in einer knalligen Farbe streichen

English translation: paint [...] in a bright color

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21:01 Feb 1, 2018

German to English translations [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

German term or phrase: in einer knalligen Farbe streichen

Trying to figure out if this is an idiom, or if I should do a literal translation

"Man könnte doch wunderbar eine der Wände in einer knalligen Farbe streichen."

Discussion about "Talkative" personalities:

Mitarbeiter – Person F (The Talkative)
Sie finden das ganze Thema großartig und wollen sich auch gerne bei der Gestaltung mit einbringen. Man könnte doch wunderbar eine der Wände in einer knalligen Farbe streichen. Sie finden eigentlich alle Ideen ganz gut. Sie wollen auch gerne wissen, ob nicht alle mal wieder zusammen ein After-Work-Bier trinken wollen – Vor 3 Monaten hatte das so super geklappt.

Is it talking about how they like to exaggerate (paint in bright colours) or that they literally like brightly colored walls (haha).

Sorry, I am bad with identifying idioms in German. It trips me up when there is one randomly thrown into a standard text.

KellyMargelony KudoZ activity Questions: 49 (8 open) (4 without valid answers) (1 closed without grading) Answers: 1 United States
Local time: 03:27

English translation:paint [...] in a bright color

Explanation:
I don't see this as a saying/idiom, just a simple statement

Selected response from:

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:27

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +3

paint [...] in a bright color

AllegroTrans

anything but garish

Posted via ProZ.com Mobile

Noelle Crist-See

3 +1

paint the walls in brilliant/garish/vivid colo(u)rs

Ramey Rieger

Discussion entries: 11

Ramey Rieger

Germany

One/We could paint...

10:16 Feb 2

I'd go for 'we' here, simply because I don't like using 'one', although that is what is implied. The subject is non-specific and could also be rendered thus,

It'd be great to paint the walls in brilliant/vivid/neon colors

Björn Vrooman

10:11 Feb 2

Yes, it's a reference to "wollen sich auch gerne bei der Gestaltung mit einbringen." An example. Similar to:

You...and you have so many ideas.... Painting one of the walls in a ... color--that'd be something.

Ramey Rieger

Germany

No, forget the subjunctive.

10:08 Feb 2

It's an inserted sentence, an aside, so to speak. Everyone's eager to have their ideas heard - Man könnte doch wunderbar eine der Wände in einer knalligen Farbe streichen. - is just one of them, a random example of what is being said. Bold is fine, vivid is better :-).

herbalchemist

Germany

@Ramey

10:03 Feb 2

I see. It's something like "You would be up for painting one of the walls... "

Björn Vrooman

Hello Ramey

10:01 Feb 2

I think I saw this question yesterday, but didn't say something; that was before you posted your answer. So my post isn't a direct response to what you said, although, admittedly, I was getting a bit confused by the use of "they." Actually, I think this one is part of a list drawn up by the person doing the presentation.

I don't know whether this is part of British understatement, but "bright" doesn't sit well with me here. Still, I don't think "garish," as in disturbingly or distressingly bright, is a good option in this context. I think it'd be too blunt, considering the apparent sarcasm. I could go with brilliant or vivid; maybe "loud" isn't so good either, but "bold" should fit (it's about uber-motivated, chatty people, IMO).

Best

Ramey Rieger

Germany

Right, Björn,

09:42 Feb 2

the sentence in question is one of the suggestions made by a participant in the discussion (I wasn't referring to MY idea, I was referring to the sentence in question.)

Björn Vrooman

Sie + knallig

09:33 Feb 2

This is a special kind of 3rd-person perspective. Lancashireman is right that this is about "you," not they. It's the polite form, "Sie." You are, in effect, addressing the person directly (the talkative one), but in a way you don't (since you don't know who it is; there's no specific person to address--the topic is "personalities"). None of it is "they."

While I don't like "bright" either, I don't think "garish" fits at all--too many negative connotations. Not entirely certain about crazy; a "loud color" maybe, a vivid one could be, "bold" would probably better suit the context.

But these are just ideas. Enjoy your Friday, all of you!

Ramey Rieger

Germany

Person/perspective switch

09:24 Feb 2

They thoroughly enjoy the topic and are eager to contribute their design ideas. We/You/One could paint the walls in brilliant colors. (This is one of the ideas thrown in). They think all ideas are great.....

herbalchemist

Germany

suggestion for phrasing in English

09:15 Feb 2

"You would be the one to paint [the] wall a crazy color."

BrigitteHilgner

Austria

In my opinion ...

07:08 Feb 2

"knallig" is more than bright - "garish" was my spontaneous idea.
knallrot = garish red
https://www.dict.cc/?s=garish

Lancashireman

United Kingdom

Sie: they or you? "Person F" is singular, so...

22:20 Feb 1

"You think it would be a great idea to paint one of walls a bright colo(u)r."
(Slightly disconcerting the way it switches from sie/Sie to man)

Answers

6 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

paint [...] in a bright color

Explanation:
I don't see this as a saying/idiom, just a simple statement

AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:27
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 20

Grading comment

Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you!

10 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

paint the walls in brilliant/garish/vivid colo(u)rs

Explanation:
Depending on the perspective:

Let's paint the walls in brilliant/garish/vivid colo(u)rs
You could paint the walls in brilliant/vivid/garish colours
It'd be wonderful to paint.....colors
Why not paint the walls in vivid/garish/brilliant colours?

Ramey Rieger
Germany
Local time: 09:27
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 92

7 days confidence:

anything but garish

Explanation:
garish is a negative way of saying "bunt". This would be acceptable if the woman is being rude or sarcastic, but otherwise not.

Noelle Crist-See
Germany
Local time: 09:27
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English

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English translation: paint [...] in a bright color

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