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(etwas) am Schwanz die Treppe runterploppen

English translation: bounced down the stairs (by the tail) / knocked about / "bruised" and "bumped" ...

04:36 Nov 29, 2006
German to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
German term or phrase: (etwas) am Schwanz die Treppe runterploppen
This phrase appears in a press release about a stuffed animal toy in the following sentence: "Verstehen Sie – ein Stofftier, dass einen tröstet, das zwischen den Generationen vermittelt, das geliebt und geherzt wird, das am Schwanz die Treppe runtergeploppt wird." Any suggestions for a good English translation of this phrase? Thanks so much!
alentrix
English translation:bounced down the stairs (by the tail) / knocked about / "bruised" and "bumped" ...
Explanation:
That's basically what they mean. You drag things down hills, but down steps you inevitably get the "bounce" effect. The toy will repeatedly make a thud sound, which what the "ploppen" as such refers to, BUT I'd say the bounce option is preferable.

In any case, I don't think a literal tanslation is neede here. After all, the main message is that the toy
- gets its fair share of knocks / "bruises and bumps" (even if accidentally)

More context wiuld help, e.g. will your translation be the actual English press release and who is it aimed at?
Selected response from:

Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 18:15
Grading comment
Thanks for your answer!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3bounced down the stairs (by the tail) / knocked about / "bruised" and "bumped" ...
Francis Lee (X)
3dragged down the stairs by the tail
Bettina Grieser Johns
2is pulled, rumpledithump, down the stairs by its tail
Rebecca Garber


  

Answers


54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
dragged down the stairs by the tail


Explanation:
We all know what is meant, but - is there really an expression that softens this?

Bettina Grieser Johns
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:15
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  dwa: maybe plonked down the stairs by its tail - runterploppen is supposed to sound like a childish-careless mistreatment
35 mins
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
bounced down the stairs (by the tail) / knocked about / "bruised" and "bumped" ...


Explanation:
That's basically what they mean. You drag things down hills, but down steps you inevitably get the "bounce" effect. The toy will repeatedly make a thud sound, which what the "ploppen" as such refers to, BUT I'd say the bounce option is preferable.

In any case, I don't think a literal tanslation is neede here. After all, the main message is that the toy
- gets its fair share of knocks / "bruises and bumps" (even if accidentally)

More context wiuld help, e.g. will your translation be the actual English press release and who is it aimed at?


Francis Lee (X)
Local time: 18:15
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 80
Grading comment
Thanks for your answer!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lori Dendy-Molz: maybe "bounce down the stairs behind its owner" - sounds a bit less brutal
17 mins
  -> In fact, "bounced and bundled" might sound less brutal
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): I would avoid: bruised instead:/bounced and bumped
3 hrs
  -> We can all picture and hear the scenario, but is there a single word for it in English?
agree  Bettina Grieser Johns: After having found "bumped" in Milne's "Winnie-the-Pooh" (p.1), I think that's the best option - "bounced" implies that the object has a certain springiness to it, like a ball, which a soft toy doesn't. Also, "bumped" is an onomatopoeic like "ploppen".
17 hrs
  -> Thanks for that superlative reference! (and you seem to have inspired Rebecca) Yes, it'd be nice to reflect the onomatopoeia; "lollop" or "bobb" would be perfect except they're intransitive/active verbs.
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
is pulled, rumpledithump, down the stairs by its tail


Explanation:
Pooh's entrance in the Christopher Robin books by A.A. Milne.


Rebecca Garber
Local time: 12:15
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Bettina Grieser Johns: Just to put the record straight - you beat me to it by 7 hours! I actually didn't see your's before I posted mine. Interesting question here, though: in MY version of "Winnie" there is no "rumpledithump" - is that an American rendering of "bumping"?
16 hrs
  -> Two languages crossed in my head: my daughter liked the sound of the Latin better than the English when she was quite small. Go figure.
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