan one by one to every person at the table, and then it makes sense to start eating.
Thanks again! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
I think Nick's suggestion (below) is a very good one - if you substitute the idiom given with a different one, and leave out (you'll have to ask the author) the mention of it being a Swiss one, this would work. You could say something like...
I agree with Harry's and Sandra's comments (below). Nothing wrong with using the literal translation in this context, particularly if you say it's a Swiss/German saying.
I am puzzled about the meaning... the Swiss sit down and all start eating at the same time, and the Indians grab their food straight from the pot one by one and burn their tongues?? (not the Indian families I know, they do sit down and synchronize, but..)
We have the same expression in Dutch (the soup is never eaten as hot as it's served), so maybe we're more like the Swiss than the British and Indians ;-)
The English equivalent (nothing is as bad it seems) doesn't really fit here. As far as translating literally goes, maybe something like 'everything cools down'... Right now, I am a bit lost...
So you're not looking for the equivalent in English (nothing is as bad...) What about just translating it literally? It may then fit into your context. Or?
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
