Grenzgänge zwischen Erfolg und Misserfolg

English translation: The fine line between success and failure

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Grenzgänge zwischen Erfolg und Misserfolg
English translation:The fine line between success and failure
Entered by: SCarlson

13:33 Aug 17, 2012
German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research / Pressetexte
German term or phrase: Grenzgänge zwischen Erfolg und Misserfolg
Grenzgänge zwischen Erfolg und Misserfolg

Titel aus einem Vortrag in dem darüber diskutiert wird, wie wichtig auch Misserfolge sind um zum Erfolg zu gelangen
Simona Volpe-Adeoye
Austria
Local time: 15:06
The fine line between success and failure
Explanation:
Talking about how two things that seem different can be the same, "fine line" is most appropriate.
Selected response from:

SCarlson
Local time: 17:06
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6The fine line between success and failure
SCarlson
3 +2Straddling the line between success and failure
Michael Martin, MA
4at the border between success and failure
Alexander Schleber (X)
3the narrow line between succes and failure
freekfluweel
3the tight line between success and failure
BrigitteHilgner
4 -4Success with the skin of teeth
Salih YILDIRIM


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the narrow line between succes and failure


Explanation:
to get things started...

freekfluweel
Netherlands
Local time: 15:06
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the tight line between success and failure


Explanation:
yet another line ...

BrigitteHilgner
Austria
Local time: 15:06
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 106

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Kate Collyer: how about 'tightrope' if you want to introduce some tension (ho ho)?
2 hrs
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38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
The fine line between success and failure


Explanation:
Talking about how two things that seem different can be the same, "fine line" is most appropriate.

SCarlson
Local time: 17:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kate Collyer
4 mins

agree  Phoebe Indetzki
59 mins

agree  Helen Shiner
6 hrs

agree  philgoddard
21 hrs

agree  gangels (X)
1 day 1 hr

agree  Nicola Wood
1 day 20 hrs
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47 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
at the border between success and failure


Explanation:
Fits best with the context IMO.
Grenzgänge = borderlines

Alexander Schleber (X)
Belgium
Local time: 15:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 14
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -4
Success with the skin of teeth


Explanation:
IOmho

Salih YILDIRIM
United States
Local time: 10:06
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Lancashireman: with > by: http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/83000.html
5 hrs

disagree  gangels (X): hope you don't practice dentistry
21 hrs

disagree  Kate Collyer: Wrong both in phrasing and meaning.
1 day 5 hrs

disagree  Kim Metzger: For the linguistic reasons given above.
1 day 6 hrs
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Straddling the line between success and failure


Explanation:
A title sounds more vivid if it contains a verb.

I also like "straddling" because it emphasizes the Grenzgängigkeit of the whole expression.

Other options:

"Walking the tightrope between success and failure."

"Navigating the fine line between success and failure"


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Note added at 11 Stunden (2012-08-18 01:07:44 GMT)
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"Hovering between success and failure" comes to mind as well.

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Note added at 14 Stunden (2012-08-18 03:34:50 GMT)
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"Criss-crossing the divide between success and failure"

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Note added at 14 Stunden (2012-08-18 03:39:58 GMT)
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"Oscillating between success and failure"

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Note added at 14 Stunden (2012-08-18 03:44:15 GMT)
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"Drifting between success and failure"

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Note added at 14 Stunden (2012-08-18 03:59:33 GMT)
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Negotiating the grey areas of success and failure

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 10:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 116
Notes to answerer
Asker: tightrope sounds good in this context as a comparison is made between economy and mountaineering and thanks a lot for your help!!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Trudy Peters: I like the tightrope option
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Trudy.

neutral  Kate Collyer: I suggested tightrope as an alternative to Brigitte's answer... // Thanks :)
1 day 2 hrs
  -> I hadn't seen your comment when I posted this. I will tell Simona to disregard "walking the tightrope" among the options I presented.

agree  Nicola Wood
1 day 13 hrs
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