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Durchfahren der Eigenfrequenzen
Jun 8, 2007 15:53
16 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term

den Vogel abgeschossen

German to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
I'm translating a tour guide for a German town, and this is the title of one of the sections, which talks about a meadow in the town where shooters would test their skills by shooting at wooden eagles in competition.
I know what this phrase means, but cannot for the life of me think of anything in English that expresses the meaning whilst retaining the bird analogy. Can anyone help?!!
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 Earning a feather in your cap
2 +4 keep your eye on the birdie
2 +1 The eagle has landed!
3 to surpass everyone; to become distinctive among others
2 Killing two birds with one stone
Change log

Jun 11, 2007 15:34: Steffen Walter changed "Term asked" from "Den Vogel abgeschossen" to "den Vogel abgeschossen"

Discussion

Alexandra Duckitt (asker) Jun 8, 2007:
This is the title of a section - just these three words. The following sentences are "Die “Vogelwiese” verdankt ihren Namen einem alten Brauch. Seit Jahrhunderten war es üblich, sich hier im Vogelschiessen zu messen, d.h. einen Holz-Adler von einer Stange zu schiessen. Seit 1805 konnte der Sieger im Schützenhaus gefeiert werden, das die „Bürgerschützen“ aus eigenen Mitteln errichteten."
Stephen Sadie Jun 8, 2007:
please provide more context, if possible wioth the sentence pbefore this sentence, this sentence and the following sentence. I believe we are referring to the tradition of the German Schützenfest
Alexandra Duckitt (asker) Jun 8, 2007:
Hello! I would like to if I can, because the next several sentences go on to talk about the shooting competitions I mentioned above. In the past it was a feature of the area and how it got its name.
BrigitteHilgner Jun 8, 2007:
Do you need to stick to birds? Is this really something special that it is a kind of highlight in this town?

Proposed translations

+3
18 hrs
Selected

Earning a feather in your cap

Seems to cover both requirements?
Peer comment(s):
agree Stephen Sadie : an excellent alternative to jonathan's proposal// hope the worms are nowhere else!!
1 hr
Cheers. Question was running through my head like an "Ohrwurm".
agree Paul Cohen : A good ornithological solution
1 hr
Thanks Paul.
agree Nicole Schnell : Nice!
11 hrs
Thanks, Nicole
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "In the end I went with "a feather in the marksman's cap" - so thanks to everyone, especially Jonathan, but for me this was closest to the mark!"
+1
33 mins

The eagle has landed!

????
Peer comment(s):
neutral Olaf (X) : Probably doesn't work here without changing the meaning, because "the eagle has landed" usually means that something went as planned. However, "einen Vogel abschießen" usually means that someone did an outstanding job or that someone overdid something.
2 hrs
neutral Cilian O'Tuama : with a thud :-)
5 hrs
agree Textklick : ...but the Schützenverein barrel tapper is stuck in immigration. :p Hiya huns!
19 hrs
Something went wrong...
+4
25 mins

keep your eye on the birdie

???

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Note added at 33 mins (2007-06-08 16:26:34 GMT)
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Bullseye!

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Note added at 34 mins (2007-06-08 16:28:02 GMT)
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a tradition of marksmenship

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Note added at 41 mins (2007-06-08 16:35:01 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

MARKSMANSHIP
Peer comment(s):
agree BrigitteHilgner : This sounds good to me!
2 hrs
agree Textklick : Bullseye! should do it.
3 hrs
agree Cilian O'Tuama : with Mr. Klick - hit the jackdaw
5 hrs
agree Stephen Sadie : right on target
12 hrs
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42 mins

to surpass everyone; to become distinctive among others

den Vogel abschießen - to surpass everyone (ironically). IMO - so you should use the expression when it comes to shooting skills of the competitors. May be to chose the best shooter among the others, who stands out of the crowd ;-) - literally and ironically
Peer comment(s):
neutral Olaf (X) : Your translation is correct, but it wouldn't work in a heading.
2 hrs
neutral Textklick : As the title of a section in a tour guide?
3 hrs
neutral Lancashireman : Asker: "I know what this phrase means, but cannot for the life of me think of anything in English that expresses the meaning whilst retaining the bird analogy."
5 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 days 20 hrs

Killing two birds with one stone

You enjoy a sightseeing tour and get to enter a shooting contest
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