This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
a.E.R.
Sachschadenteil
Dec 11, 2009 19:14
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Flachpfeife

German to English Other Slang Schimpfwörter
This is purely out of interest. There's no context as such.

eine Flachpfeife ist jemand, der wenig Ahnung hat, aber überall mitreden möchte/muss.

You know the kind of person I mean? You meet them everywhere. :-)

Is there a good BE equivalent?

TIA,
Cilian
Proposed translations (English)
3 +3 clueless windbag
4 +1 All hat and no cattle
3 +1 all mouth and no trousers
3 saloon bar philosopher
3 see answer below
3 blowhard
3 Douchebag

Discussion

hazmatgerman (X) Dec 16, 2009:
Re Swift question Well, if the target term (which was unknown to me) may have both a "dumbbell" and a "physically challenged" meaning as indicated in my remarks, then I could agree. However if "flaccid pipe" is current usage that might fight better IMO. Best, and thanks for the discussion.
@Cilian O'Tuama: I hope the term made you think of the translator's workplace because of the high-quality linguistic discussions going one here, right? Best.
hazmatgerman (X) Dec 15, 2009:
Den Ausdruck kann man durchaus auch als abfällige Bezeichnung für einen, aus Sicht der anderen, unzureichend ausgestatteten potentiellen LAP sehen.
Cilian O'Tuama (asker) Dec 14, 2009:
Thanks again. esp. @MMUlr: Thanks very much for sharing your personal experience with the word (no one else seems to even know it!). That gives a hint as to where it originated. Dumm wie Brot/Müsli, eine Niete. In my context it's clear it's more than that, and the more I think about it... "know all" or "know-it-all" seems to hit the bill.
MMUlr Dec 14, 2009:
:-) Da hab' ich Flachpfeife in Wikipedia nicht richtig gesucht ... ok, die Lexikon-Autoren haben den Begriff nach ihren Recherchen mit der Bedeutung "will überall mitreden" gefunden, und es ist nur mein persönliches Gefühl von der anderen Bedeutung (allerdings ist die Quelle hinter Wikipedia nicht eindeutig, finde ich; Canoo.net sagt nichts über Bedeutungen und die andere Quelle (Leipzig) schweigt sich in der Richtung auch irgendwie aus ...).
Annett Kottek (X) Dec 14, 2009:
No problem :-) http://de.wiktionary.org/wiki/Flachpfeife
MMUlr Dec 14, 2009:
Thank you, Annett, for your posting - but pls. would you provide the Wikipedia link? Searching the term there, you only get the message that it is not included in Wikipedia (?).
Annett Kottek (X) Dec 14, 2009:
@ MMUIr Until Cilian posted the question, I'd never come across the term. But since Wikipedia defines a 'Flachpfeife' as a 'know-all' kind o' type, I guess there must be some Germans out there who use the word in that way. There's an irreverent entry on Stupidedia (is that allowed here? the humour is very crude, some might say, typically German). But it may help shed more light on usage: http://www.stupidedia.org/stupi/Flachpfeife

They apply it to politicians, and I'm wondering if 'Flachpfeife' could be traced back to the saying 'nach jemandes Pfeife tanzen' - - only that this tune is flat ('flach' = 'ausgedehnt'; 'oberflächlich'; 'platt').
MMUlr Dec 13, 2009:
Still don't see it ... don't see any "Besserwisser" part of Flachpfeife - would pls. somebody from the German native fraction confirm or argue against the "Volltrottel" understanding of Flachpfeife (NOT "will überall mitreden", "will alles besser wissen", "heiße Luft"!)?
Peter Downes Dec 13, 2009:
@Cilian Hi, we used to describe people like this as "smart alecs , know-alls, smart-ass" etc, something like a Besserwisser.
Cilian O'Tuama (asker) Dec 13, 2009:
Thanks for your input, auch auf Deutsch Maybe I didn't provide enough context. sorry 'bout that.
Maybe I should simply ask the sender exactly how she meant it.

I had never heard the term before but it made me think of proz. So I posted it here.

"cowboy" and "prat" so far come closest to my (mis?)understanding, but they don't include the "know-all" aspect. What would you call someone who can't let a topic go by without commenting on it, always believing s/he's in the know?
Just general interest. Thanks again for your thoughts.
c
Tom Feise Dec 12, 2009:
Who was the original Horst? I used to have the US dictionary of slang and euphemisms, but just like some other books, it got lost ... but is was just as "outdated" as MMUJlr's link, but a real treasure trove.
By the way, there are several further euphemisms in German starting with Flach..., some very much below the belt (some Germans of my generation will think of Flachwi*****). I thought Vollhorst is a regional post-reunification invention, because I have only heard that being used by ex-GDR contacts. But who was the original Horst?
Jim Tucker (X) Dec 12, 2009:
In that case, ...then simply "clueless." This would not generally be used by the older generation(s).
MMUlr Dec 12, 2009:
Ach ja ... see this example http://www.dooyoo.de/zeitschrift/spotlight-englisch/ - -> first statement by Maexle - "Ich, in der Schule eine absolute Flachpfeife in Sachen Sprachen, ..." meaning: I had no idea, no talent at all for languages, "nichts gepeilt" :-) .
MMUlr Dec 12, 2009:
Wichtig: Bei dem Begriff die Aktualität beachten @Cilian, entschuldige, aber deutsch kann ich das jetzt besser erklären:
Egal, ob die vorgeschlagenen Begriffe inhaltlich das Richtige wiedergeben - nämlich NICHT "viel heiße Luft", "viel reden, nichts dahinter", sondern -> kompletter Depp, dummer Mensch, von nichts Ahnung, kein gesunder Menschenverstand "schnallt nichts" (das ist nach meine Recherche und eigenem Verständnis die Bedeutung) - wichtig ist die *Aktualität* des Begriffs. Im Deutschen ist der Begriff Pfeife für so jemanden schon etwas länger bekannt, bei älteren Leuten - vor allem im Rheinland - -> "Flitzpiepe", hat aber hier in der Jugendsprache die Erweiterung "Flach-" erhalten. Etwas in der Richtung wie "Flachzange".

Am ehesten kann man die Flachpfeife m.E. mit -> Vollhorst gleichsetzen. Voll- als Erweiterung für Horst, Inbegriff des dummen Menschen.
Zum Einlesen: http://www.t-wie-teenager.de/jugendsprache/index.html (dort ist Flachpfeife oder Vollhorst aber nicht vertreten, mein Sohn würde diese Auflistung sicher schon als veraltet und "mainstream" bezeichnen ... :-) ) Im Engl. muss hier also ein ganz aktueller Jugendbegriff her, nichts, was eure Eltern schon gebraucht haben ...
philgoddard Dec 11, 2009:
Yes, you're quite right, there's no reason why you shouldn't post this as a question.
I don't think bullshitter is that crude - you might not say it to your grandmother, but it does seem to fit the bill.
Cilian O'Tuama (asker) Dec 11, 2009:
So what's a "real" question, phil? I read it today in a mail, addressed to (but not at) me. And I wondered what we'd say in English.

Anyway, thanks for your suggestion, though it's not necessarily a crude equivalent I'm looking for. The German is harmless enough in itself.
philgoddard Dec 11, 2009:
I'm not sure if this qualifies as a real question if it's just something you read in Wikipedia! But it sounds like the equivalent of a bullshitter.

Proposed translations

+3
3 hrs
Selected

clueless windbag

...though I'm not sure how this goes down in the UK.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2009-12-12 08:46:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Given the recent discussion on the meaning up above, I would do "clueless doofus" -- or either of those words separately.
Peer comment(s):
agree Helen Shiner : Fine by me - may not be a standard phrase but works well
30 mins
agree Annett Kottek (X) : Just 'windbag' would do, imo. Or 'gasbag'. Someone who generates a lot of air but nothing of substance. Definitely a bore.
8 hrs
agree Rolf Keiser : sounds good to me
17 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "(Robot is pestering me to grade this.) Thanks everyone. I still haven't found "the" answer, maybe there isn't one. I later thought of "gobshite", but don't know how universally understood that'd be. Or "twat"? Anyway, it was an interesting discussion. Ciao, C (Am not entering it into the glossary, not enough space :-))"
1 hr

saloon bar philosopher

Is the closest I can think of, but perhaps the above could be backtranslated to "Stubengelehrter"?
Something went wrong...
1 hr

see answer below

[n] an obnoxious and foolish and loquacious talker

I looked under "chatterbox" and these are some synonyms I found. You may want to choose one of them. I don't know which ones are British English though. I'd choose "big talker".

Related Terms: agreeable rattle, babbler, big talker, blab, blabber, blabberer, blabbermouth, blatherer, busybody, chatterer, conversationalist, gabber, gabbler, gasbag, gibble-gabbler, gossip, great talker, hot-air artist, idle chatterer, jabberer, jay, magpie, moulin a paroles, newsmonger, patterer, prater, prattler,
Note from asker:
To me, a chatterbox etc. is just someone who talks a lot (of nonsense maybe). A Flachpfeife does that too, but also pretends to be knowledgeable, acts like he's an authority on every subject.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Erich Friese : ...why is everybody beating around the bush ? Where I come from we call that a 'bullshit artist'
8 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

All hat and no cattle

This is my favorite American expression for that kind of person.
The hat reference is probably to a 10-gallon hat, but I'm not sure about that. Just a guess, because the cowboy allusion is unmistakable.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-12-11 20:53:21 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Of course, this can't be used as a noun, only as a descriptive phrase, so I haven't really answered properly. Mea culpa.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-12-11 20:57:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

And horror of horrors, my final sin is the worst - I didn't read the last sentence until after I posted. This is not, of course, remotely BE. Shall I hide my answer, Cilian?
Note from asker:
No, please never hide your answers: Even wrong ones with red disagrees can be helpful, if you know what I mean. Your "cowboy" has got me thinking... Thanks.
Peer comment(s):
agree Michele Johnson : Please don't hide this. Even though it's not BE, I love this. Maybe there are other versions of "All x, no y"?
15 hrs
Thank you, Michele. I really appreciate the cheering section. :-)
Something went wrong...
16 hrs

blowhard

Pretty close to the original, isn't it?
know-it-all
loudmouth

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2009-12-12 11:54:39 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just ran across "walking encyclopedia", used sarcastically of course.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2009-12-12 12:01:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Does "wiseacre" work in BE? Wise guy?
Note from asker:
"know-it-all" is growing on me, thanks M
Something went wrong...
+1
8 mins

all mouth and no trousers

http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/all_mouth_and_no_trousers
http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/19/messages/511.htm...
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=All mouth and...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 mins (2009-12-11 19:28:51 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Alternatively: http://tinyurl.com/y9koj7z

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 23 mins (2009-12-11 19:38:22 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Noun form: loudmouth
Just seen PG's 'bullshitter' which also seems to fit the bill.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 32 mins (2009-12-11 19:46:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I would say that 'no action' was too limited an interpretation of 'no trousers'. I understand it more in the sense of 'no substance'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 40 mins (2009-12-11 19:54:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Take away the 'bragging' element and you're left with a 'pub bore': http://tinyurl.com/y9llema

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2009-12-12 12:14:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

According to native German input from MMUlr, the source term is NICHT "viel heiße Luft", "viel reden, nichts dahinter", sondern -> kompletter Depp, dummer Mensch, von nichts Ahnung, kein gesunder Menschenverstand "schnallt nichts".
That would seem to cast the net much wider to include ‘prats’ and ‘chumps’.
Does it sounds like the person referred to in your original e-mail was ***a bit of a chump***

Britain has had 18 months of declining economic output - our GDP now lower than Italy's. Gordon Brown, once lauded as the "Iron Chancellor", looks a bit of a chump.
http://www.talkcarswell.com/show.aspx?id=1090

The whole phrase comes in at a quarter of a Megagoogle: http://tinyurl.com/yers7z3


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day17 hrs (2009-12-13 12:59:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Re 'cowboy' in BE: In popular parlance, a 'cowboy builder' is someone who rips you off with shoddy workmanship. More broadly, 'cowboys' are disreputable traders. For example, a 'cowboy translator' would take on a job outside his/her capabilities and deliver an unusable text.
http://www.consumerrightsexpert.co.uk/dealing-with-cowboy-bu...


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day17 hrs (2009-12-13 13:02:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Re 'smart alec': I would have thought that 'flach' and 'smart' were diametric opposites.
Note from asker:
Hey Andrew, is that not like "all talk, no action" referring to someone with big plans that never materialise?
I didn't think there was any element of "bragging" in the German. Just me?
Michele's right :-)
Peer comment(s):
neutral Helen Shiner : I thought this was used to describe someone who boasts about his sexual prowess with no justification - at least it is used in this way in my neck of the woods.//?? I have done exactly that but it does not change my view.
3 hrs
KudoZ is a voyage of discovery. Best not to focus too hard on the ‘headline’ term but the whole thread and the latest update. // Apologies. Forgot the obligatory "To get the ball rolling..." Anyway, source term 'Flachpfeife' > 'flaccid pipe' (Geddit?)
agree Michele Johnson : Helen may have a point but this is a great phrase, I overlooked it initially. After MMUlr's input maybe just dumbass or douchebag (which forgive me probably also don't work in BE but I just wanted to throw them out there)./ Not much point either way IMO
1 day 1 hr
Hi Michele. For a classic example of not reading the rest of the page before posting, see below. Shall I tell him or will you?
neutral hazmatgerman (X) : I can't speak on the target term as I did not know it but I appreciate Shiner's interpretation, as it touches on the meaning I know in German.//@Swift: see discussion above.
3 days 11 hrs
So should we take this ‘neutral’ as more towards the ‘agree’ end of the spectrum?
Something went wrong...
1 day 23 hrs

Douchebag

I dont know if its used in BE, though.
Reference:

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=douchebag

Peer comment(s):
neutral hazmatgerman (X) : See above.
1 day 12 hrs
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search