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English translation: empty assurances

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Kanzleitrost
English translation:empty assurances
Entered by: Ann C Sherwin

18:57 Jan 4, 2007
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
German term or phrase: Kanzleitrost
This is from an 1865 travel journal. I understand it as a feeble attempt to help that is actually useless. "Bureaucratic runaround" comes to mind, but this does not seem right for the context. The writer is looking for temporary work so he can eat. Here's the sentence:
"Aber ich wurde von der einen zur andern Person geschickt, die ich entweder nicht zu Hause antraf oder wenn zu Hause mit **Kanzleitrost** mich abspeiste."
Thanks for your help.
Ann C Sherwin
Local time: 22:54
empty assurances
Explanation:


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Note added at 8 mins (2007-01-04 19:06:03 GMT)
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abspeisen = to fob off
fobbed me off with empty assurances

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Note added at 19 mins (2007-01-04 19:16:22 GMT)
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For 'Kanzlei-': 'couched in officialese'
fobbed me off with empty assurances couched in officialese

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Note added at 1 hr (2007-01-04 20:02:41 GMT)
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'Assurances' covers both actions that have been taken, are being taken and will be taken. This is why I didn't include 'promises' in the options offered.

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Note added at 17 hrs (2007-01-05 12:34:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The later (adjusted) version continues to attract support. The dictionary definition of 'Trost' is 'comfort, consolation, solace' all of which refer chiefly to disappointments in the past or the present but only by implication to better things to come. 'Empty promises' could be interpreted as meaning that the officials admit to having done nothing so far.
I do not understand the comment elsewhere on this page about one option being 'less formal' than the other. This is not a modern piece of writing (1865). If informality or modernity were criteria here, 'bureaucratic runaround' would fit the context after all.
Selected response from:

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:54
Grading comment
Thanks. Your explanations make good sense.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3empty promises
David Moore (X)
3 +3empty assurances
Lancashireman
4his commiserations were as sincere as the misery that loved my company
Max Masutin


  

Answers


23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
empty promises


Explanation:
is what I think I'd go for.

David Moore (X)
Local time: 04:54
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 40

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  David Earl: For AmE, I'll go with the less formal option for a journal entry.
27 mins
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X)
2 hrs
agree  Henry Schroeder: me too
15 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
his commiserations were as sincere as the misery that loved my company


Explanation:
I think you should go for something like today's "have a nice day" and "we'll be calling you" here. Here's what I came up with:
his consolations were as threadbare as the rug on the steps (first I went for as genuine as the leather of my boots, but was patent leather already invented?)
blessed me with His Majesty's (Kaiser) love for me that I never knew
I found the seat of his trousers very sympathetic
his words were as comforting as the tax-collector's greetings

Max Masutin
Ukraine
Local time: 05:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
empty assurances


Explanation:


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2007-01-04 19:06:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

abspeisen = to fob off
fobbed me off with empty assurances

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2007-01-04 19:16:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

For 'Kanzlei-': 'couched in officialese'
fobbed me off with empty assurances couched in officialese

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2007-01-04 20:02:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'Assurances' covers both actions that have been taken, are being taken and will be taken. This is why I didn't include 'promises' in the options offered.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 hrs (2007-01-05 12:34:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The later (adjusted) version continues to attract support. The dictionary definition of 'Trost' is 'comfort, consolation, solace' all of which refer chiefly to disappointments in the past or the present but only by implication to better things to come. 'Empty promises' could be interpreted as meaning that the officials admit to having done nothing so far.
I do not understand the comment elsewhere on this page about one option being 'less formal' than the other. This is not a modern piece of writing (1865). If informality or modernity were criteria here, 'bureaucratic runaround' would fit the context after all.

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 160
Grading comment
Thanks. Your explanations make good sense.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  vic voskuil: can´t wait to read further lovely extensions :)
18 mins
  -> Thanks, Vic. Circumstances have required me to add yet another note...
agree  Rebecca Garber
27 mins
agree  Paul Cohen
1 hr
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