Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Hemd ist näher als die Hose
English translation:
you have to look out for number 1
Added to glossary by
Gillian Searl
Jul 10, 2006 12:55
17 yrs ago
German term
United Kingdom
Founder & CEO of www.linguagloss.com
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English
Hemd ist näher als die Hose
German to English
Art/Literary
Business/Commerce (general)
Building heating management system
Siemens dürfte darüber nicht sonderlich erfreut sein…
...und an der einen oder anderen Stelle gibt es dort auch so etwas wie Nervosität, aber da ist uns das Hemd natürlich näher als die Hose.
This is an article for a company's magazine. Recently a lot of key posts have been filled with Siemens managers.
...und an der einen oder anderen Stelle gibt es dort auch so etwas wie Nervosität, aber da ist uns das Hemd natürlich näher als die Hose.
This is an article for a company's magazine. Recently a lot of key posts have been filled with Siemens managers.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+5
18 mins
Selected
you have to look out for number 1
This isn't that different from the "charity begins at home" saying, which is the usual translation of "Hemd..." but I think this fits the context better.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I think this is the best - with the politer option from Ian. Thanks"
10 mins
IngePreiss
Germany
Germany
Native in German
Specializes in field
Germany
There is no alternative to quality
Native in: German 
Works in: English to German, German to English
Charity begins at home
hope it helps
Inge
Inge
11 mins
Charity begins at home
As suggested by the Oxford/Duden (and by Van Dale for the equivalent saying in Dutch).
+1
14 mins
Astrid Elke Witte
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Specializes in field
Germany
Precision at your fingertips
Native in: English (Variants: Scottish, British) 
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
15
Charity begins at home
This is the sense of it. I don't know if it is exactly the right translation to use here, but at least you have an idea of the meaning.
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Note added at 18 mins (2006-07-10 13:14:29 GMT)
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Sorry, the other answers were not there when I started answering.
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Note added at 18 mins (2006-07-10 13:14:29 GMT)
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Sorry, the other answers were not there when I started answering.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Ian M-H (X)
: If you're not sure about a suggestion then the confidence levels below 5 could be worth considering.
27 mins
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| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
12 hrs
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36 mins
Roddy Stegemann
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Search HKLNA!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, Japanese to English, French to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
16
German term (edited):
da ist uns das Hemd ist näher als die Hose
we have our own priorities
People would not be fleeing Siemens without could cause, and the company is obviously a competitor.
1 hr
Near is the coat/shirt, but nearer is the shirt/skin
Both used in English but instead of 'the', 'my' is normally preferred
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Ian M-H (X)
: Any evidence for "used in English"? I've never heard them; Google has very little; Brewer thinks it's Latin; an 1894 source says it's a French proverb: http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/mod/1894bulgaria1.html // Interesting ("heard it used" counts most!)
23 mins
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Penguin Dictionary of Proverbs, and I've heard it used, Ian/Also Everyman's Dict. of Quotations and Proverbs (16th cent.)
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| neutral |
HarryHedgehog
: While this shows up in some online lists of proverb translation, it is certainly obscure and hopelessly out of date. I'd sure be scratching my head in puzzlement if I read it...
2 hrs
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I heard it from a fan of proverbs, an old man, so yes, it's likely to be obsolete.
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| neutral |
Michaela Sommer
: @Harry: the German version has the same effect on me though - it wasn't immediately apparent to me what it actually meant.// Might be obsolete & obscure, but no more than the German version so perhaps I should have agreed...
2 hrs
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I understand, really... see answwer to Harry (Hedgehog)
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