Jul 8, 2003 16:35
21 yrs ago
German term
Einfallspinsel
Non-PRO
German to English
Other
Not a lot of context, only phrases like Du Einfallspinsel
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +1 | You dope |
John Bowden
|
| 4 +12 | nincompoop |
Nicole Tata
|
| 5 +1 | nincompoop, ninny, dope, simpleton |
Nancy Arrowsmith
|
| 3 +1 | schlemiel/easy touch/gullible person |
Kim Metzger
|
Proposed translations
+1
6 mins
Selected
You dope
Nothing personal - Einfallspinsel means "simpletn", "dope", "silly Billy", "dafty" etc, depending on register and who is being addressed.
HTH
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:44:55 (GMT)
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And I like the Yorkshire version \"Barmpot\" as well!
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:53:54 (GMT)
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I hadn\'t thought of this before, but \"Einfallspinsel\" rather than \"Einfaltspinsel\" seems to be a bit of Volksetymologie - someone who is liable to \"(rein)einfallen auf\" a trick etc.... maybe?
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:54:56 (GMT)
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I meant (r)einfallen...
HTH
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:44:55 (GMT)
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And I like the Yorkshire version \"Barmpot\" as well!
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:53:54 (GMT)
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I hadn\'t thought of this before, but \"Einfallspinsel\" rather than \"Einfaltspinsel\" seems to be a bit of Volksetymologie - someone who is liable to \"(rein)einfallen auf\" a trick etc.... maybe?
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:54:56 (GMT)
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I meant (r)einfallen...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I've awarded the points to John because he picked up on the fact that the word in my text was Einfallspinsel rather than Einfalts-, and I don't think it was just a typo. But thanks to everyone."
+12
5 mins
Nicole Tata
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in German
&
English
United Kingdom
Transcreation, Marketing/PR, Literary
Native in: English 
, German
Works in: English to German, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
1326
nincompoop
what a great word!
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:41:38 (GMT)
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Leo also has: simpleton, tomfool, and various others I\'ve never heard of
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:45:38 (GMT)
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Your exact choice of word obviously greatly depends on your context, how formal/colloquial your text is etc.
Duden has:
ein einfältiger Mensch
arglos- gutmütig, nicht schlau oder raffiniert,
geistig etwas beschränkt, nicht von rascher Auffassungsgabe
If you\'re able to rephrase, there are all sorts of wonderful images you can use:
not the sharpest tool in the box
a sandwich short of a picnic
etc
hope it helps
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Note added at 2003-07-08 16:41:38 (GMT)
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Leo also has: simpleton, tomfool, and various others I\'ve never heard of
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-07-08 16:45:38 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Your exact choice of word obviously greatly depends on your context, how formal/colloquial your text is etc.
Duden has:
ein einfältiger Mensch
arglos- gutmütig, nicht schlau oder raffiniert,
geistig etwas beschränkt, nicht von rascher Auffassungsgabe
If you\'re able to rephrase, there are all sorts of wonderful images you can use:
not the sharpest tool in the box
a sandwich short of a picnic
etc
hope it helps
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Alexander Schleber (X)
: Sounds very good for "Einfaltspinsel". Einfalt = simplicity.
2 mins
|
|
typo, of course
|
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| agree |
John Bowden
: Yes, it's nice Tony Hancock-type word - "You buffoon" was another favourite of his!
3 mins
|
|
hardly heard these days, like whippersnapper, another lovely word ;-))
|
|
| agree |
desiderata (X)
: Right, a typo or maybe the newest variation of Einfaltspinsel, the standard word.
8 mins
|
|
thanks
|
|
| agree |
Simona de Logu
11 mins
|
|
thank you
|
|
| agree |
jerrie
: simpleton seems to be quite popular (takes me back about 30 years, though) http://www.dict.cc/browse/536.php
37 mins
|
|
both quite old-fashioned, before my time of course ;-)
|
|
| agree |
Сергей Лузан
: Langenscheidt confirms nincompoop, Collins - simpleton.
1 hr
|
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yes, both could be used
|
|
| agree |
Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
1 hr
|
|
danke
|
|
| agree |
heikeb
: or simpleton, which get twice as many hits
2 hrs
|
| agree |
Steffen Walter
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
5 hrs
|
| agree |
verbis
6 hrs
|
| agree |
uparis
: And thanks - hadn't heard or used this one for a while
10 hrs
|
+1
9 mins
Kim Metzger
Mexico
Mexico
Native in English
Mexico
Committed to Quality and Service
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
22196
schlemiel/easy touch/gullible person
Wahrig defines the word as argloser Mensch.
Reference:
+1
4 hrs
Nancy Arrowsmith
Native in English
literary and scientific translations
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, Italian to English, English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
474
nincompoop, ninny, dope, simpleton
The German word is EinfaLTSpinsel, though, literally, one who paints a simple picture.
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Note added at 2003-07-08 22:55:40 (GMT)
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I don\'t have my etymological dictionaries here, but the origin is Einfalt, as in simple. There are many more Google hits for Einfaltspinsel as Einfall, which doesn\'t make much sense, any way.
Other possibilities - Simple Simon, naive person, not all there, etc...
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Note added at 2003-07-08 22:55:40 (GMT)
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I don\'t have my etymological dictionaries here, but the origin is Einfalt, as in simple. There are many more Google hits for Einfaltspinsel as Einfall, which doesn\'t make much sense, any way.
Other possibilities - Simple Simon, naive person, not all there, etc...
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
jerrie
: http://www.dict.cc/browse/536.php This link gives both Einfall/Einfaltspinsel for simpleton ;-))
4 mins
|
| agree |
Kim Metzger
: There's no entry in the Duden Universalwörterbuch for Einfallspinsel - only Einfaltspinsel. Same thing goes for Wahrig, which defines Einfaltspinsel as törichter, allzu argloser Mensch.
10 hrs
|
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What I think has happened is a general shift - it's easier to say einfall than einfalts, just like Lupine becomes Lupinie
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