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14:08 Feb 17, 2008
German to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Book title
German term or phrase:ins Wasser fallen
I'm translating the blurb for a children's book. The title of the book is "Als Weihnachten fast ins Wasser fiel" and the blurb runs as follows:
"Dass Weihnachten ins Wasser fällt, das hätte der einsame Leuchtturmwärter Claus am liebsten. Doch als der Weihnachtsmann und sein Rentier auf dem Dach des Leuchtturms notlanden, kommt alles anders: Claus soll dem Weihnachtsmann beim Einsammeln der Geschenke helfen. Kaum zu glauben, denn Claus entdeckt dabei die Freude am Weihnachtsfest wieder!"
I'd like to find a translation for "ins Wasser fallen" that works with the literal meaning and the lighthouse imagery as well as the figurative one but at the moment I'm at a bit of a loss. Anybody feeling inspired?
Thanks Hilary - I might go off in another direction altogether but this metaphor has given me something to work on! :o) 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
Explanation: How about "When Christmas nearly splash-landed" for your title?
Just an idea to get the ball tolling...
David Moore Local time: 08:56 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 40
59 mins confidence:
take a nosedive (or) do a bellyflop
Explanation: This can't top David's "spash landing," but for the sake of having a selection, I'll offer these two related terms.
I don't believe "bellyflop" is used in the figurative sense nearly as often as "nosedive;" but the concept of someone's Christmas "being a flop" is common enough, I suppose.
LP Schumacher United States Local time: 02:56 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
I am not sure about using this or any other image or figurative expression in the sentence you gave. Why not use a figurative title, and simply "...would have loved to see Christmas canceled" for the first sentence?
Anne Schulz Local time: 08:56 Works in field Native speaker of: German PRO pts in category: 4
Explanation: Claus, the lonely lighthouse keeper, would have much preferred it if Christmas were called off/cancelled because of bad weather.
A workable solution. The link between lighthouse keeping and where a lighthouse is located, what it does and what it's exposed to is clear to the reader.
Stephen Gobin United Kingdom Local time: 07:56 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 16
The translation workplace 
peer agreement (net): +2
