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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

alles kann ganz anders sein

English translation:

things are not always what they seem

Added to glossary by Sheila Hardie
May 30, 2002 16:19
22 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

alles kann ganz anders sein

German to English Other motto - human resources
Wenn Sie dieser Gruppe angehören, dann versuchen Sie sich folgenden Satz öfter ins Bewusstsein zu rufen: ***„Alles kann ganz anders sein!“*** Das erleichtert Ihnen zum einen, sich nicht mit einer erstbesten Entscheidung zufrieden zu geben. Und zweit-ens verhindert es, dass Sie sich umgehend in ein Thema vertiefen. Im Gegenteil, die genannte Devise spornt Sie an, nach mehreren Optionen zu suchen und sich erst dann konzentriert an die Arbeit zu machen.

I can't think if there is an English equivalent for this motto. Any ideas?

Many thanks in advance.

Sheila
Proposed translations (English)
4 +4 everything can be completely different
4 +4 Take a fresh look at things!
4 +3 Everything is not necessarily the way it looks (or seems)
5 +2 There's got to be another way
4 +2 I / We can make a difference!
4 +2 Things can only get better
4 +2 Don't accept everything at face value.
4 +2 There's more than one way to skin a cat.
4 +2 Think out of the box!
4 +1 I can make it a lot better
4 +1 I am the master of my destiny!
4 +1 it mustn't/needn't (necessarily) be like that
4 +1 Things could be worse.
4 change is good

Proposed translations

+4
38 mins
Selected

everything can be completely different

Things are not always what they seem.

The potential for change exists all around us.

We have an intrinsic potential for change.

Just a few quick impressions.
Peer comment(s):
agree Steffen Walter
3 hrs
Thank you!
agree Andrzej Lejman : it's the meaning
4 hrs
Thank you!
agree brute (X) : Things are not always what they seem!
16 hrs
Thank you!
agree Kim Metzger
17 hrs
Thank you!
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Wow! Can this be a KudoZ-answer record??? Who would have thought a wee phrase like “alles kann ganz anders sein” would have so many translations. It just goes to show that “alles KANN ganz anders sein” – in this case at least 14 different ways. As you can probably imagine, it was very difficult to decide which to choose. Despite the fact I thought it was a good translation, I had to reject the one about skinning the cat – I love cats too much! Anyway, there were lots of fantastic answers, but I can only choose one winner (sounds like I was judging the Eurovision song contest or something!). In the end, I went for “Things are not always what they seem” as it did seem to fit my context best. I know it was kalimeh who first mentioned it in a comment, but Deb was the only one to give it as an answer, so the points must go to her. Many thanks to all of you for your inspired answers. Never before have I seen a set of answers that illustrated the words in the question so well! Sheila"
+1
2 mins

I can make it a lot better

Or: Everything can improved upon!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-30 16:24:18 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: Average is anathema!

ABOVE: Everything can be improved upon.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-30 16:25:59 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: The best solution is on its way.
Or; A better solution is on its way.
Or: We\'re always working toward a better solution.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-30 16:26:33 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: We\'re very, very good, but we can be better!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-30 19:53:51 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: There\'s always room for improvement!
Or: Improvement is just around the corner.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-30 19:54:58 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

THE BEST ONE IS: There\'s always room for improvement.
Peer comment(s):
agree Martin Schmurr : that's what's meant here!
5 mins
Thanks, Martin. We are right.
neutral Andrzej Lejman : It isn't
16 mins
It is!
neutral Steffen Walter : Factor of improvement IMO not involved in original. "anders"="different" not necessarily "better".
4 hrs
If you read the entire context, you will see that the author is asking for improvement or betterment. It makes no sense in this context to say that things can be different.
disagree wrtransco : German sentence has nothing to do with improvement or better!
4 hrs
I thin you need to read the entire context very carefully. It has everything to do with improvement.
agree Deb Phillips (X)
4 hrs
Thanks, Deb.
Something went wrong...
+3
9 mins

Everything is not necessarily the way it looks (or seems)

my take on it
Peer comment(s):
agree Deb Phillips (X)
22 mins
agree Jeannie Graham : or things are not always what they seem
1 hr
Yes, I like that
neutral Andrzej Lejman : is not the meaning or intention of the German sentence according to the context
2 hrs
agree wrtransco : I am with kalimeh
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
10 mins

I / We can make a difference!

HTH
Peer comment(s):
agree Andrzej Lejman : could be
9 mins
thanks
agree Steffen Walter
3 hrs
Thanks
disagree wrtransco : not in this context, however.
4 hrs
Thank you for the input
agree Deb Phillips (X)
4 hrs
Thanks
Something went wrong...
10 mins

change is good

In Formation Magazine - presents a raised finger of warning against the mantra that computers are progress and change is good.
http://www.informationmag.com
More sites about: Cyberculture Magazines
Peer comment(s):
disagree wrtransco : not the meaning of the German sentence.
4 hrs
My, what a controversial phrase!
agree Deb Phillips (X)
4 hrs
many thanks
Something went wrong...
+2
22 mins

Things can only get better

as used by the Labour Party in the run-up to the last election!

or in this case:
Everything can only be better

Good is not good enough
Peer comment(s):
agree Nikki Graham : I like these
3 mins
Thanks Nikki
agree Sarah Downing : The first one also sprang to my mind!:-)
11 mins
We've got a lot to thank the Labour Party for...
neutral Andrzej Lejman : it is not the meaning according to the context
1 hr
neutral Trudy Peters : The German "Devise" doesn't say anything about improvement
1 hr
neutral Steffen Walter : with Trudy
3 hrs
disagree wrtransco : see my comment to Fred.
3 hrs
agree Deb Phillips (X)
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
24 mins

There's got to be another way

or perhaps even a better way

and if you're feeling pessimistic (just a joke) It won't be like this forever!

HTH or at least makes you smile!

Nikki
Peer comment(s):
agree Steffen Walter : the first one sounds nice
3 hrs
Thank you!
agree Deb Phillips (X)
4 hrs
Thanks
Something went wrong...
+2
34 mins

Don't accept everything at face value.

Or "Don't accept the first idea that comes into your head" or "There's more than one option".
Peer comment(s):
agree Deb Phillips (X)
4 mins
agree Steffen Walter : I'd prefer this (and in particular the first option) to all the others, most of them being certainly valid. If there were such thing as "double-agree", it would go to you.
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
41 mins

There's more than one way to skin a cat.

This is what my mother used to say!
Peer comment(s):
agree Steffen Walter : colloquial but nail on the head
3 hrs
agree Deb Phillips (X)
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+4
2 hrs

Take a fresh look at things!

Look at it from a different angle!
see it from a new perspective!
Peer comment(s):
agree Steffen Walter
1 hr
agree Maya Jurt
1 hr
agree Deb Phillips (X)
1 hr
agree Kim Metzger
15 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
4 hrs

I am the master of my destiny!

It boils down to that.
Greetings Sheila.
Peer comment(s):
agree Deb Phillips (X)
6 mins
Something went wrong...
+1
5 hrs

it mustn't/needn't (necessarily) be like that

or
it doesn't have to be like that

More alternatives to confuse you, Sheila :-)
Peer comment(s):
agree Deb Phillips (X)
1 hr
Something went wrong...
+2
6 hrs

Think out of the box!

Or: Act out of the box!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-05-30 22:33:05 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Think beyond the box!
Peer comment(s):
agree Deb Phillips (X)
1 hr
agree Beth Kantus : also "Think outside the box"; also like "things are not always what they seem," or "it could be different than it looks"
15 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
8 hrs

Things could be worse.

Just joking, but while nothing is more certain than change, not every change is for the better.
Peer comment(s):
agree Deb Phillips (X)
13 hrs
Something went wrong...
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