https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/bus-financial/25772-um-eins.html
This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. German to English

um eins

English translation: first and foremost

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:um eins
English translation:first and foremost
Entered by: Gregory Mehrten

09:33 Dec 19, 2000
German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial
German term or phrase: um eins
The sentence reads: "Er ging es damals vor allem um eins - er wollte zum Vorsitzenden des Aufsichtsrat ernannt werden."
Gregory Mehrten
United States
Local time: 16:59
first and foremost / was only interested in on thing
Explanation:
You have lots of choices here - "es ging ihm um eins" means that he was only interested in one thing (i.e. becoming chairman), but you could rephrase that as
his first and foremost priority,
his number one goal,
his greatest ambition, etc.

By the way, the sentence you quote is grammatically incorrect - should be "es ging ihm damals vor allem um eins" or "ihm ging es damals..."

At the time, his first and foremost objective was to be appointed chairman of the board.
... his overriding interest / desire was to be appointed...

That should give you some choices - hope it helps

Selected response from:

Ulrike Lieder (X)
Local time: 13:59
Grading comment
Thank you. I incorrectly replaced the man's real name with "Er."
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
naone thing
Eivind Lilleskjaeret
nafirst and foremost / was only interested in on thing
Ulrike Lieder (X)
naWhat mattered most to him then was ...
Tom Funke


  

Answers


9 mins
one thing


Explanation:
"At that time, one thing preoccupied him more than any other - ..."

There seems to be an error in the German sentence: "ER ging es..." should be "IHM ging es...", don't you think?


    Collins Engl. Dict.
Eivind Lilleskjaeret
Local time: 22:59
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian
PRO pts in pair: 65

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Mats Wiman
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

44 mins
first and foremost / was only interested in on thing


Explanation:
You have lots of choices here - "es ging ihm um eins" means that he was only interested in one thing (i.e. becoming chairman), but you could rephrase that as
his first and foremost priority,
his number one goal,
his greatest ambition, etc.

By the way, the sentence you quote is grammatically incorrect - should be "es ging ihm damals vor allem um eins" or "ihm ging es damals..."

At the time, his first and foremost objective was to be appointed chairman of the board.
... his overriding interest / desire was to be appointed...

That should give you some choices - hope it helps



Ulrike Lieder (X)
Local time: 13:59
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in pair: 3525
Grading comment
Thank you. I incorrectly replaced the man's real name with "Er."
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

46 mins
What mattered most to him then was ...


Explanation:
What mattered most to him then was to be appointed to the board of directors/become a board member


    Relevant US marketing, copywriting and translation experience
Tom Funke
Local time: 16:59
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 2419
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations