Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
ihr Schäfchen ins Trockene bringen
English translation:
to cover their own butts
Added to glossary by
Steffen Walter
Aug 6, 2004 08:13
19 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term
Schaefchen ins Trockene bringen
German to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
This is the context:
Da die Executives ihre Schäfchen alle ins Trockene gebracht hatten, traf es dann nur noch ein paar zehntausend Angestellte, die ihre Renten- und Pensionen verloren.
I'm having a mental block. Can anyone tell me an equivalent saying in English.
Thanks in advance
Da die Executives ihre Schäfchen alle ins Trockene gebracht hatten, traf es dann nur noch ein paar zehntausend Angestellte, die ihre Renten- und Pensionen verloren.
I'm having a mental block. Can anyone tell me an equivalent saying in English.
Thanks in advance
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
4 hrs
Dr. Fred Thomson
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
A lawyer, technician, nuclear power optr
Native in: English
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
15
Selected
covered their own butts
A bit slangy, but used everyday by millions.
Bcause the executives had covered their won butts
Because the executive had taken care to bprotect their onw interest, bla bla bla
Bcause the executives had covered their won butts
Because the executive had taken care to bprotect their onw interest, bla bla bla
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This works well in this context.
Thanks a lot."
+3
1 min
take care of number one
Duden-Oxford
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
David Moore (X)
: I think this is (justifiably) bitter usage of a German saying which more normally means "to bring home the bacon", i.e. to succeed in a difficult venture
4 mins
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| agree |
Jonathan MacKerron
: or "looking out for number one"
9 mins
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| agree |
Cilian O'Tuama
1 hr
|
+1
2 mins
feather one's nest
You could say "Since the executives have feathered their own nests"
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Note added at 3 mins (2004-08-06 08:16:13 GMT)
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Or \"Since the executives have already looked after their own interests\"
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Note added at 3 mins (2004-08-06 08:16:13 GMT)
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Or \"Since the executives have already looked after their own interests\"
+3
4 mins
had been feathering their own nest
Confirmed by Langenscheidt Encylopaedic
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Christian
: Yes, I also think it should be *had* been feathering or *had* feathered.
7 mins
|
| agree |
Ingrid Blank
16 mins
|
| agree |
Fantutti (X)
48 mins
|
19 mins
to look out for one's own interests
to see oneself all right (Harper Collins)
+2
2 hrs
Heidi Stone-Schaller
Native in German
&
English
The Power of Words - Always on Time
Native in: English 
, German
Works in: English to German, French to English, German to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
3
after the executives had secured their interests,...
While I like the expression "feather your own nest," I just don't think it really catches the meaning of the original in this case. "Schäfchen ins Trockene bringen" doesn't mean just taking care of your own interests but, more particularly, to protect your property, interests (usually achieved in a way which the speaker despises) etc. successfully in a time of crisis.
Reference:
Its people have been impoverished while its rich have grown richer and secured their interests through dollar bank accounts in which to salt away the proceeds of their corruption.
Reference:
Its people have been impoverished while its rich have grown richer and secured their interests through dollar bank accounts in which to salt away the proceeds of their corruption.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Aniello Scognamiglio (X)
2 hrs
|
|
thank you Aniello
|
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| agree |
Amanda A
: SINCE / BECAUSE the executives had ...
2530 days
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