"in die Hose" gehen

English translation: down the pan

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:in die Hose gehen
English translation:down the pan
Entered by: Louise Mawbey

12:40 Mar 7, 2006
German to English translations [PRO]
Slang
German term or phrase: "in die Hose" gehen
I am translating a press release about diarrhea and I am struggling with the following sentence:
....damit der Urlaub nicht sprichwörtlich "in die Hose geht"

I can't think of an English equivalent that renders the double meaning of the German sentence.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated!
Sabine Braun
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:21
down the pan
Explanation:
So that your holiday doesn't just go down the pan

Just a tentative suggestion - maybe a bit too colloquial???

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2006-03-07 12:48:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On second thoughts I don't think my suggestion is very appropriate
Selected response from:

Louise Mawbey
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Grading comment
Thanks a lot to all of you! Some great suggestions!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
2 +5down the pan
Louise Mawbey
3 +1down the tube
Ken Cox
4that you don't crap out at vacation time
gangels (X)
3doesn't start to "stink"
doctor_suz
3turns to crap
jccantrell
3won't have to flush your vacation
Nancy Arrowsmith
3so that it isn't pants!
Maureen Millington-Brodie
2become a mess
Eckhard Boehle


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +5
down the pan


Explanation:
So that your holiday doesn't just go down the pan

Just a tentative suggestion - maybe a bit too colloquial???

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2006-03-07 12:48:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

On second thoughts I don't think my suggestion is very appropriate

Louise Mawbey
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks a lot to all of you! Some great suggestions!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  blomguib (X): yes, a very nice one!; down the drain is another possibility
5 mins

agree  mckinnc: It is a bit gross, but it's noit a daft idea. It's the first thing that occurred to me certainly.
5 mins

agree  David Moore (X): Brilliant!
19 mins
  -> Thanks everyone, perhaps it's not as bad as I thought after all!!

agree  Jeremy Amos: Superb suggestion!! Certainly no more gross than the original.
59 mins

agree  Stephen Roche: or down the toilet
4 hrs
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19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
become a mess


Explanation:
Perhaps you can build something like
"So (that) your holiday won't become a mess."

Eckhard Boehle
Germany
Local time: 10:21
Native speaker of: German
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
in die Hose
down the tube


Explanation:
1960's/70s US slang, may be outdated by now

Ken Cox
Local time: 10:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jay Whitten
1 hr
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
doesn't start to "stink"


Explanation:
another way to paraphrase

doctor_suz
United States
Local time: 04:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
turns to crap


Explanation:
Depends on your audience, but this might work

...that your vacation does not literally turn to crap...

jccantrell
United States
Local time: 02:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
that you don't crap out at vacation time


Explanation:
with the additional helpful connotation that you don't lose (crapping out in a dice game)

gangels (X)
Local time: 03:21
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
won't have to flush your vacation


Explanation:
or, you won't have to spend your vacation in the john/toilet/bathroom, depending on target audience
your vacation won't slip out of your control/down the drain

Most translations of German scatological content end up sounding really crude in English, they simply aren't funny...

Nancy Arrowsmith
Local time: 03:21
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
in die Hose gehen
so that it isn't pants!


Explanation:
almost there and hinting at possible outcome!

Maureen Millington-Brodie
United Kingdom
Local time: 09:21
Native speaker of: English
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