Die Post geht ab

English translation: See below

16:55 Jun 5, 2000

German to English translations [PRO]

German term or phrase: Die Post geht ab

This appears to be some kind of idiom, but one which neither I nor my Collins German-English dictionary are familiar with. The term appears in a sentence describing upheavals in the European tourism industry, with big company takeovers and mergers. To help a bit more, here's the sentence in which this phrase actually appears: "In der europäischen Tourismusbranche geht im Moment die Post ab." One final thing: the article I'm translating is Swiss, so could it be a Swiss German idiom?

Rowan Morrell KudoZ activity Questions: 2467 (none open) (62 closed without grading) Answers: 2776 New Zealand
Local time: 15:35

English translation:See below

Explanation:
This is a German idiom, not just a Swiss-German one, and it is used, as in your case, to indicate upheaval or "general craziness" to quote Zonker Harris. You could use "turned on its head", "topsy-turvy", "it's anything goes in the European tourism ..." or anything that suits your fancy that indicates that nothing is as it was before. HTH, Will

Selected response from:

William Scheckel (X)
Local time: 05:35

Grading comment

Thanks to everyone for your prompt and helpful replies! This is one case when I wish I could award points to more than one person. Your assistance was much appreciated.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

Jetzt geht es los

Paula Molewijk

See below

William Scheckel (X)

See below

Cami Townsend (X)

All hell is breaking loose

Anka Andrews (X)

The European tourism industry is really taking off right now.

Tom Funke

Die Post geht ab

Nadja

Answers

4 mins

Jetzt geht es los

Explanation:
Now that everything has been prepared, we can start

Paula Molewijk
Netherlands
Local time: 05:35

7 mins

See below

William Scheckel (X)
Local time: 05:35
PRO pts in pair: 139

Grading comment

Thanks to everyone for your prompt and helpful replies! This is one case when I wish I could award points to more than one person. Your assistance was much appreciated.

12 mins

See below

Explanation:
According to my Schemann Knight Dictionary of German>English Idioms, the expression "ab die Post" and "ab geht die Post" means: to get cracking, get a move on, be off/disappear (as with lightning speed). Transposed onto the sentence you have, it could just mean that things are really moving, that a lot is going on, or, as you also indicated, there is turmoil.

Cami Townsend (X)
PRO pts in pair: 227

12 mins

All hell is breaking loose

Explanation:
You'll need to find a nice, pc way of saying that though. IOW, things are really hopping in European tourism.

Anka Andrews (X)
PRO pts in pair: 26

41 mins

The European tourism industry is really taking off right now.

Explanation:
Duden, Deutsches Universalwörterbuch:
>>ab [geht] die Post [ugs: unverzüglich geht es los]. --- >>taking off<< would denote a sudden spurt of growth more than dramatic change, but both may go hand in hand. Any further context to indicate what is happening?

Tom Funke
Local time: 23:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 2419

11 hrs

Die Post geht ab

Explanation:
This is used in the term of:
That is groovy....
This is a happening.....
We used to use it as a piece of communication when in college 15 years ago. It can be used also as "Dann mache' das die Post abgeht", which means "let's go make it happen". Hope I was of help.

Nadja

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