Sep 11, 2010 20:32
13 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
3 Decades of Medical Experience
Native in: German (Variant: Germany) 
, English
Works in: German to English, English to German, Afrikaans to English, and 3 more.
weil die Treppe immer von oben gekehrt werden sollte
German to English
Marketing
Advertising / Public Relations
"Beim Klienten bewegen wir uns zwar meist souverän und sensibel; im Umgang untereinander sind wir aber keine Muster-Gesellschaft. Und weil **die Treppe immer von oben gekehrt werden sollte**, sehe ich da insbesondere mich und meine Partnerkollegen in der Pflicht, einen besseren Stil der Kommunikation und Kooperation zu leben."
This is part of a speech for management consultants and their interaction with each other. I know what's meant but can't think of the right English phrase. Any help would be much appreciated.
This is part of a speech for management consultants and their interaction with each other. I know what's meant but can't think of the right English phrase. Any help would be much appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Sep 11, 2010 22:03: Astrid Elke Witte changed "Term asked" from "\"weil die Treppe immer von oben gekehrt werden sollte\"" to "weil die Treppe immer von oben gekehrt werden sollte"
Proposed translations
+2
29 mins
juditcsokoladek
Native in: Hungarian
Works in: English to Hungarian, German to Hungarian, Hungarian to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
German term (edited):
"weil die Treppe immer von oben gekehrt werden sollte"
Selected
You have to start at the top level when implementing changes.
When you are sweeping stairs, it is sensible to start at the top. It is the same if you want to implement changes in an organisation.
Note from asker:
| I opted for your answer, changing it somewhat but basically getting the same message across. Thanks for your help :-) |
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Cilian O'Tuama
: yes, that's pretty much the meaning, but why not use an analogy in the translation too?
46 mins
|
| agree |
phillee
: "Change has to start at the top" is a common phrase and a safe bet that it will be understood. There is no point in using an analogy if is not going to be understood by the target audience.
21 hrs
|
| agree |
szkott
: "Change has to start at the top" - this is a common phrase.
1 day 10 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+4
1 hr
Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
Quality Translations since 1986
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English, German, and 6 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
106
German term (edited):
die Treppe sollte immer von oben gekehrt werden
stairs are best swept from the top down
or "it's best to sweep..."
Dunno if there's a "right English phrase", and this is no worse than the German, IMO.
Or the longer version, "when you sweep stairs, (it's best to) start at the top".
(Grüße)
Dunno if there's a "right English phrase", and this is no worse than the German, IMO.
Or the longer version, "when you sweep stairs, (it's best to) start at the top".
(Grüße)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Nesrin
: Why not?
53 mins
|
| agree |
Trudy Peters
: Why not? :-)
1 hr
|
| agree |
Damian Harrison (X)
: Nice ...
1 hr
|
| agree |
Rolf Keiser
9 hrs
|
| agree |
Helen Shiner
: sounds sufficiently homespun - good one
11 hrs
|
| disagree |
phillee
: I know this phrase in German but have never heard it used in English. Not sure the target audience will appreciate it if it isn't standard management jargon.
20 hrs
|
| neutral |
szkott
: I'm not completely sold on this. It reminds me of an organigram with birds representing bosses, managers and workers - the bosses are on top and everyone below is covered in...
1 day 9 hrs
|
+1
2 hrs
One should always lead by example
While I like Cilian's literal version, you may not, so here's another option.
6 hrs
Gabriella Bertelmann
Native in German
&
English
Specializes in field
Certified Translator/Reviewer 35Y f.t.
Native in: English , German
Works in: German to English, English to German, French to English, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
always clean from top to bottom
common usage phrase
hope this is helpful
hope this is helpful
Peer comment(s):
| disagree |
Armorel Young
: I've never heard of this as a "common phrase" - and without the reference to stairs or something similar it becomes pretty meaningless
16 hrs
|
| agree |
szkott
: This is relatively common. 40,600 GHits. The stairs metaphor is perhaps more visually appealing; however, that doesn't make this phrase meaningless. It has a meaning: always clean from the top to the bottom or you'll get dirty what you've just cleaned.
1 day 4 hrs
|
Discussion