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09:06 Jun 12, 2011
German to English translations [PRO] Marketing - Marketing / Market Research / brand perception research
German term or phrase:Wie gewollt, aber nicht gekonnt
From a web survey about cell phones brands.
One question read:
"Using a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is Negative, 3 is Neutral, and 5 is Positive – how would you rate:
[brand name 1]
[brand name 2]
[brand name 3],
etc.
Why would you rate (INSERT BRAND NAME) a (INSERT RATING)?
That's what I used in my text. Thanks, Armorel! Special thanks to Cilian for the "half-baked product": That's exactly the term I needed when another person described a product as "Bastelei". Excellent. Thank you all! 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer
'The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak' is a similar euphemism for someone/thing that tries but fails.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
13 mins confidence:
They just seem to be trying too hard
Explanation: Not sure whether this is AE, but that's how I would say it. "Trying too hard" already implies that the result is not great, so you don't really need to add "but it just didn't work".
Moira Johnson United Kingdom Local time: 21:02 Specializes in field Native speaker of: German
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 29 mins (2011-06-12 09:35:10 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
OR:
-close, but no cigar (how I know the expression, Nicole)
-better luck next time
-we try harder, you should, too (possibly passé)
-should have left it to those who can/know how
-better luck next time
or, nicely:
-(At least) they tried
-much effort, but little result
Hope I could help a bit! Have a lovely Pentecost - or enjoy the free time!
Ramey Rieger Local time: 22:02 Specializes in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 30
Armorel Young Local time: 21:02 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 107
Grading comment
That's what I used in my text. Thanks, Armorel! Special thanks to Cilian for the "half-baked product": That's exactly the term I needed when another person described a product as "Bastelei". Excellent. Thank you all!
The translation workplace 
