Strenge Rechnung gute Freunde

English translation: Friendship is friendship, but accounts must be kept.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Strenge Rechnung gute Freunde
English translation:Friendship is friendship, but accounts must be kept.
Entered by: Elvira Schmid

15:14 May 25, 2011
German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Advertising / Public Relations
German term or phrase: Strenge Rechnung gute Freunde
Gibt es dafür eine Entsprechung im Englischen?
Danke
Elvira Schmid
Italy
Local time: 06:52
Friendship is friendship, but accounts must be kept.
Explanation:
Mind you, this is a Chinese proverb, not British or American, but its meaning seems to fit the bill, as does its rhythm !

BTW, >9000 google hits für "Strenge Rechnung, gute Freunde" means that it is not that obsolete (vorwiegend in Österreich gängiges Sprichwort.)

Es bedeutet ganz schlicht, dass Geschäft und Freundschaft tunlichst auseinanderzuhalten sind; eine etwas bekanntere deutsche Variante wäre „Beim Geld hört die Freundschaft auf“
Selected response from:

Johanna Timm, PhD
Canada
Local time: 22:52
Grading comment
Danke euch allen!
3 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2even reckoning makes long friends
Kim Metzger
3 +1Friendship is friendship, but accounts must be kept.
Johanna Timm, PhD
3proper billing keeps the friendship
Horst Huber (X)
3Pay fast and stay fast friends
John Hein-Hartmann
3honest accounts/ keep friends (friends)/make friendship last
Ramey Rieger (X)
2Good fences make good neighbors
jccantrell


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
even reckoning makes long friends


Explanation:
Even reckoning makes long friends
Similar English and Irish sayings:
• Short reckonings make long friends
• Short debts (accounts) make long friends
• Prosperity makes friends, and adversity tries them
http://www.english-sayings.com/even-reckoning-makes-long-fri...

Short reckonings make long friends.
Prov. If you borrow something from a friend, pay it back as soon as possible so that the two of you remain friendly. Now that you've finished using Bert's saw, take it right back to him. Short reckonings make long friends.
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/Short reckonings make lo...


Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 23:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 90

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Colin Rowe
9 mins

agree  Inge Meinzer
19 mins

neutral  philgoddard: This sounds odd - it's not a well-known saying, and its meaning will not be clear to most people.
1 hr
  -> Yes, looks like a bad translation from the Chinese.

neutral  Helen Shiner: long friends? Long friendships maybe. I have to agree with phil. I don't recognise any of these phrases and I don't think their meaning is at all clear. Sorry, Kim.
1 hr
  -> Good friends or good friendships.

neutral  John Hein-Hartmann: I agree with Helen and Phil, but the problem may be British English as opposed to American English. The nearest British equivalent tunrs the saying on its head: lend your money and lose your friend.
3 hrs

neutral  Lonnie Legg: with phil.
22 hrs
  -> lasting friends
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
Good fences make good neighbors


Explanation:
What occurred to me first off.

jccantrell
United States
Local time: 22:52
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Colin Rowe: Me too! :-)
4 mins

neutral  Susan Welsh: Me three!
2 hrs

neutral  Lancashireman: Even fences make long neighbours
3 hrs
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
proper billing keeps the friendship


Explanation:
There may be an "established" version. It makes you think of Frost's "Good fences make good neighbors."

Horst Huber (X)
United States
Local time: 01:52
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Lancashireman: Improper invoicing eliminates amicality
3 hrs
  -> Well thank you, naturally.
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Pay fast and stay fast friends


Explanation:
In the context given that we are dealing with something in an hotel.

John Hein-Hartmann
Portugal
Local time: 05:52
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
honest accounts/ keep friends (friends)/make friendship last


Explanation:
It's a bit odd.....wish I had more time

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2011-05-25 19:15:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

friendships

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 06:52
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 45

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Lancashireman: Time is of the essence (old English proverb)
4 mins
  -> To keep up with time, I have to keep running.
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Friendship is friendship, but accounts must be kept.


Explanation:
Mind you, this is a Chinese proverb, not British or American, but its meaning seems to fit the bill, as does its rhythm !

BTW, >9000 google hits für "Strenge Rechnung, gute Freunde" means that it is not that obsolete (vorwiegend in Österreich gängiges Sprichwort.)

Es bedeutet ganz schlicht, dass Geschäft und Freundschaft tunlichst auseinanderzuhalten sind; eine etwas bekanntere deutsche Variante wäre „Beim Geld hört die Freundschaft auf“


Johanna Timm, PhD
Canada
Local time: 22:52
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 43
Grading comment
Danke euch allen!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nicole Schnell
14 hrs
  -> Danke, Nicole :-)
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