Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
dehnen
English translation:
to stretch / to bend (the rules)
Added to glossary by
Woodstock (X)
Mar 8, 2007 16:42
17 yrs ago
German term
dehnen
German to English
Bus/Financial
Accounting
Quarterly earnings
The general context is an article against the current practice of issuing quarterly earnings forecasts because of possible negative consequences. This particular passage is part of an explanation of what corporations do to live up to the expectations of the earnings forecasts (i.e. a negative consequence).
"Um dies zu vermeiden, ist es üblich, Stabilität zu suggerieren und das Rechnungswesen für das gewünschte Ergebnis centgenau *zu dehnen*."
I'm looking for a good English equivalent for ...das Rechnungswesen... zu dehnen. I'm pretty sure I understand what it means, but the only really pithy English expression I can come up with is too strong, I think (cooking the books). Does anyone have a viable alternative? Thanks very much for your help.
"Um dies zu vermeiden, ist es üblich, Stabilität zu suggerieren und das Rechnungswesen für das gewünschte Ergebnis centgenau *zu dehnen*."
I'm looking for a good English equivalent for ...das Rechnungswesen... zu dehnen. I'm pretty sure I understand what it means, but the only really pithy English expression I can come up with is too strong, I think (cooking the books). Does anyone have a viable alternative? Thanks very much for your help.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | to stretch / to tune |
Gert Sass (M.A.)
|
| 3 | to use all tricks of the trade |
BrigitteHilgner
|
| 3 | well now... |
David Moore (X)
|
| 3 | expand |
Bernhard Sulzer
|
| 2 | Vorschlag |
David Seycek
|
Proposed translations
4 hrs
Gert Sass (M.A.)
Germany
Germany
Native in German
Germany
Precision for those who appreciate it.
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English, French to German, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
7
Selected
to stretch / to tune
or to make fit / suit(able to).
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks for the input, all were valid to a certain degree, but I ended up going with "stretch" the accounting rules/guidelines, as opposed to "bend", which I also came up with."
15 mins
BrigitteHilgner
Austria
Austria
Native in German
Austria
b2b/economics/marketing/market research/
Native in: German 
Works in: German to English, French to German, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
26
to use all tricks of the trade
Might work
26 mins
David Seycek
Austria
Austria
Native in German
Austria
engineering, marketing + word power
Native in: German 
, Czech
Works in: English to German, Czech to German, German
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Vorschlag
... to suggest stability by making use of all the accounting leeway and come up with the right result, down to the last cent.
31 mins
well now...
As you say, your own idea might be a little strong; how about "massage (or manipulate) the figures to suit", or perhaps "to us imaginative accountancy"?
8 hrs
Bernhard Sulzer
United States
United States
Native in German
United States
High quality at a reasonable price
Native in: German
Works in: English to German, German to English, German, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
expand
maybe a less dangerously sounding option:
to expand (the) accounting (system) to include all numbers, down to the last cent, in order to reach the projected results.
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Note added at 9 hrs (2007-03-09 02:25:02 GMT)
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or:
expand its results to include all applicable figures, down to the last cent, to show the desired results
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051014/news_1b14go...
expand its quarterly financial results to include an earnings figure that differs from mandated accounting practices.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2007-03-09 02:28:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or:
expand its results with all figures of the accounting system, down to the last cent, in order to show the desired results
expand the accounting figures, down to the last cent, to reflect reaching projected results
to expand (the) accounting (system) to include all numbers, down to the last cent, in order to reach the projected results.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2007-03-09 02:25:02 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or:
expand its results to include all applicable figures, down to the last cent, to show the desired results
http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20051014/news_1b14go...
expand its quarterly financial results to include an earnings figure that differs from mandated accounting practices.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2007-03-09 02:28:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
or:
expand its results with all figures of the accounting system, down to the last cent, in order to show the desired results
expand the accounting figures, down to the last cent, to reflect reaching projected results
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