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Nov 29, 2006 04:36
17 yrs ago
German term

(etwas) am Schwanz die Treppe runterploppen

German to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
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!
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 bounced down the stairs (by the tail) / knocked about / "bruised" and "bumped" ...
3 dragged down the stairs by the tail
2 is pulled, rumpledithump, down the stairs by its tail

Proposed translations

+3
3 hrs
Selected

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

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?
Peer comment(s):
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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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for your answer!"
54 mins

dragged down the stairs by the tail

We all know what is meant, but - is there really an expression that softens this?
Peer comment(s):
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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10 hrs

is pulled, rumpledithump, down the stairs by its tail

Pooh's entrance in the Christopher Robin books by A.A. Milne.
Peer comment(s):
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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