https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/marketing/442115-mitl%E4ufer.html
This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Frischetheke
o.z.

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Mitläufer

English translation:

hanger-on

Added to glossary by Cilian O'Tuama
May 24, 2003 12:31
21 yrs ago
5 viewers *
German term

Mitläufer

German to English Marketing Marketing
Market research. Definition:
Die Mitläufer haben den Drang, überall dabei zu sein, um nicht zu den „Rückständigen“ zu zählen. Stil wird nicht um seiner selbst Willen praktiziert, sondern eher um zu zeigen, daß man „jemand ist“. Einkommen und Bildung sind eher unterdurchschnittlich, und so tut man viel, um „dazuzugehören“.

Thanks again for your ideas, Endre
Proposed translations (English)
4 +8 hanger-on
4 +3 followers ...
3 +3 Hangers on?
4 +2 trend seekers
3 +2 bandwaggoners
4 +1 status seekers
5 pack-runners
4 "in-crowd wannabes"
4 in this context
4 gamma
3 camp followers
3 those who go along with the crowd
3 fellow travellers
3 lemmings
Change log

Mar 27, 2013 11:37: Steffen Walter changed "Field (specific)" from "(none)" to "Marketing"

Proposed translations

+8
13 mins
Selected

hanger-on

maybe even 'sheep'
Peer comment(s):
agree TonyTK : "hangers-on" is the other one that springs to mind - and that is also marketing-speak.
2 mins
agree Mario Marcolin
11 mins
agree David Moore (X)
21 mins
agree Steffen Walter : as well - viele Grüße ;-)
1 hr
agree Gisela Greenlee
2 hrs
agree Roddy Stegemann : See below for plural and a less "sheepy" point of view.
2 hrs
agree heikeb
3 hrs
agree Ron Stelter
1 day 4 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "This time I'm really spoilt for choice, thanks to all for your excellent suggestions."
+2
1 min

bandwaggoners

just a thought

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-05-24 12:43:31 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------



lists.rollanet.org/pipermail/rampage/Week-of-Mon-20020211.txt
... Our reply, go away = bandwaggoners WEAR YOUR COLOURS WITH PRIDE Dez S Urban =3D=3D
Designer =3D=3D -----_NextPart_000_017E_01C1B2E6.8BCBDC60 Content-Type ...
Peer comment(s):
agree Mario Marcolin
23 mins
Thanks Mario
agree Robert Schlarb : In fact, the term "band wagon effect" from social psychology is rendered as "Mitläufer-Effekt" in German; whether or not "bandwaggoners" brings this to mind is, moreover, a moot question
6 hrs
Thanks Robert.
Something went wrong...
6 mins

"in-crowd wannabes"

just a suggestion.

.littered with footnotes. At least half the names on the list belonged to former in-crowders and in-crowd wannabes. I'd have little ...
www.i-cynic.com/weekly_24.asp - 22k

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-05-24 12:39:50 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

(ps-knock my confidence level back to half. is really just a suggestion).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-05-24 14:12:21 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

.. Join the shindig downtown Alive After Five is a weekly party for the crowd that hangs out downtown (and for wannabes who want to be part of that in-crowd). ...
www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/nightlife/ -

.. Felt is a darling with the in-crowd. Named after that soft, fuzzy fabric, the sleek bar/restaurant is always packed with fashionistas and Gucci-clad wannabes. ...
www.passportmagazine.net/07/losangeles.html - 22k

.. in the best to-be-seen zones, some clad in designer gear and the many wannabes in the latest fashion trends, hoping to be spotted as part of the in-crowd. ...
www.propertyzoom.com/pz/neighbourhood/ bangsar/bangsar.htm - 10k

Something went wrong...
+3
14 mins

followers ...

... as opposed to "leaders" (early adopters) at the one end and "laggards" at the other.

Ref: The Kinks: "... he's a dedicated follower of fashion ..."
Peer comment(s):
agree Steffen Walter : the one immediately springing to mind
1 hr
agree Nicole Tata : yes, standard terminology for market segmentation: innovators/leaders, early adopters, followers, late adopters, laggards
5 hrs
agree Ellen Zittinger : the masses
13 hrs
Something went wrong...
+3
40 mins

Hangers on?

guess
Peer comment(s):
agree Gisela Greenlee : already agreed above, but correct plural is hanger-ons
1 hr
agree Roddy Stegemann : According to Webster's New World Dictionary the plural of hanger-on is hangers-on. Of course, Webster is only one authoritative opinion.
2 hrs
agree Armorel Young : yes, the plural is hangers-on - the people are the hangers, not the ons, so it is that word which takes the -s
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

trend seekers

There are those who set trends (trendsetters), and those who seek them out, so as to be a part of the in-crowd. They are of course followers, but not the kind that lag behind the masses; rather that stay ahead in their mindless crusade to be better than most everyone else -- the abhorrence of mediocrity becomes mediocrity itself.

It would seem the word should be composed as one, but my dictionary does not confirm my conjecture.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-05-24 15:07:27 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I have also heard the expression trend seeker in reference to those who research trends. In the context given, however, there is little room for ambiguity.
Peer comment(s):
agree Ellen Zittinger
30 mins
Thanks. By the way, does "MA." stand for Massachusetts or Master of Arts?
agree Mario Marcolin
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

camp followers

Concise Oxford, camp follower - a person who associates with a group without being a full member of it.
It's also defined as a person who is not member of an ingroup.

Camp followers have the urge to be where the action is so as not to be considered out of touch.

To be active physically or mentally is part of every person’s make-up - it is up to each to use and develop their characteristics in accordance with their wishes or ability. Personally I am built for comfort rather than speed!
There are three types of "active" - reactive, active and pro-active - on which comment will be made.

"Reactive" is conservative, initiated when a response to a development is required. Reactive is not a pace setter but rather of the "camp follower" nature.

http://www.nacma.asn.au/news/issue1_4.htm

Reference:

http://www.nacma.asn.au/news/issue1_4.htm

Something went wrong...
2 hrs

those who go along with the crowd

another way of phrasing it...
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

fellow travellers

This term was much in vogue to denote persons who subscribed to communist thoughts without actually being a communist. This was the thing to do especially in the sixties and seventies in countries advocating socialism such as India, my country. It was a question of doing the in-thing.
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

lemmings

Just sprang to mind.

For a read about sheep, followers of fashion and lemmings (?!)....this link has them all (although not in context of question - it's just funny!)
Reference:

http://www.itreviews.co.uk/games/g66.htm

Something went wrong...
4 hrs

in this context

I'd call them 'opportunists'
Something went wrong...
+1
6 hrs

status seekers

Normally, I'd translate Mitlaufer as "conformist", but in this context "status seeker" is more appropriate because of the desire to appear wealthy:

Couple all this with the fact that fashions change, so the status seekers must re-stock, and causes, political alliances and even societal 'right & wrong' standards change, and you have to replace your clothing long before it wears out.

http://www.backwash.com/previewnewsarchive.php?newsid=305
Peer comment(s):
agree Fantutti (X) : I couldn't agree more, William. That's exactly what the German text depicts: a status seeker, and n o t a "Mitläufer" or a "conformist".
12 hrs
Something went wrong...
6 hrs

gamma

With acknowledgement to Aldous Huxley. In fact the term has made inroads into contemporary organizational sociology and describes quite succintly the order of society described in the above text without getting polemical or politically uncorrect (proletariat!).
Something went wrong...
3 days 17 hrs

pack-runners

or simply the "would-be cool."
Something went wrong...