Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
ach der lieber
English translation:
Oh, heavens!
Added to glossary by
Kim Metzger
Aug 12, 2004 21:26
22 yrs ago
8 viewers *
German term
Bruce Schmidt
auch der lieber
used by my German grandfather as an expletive, when us grandchildren got on his nerves.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +4 | ach du lieber/ Heavens! |
Kim Metzger
|
| 4 +4 | Oh, for crying out loud! |
Textklick
|
| 3 +2 | oh, the dear |
Elvira Stoianov
|
| 4 | Heaven help us! |
CMJ_Trans (X)
|
Proposed translations
+4
5 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
:
3
Selected
ach du lieber/ Heavens!
Ach means something like "alas", "my God", "oh". etc. Du lieber is short for Ach du lieber Himmel. Dear heaven.
My great grandfather (born in Arkansas but the son of a German immigrant) used to call his kids "Hosenscheisser."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2004-08-12 21:47:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Hosenscheißer = Hosen: pants; Hosenscheißer: one who goes number 2 in his pants
My great grandfather (born in Arkansas but the son of a German immigrant) used to call his kids "Hosenscheisser."
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2004-08-12 21:47:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Hosenscheißer = Hosen: pants; Hosenscheißer: one who goes number 2 in his pants
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
: Heavens above!
1 hr
|
| agree |
Dr. Fred Thomson
: It goes: Ach du lieber Gott, but they leave the Gott off. Of course some folks say: Ach du lieber Scheissdreck!
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Kirsten Schulze
: Ach du meine Güte, Herrgottsackra, verdammt noch mal! ...lieber Himmel!
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Nancy Arrowsmith
: Ach du lieber Himmel! Kruzidirken!
7 hrs
|
| neutral |
Textklick
: Arkansas, huh? Nicht die Tennessee-Berge? ;-)) Remind me in Ddf to tell you a relevant story by a U.K. performer named Jethro.
16 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+2
2 mins
Elvira Stoianov
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Luxembourg
Currently employed in-house
Native in: Romanian 
, Hungarian
Works in: German to Romanian, English to Romanian, Romanian to German, and 4 more.
oh, the dear
something like that
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 mins (2004-08-12 21:30:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
might be something like oh, dear (Lord)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 mins (2004-08-12 21:30:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
might be something like oh, dear (Lord)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Klaus Herrmann
: Ach du lieber (Gott), presumably
1 min
|
|
danke
|
|
| agree |
Richard Benham
: "The dear" would be "der liebe" (no "r"!)--What about "Ach, du lieber Augustin..."?
15 mins
|
| agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
: with Klaus - Good Grief; My Goodness; Goodness Gracious; and gazillions of others
2 hrs
|
| disagree |
Armorel Young
: oh, the dear is not an expletive - it only means "O how sweet" - oh dear is not an expletive either, just an expression of mild regret
11 hrs
|
+4
25 mins
Oh, for crying out loud!
I'd say the closest adaptation you'd get in UK English "grandparent-speak".
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
: if you take into account the "got on his nerves", the above are not as negative
1 hr
|
|
Cheers Cilian
|
|
| agree |
Johanna Timm, PhD
3 hrs
|
|
Thanks Johanna
|
|
| agree |
jerrie
: Give me strength .... (to throttle the little blighters ;-(((( )
7 hrs
|
|
Thank you Jerrie. (didn't know you were a littler blighter ;-)
|
|
| agree |
Jacqueline McKay (X)
15 hrs
|
|
Thanks Jacqueline
|
8 hrs
Heaven help us!
one more for the pot
Discussion