den heißen Brei

14:15 Feb 28, 2018 

When I first looked at this, I didn't really occur to me that anybody would use the term "heißer Brei" for anything else but a delicate topic and glossed right over the rest of the source text. So yes, while I like it when people try a new twist on existing idioms, I'd have to agree with BV and others that the choice of words here seems less than refreshing but rather misleading and a bit brainless really..

10:52 Feb 28, 2018 

Ok, thanks @Bjorn. I agree, there's definitely no controversy here, which is why I went for 'hot topic' (topic currently being discussed) rather than 'hot-button topic', although maybe even the 'hot' is a but unnecessary and misleading. I've emailed the client to highlight the fact that it's not clear so will see what they say.

10:21 Feb 28, 2018 

A UK "hot topic" is not necessarily the same as a "hot-button" issue.

https://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/a-hot-issue-topic-etc
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hot button

In the sense of what's trending, e.g. http://metro.co.uk/2017/12/16/weekend-hot-topic-part-1-best-...

There is nothing in the source text to indicate that the issue was controversial. Additionally, as a German native speaker myself, I'm more inclined to agree with Thomas. I am a bit surprised about this "split of opinion" here. Actually, I don't find the use of this phrase "refreshing," but highly embarassing, unless, of course, they were discussing how to market baby food.

Personally, I think there is absolutely no way you can tell from the context provided what they meant to say. Just like Thomas, my best guess would have been "ans Eingemachte" or "um die Wurst."

Best

09:52 Feb 28, 2018 

@philgoddard - yes possibly. I think it was the Amazon headquarters that they were invited to to see what goes on behind the scenes.

09:51 Feb 28, 2018 

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. I wasn't sure if this was an error in the source or a deliberate twist on a standard German idiom so it's good to know that there's a split in opinion and it's not entirely clear! I was trying to get at exactly what the 'heisser Brei' bit of the phrase meant so thanks @Martin and @Alexander in particular for your input on this. In the end I've gone for "Last week was all about that hot topic", which I think (hope!) conveys what the author was getting at.

02:30 Feb 28, 2018 

Could it mean "all was revealed"?
We don't actually know what these people were invited to.

23:17 Feb 27, 2018 

ich stimme Dir zu, es ist wie Du sagst Thomas ... irgendwas lief beim source text schief...

23:10 Feb 27, 2018 

Ich würde auch sagen, dass hier etwas gründlich neben das Ruder lief. Vielleicht ging ja es „um die Wurst“ „oder ans Eingemachte“ oder es gab einen „heißen Tanz“, aber „um den heißen Brei“ ging es ganz sicher nicht. Um den kann man nur „herumreden“ – und wenn man das auf einem solchen Treffen tut, wäre das schade um den Aufwand.

You'll either have to ask the customer or guess what's meant (which is probably not difficult within the context of the article).

22:59 Feb 27, 2018 

https://www.amazon.de/p/feature/fzjxkpkw6oeq4ut

Wo da allerdings ein "heißer Brei", ob nun drumherum geredet wurde oder ob es darum gegangen ist, sein soll verstehe ich nicht ganz. Wenn schon eine Redewendung, dann hat Amazon die Katze aus dem Sack gelassen :)

21:44 Feb 27, 2018 

ich kenne nur: "um den heissen Brei reden", ich glaube hier in dem Text wurde die dt. Redewendung "heisse Brei" nicht richtig verwendet.