seen how the sausage is made

German translation: den Köchen in die Töpfe geschaut

12:48 Dec 5, 2014
English to German translations [PRO]
Marketing - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: seen how the sausage is made
In an Article concerning computer hardware, the author is talking about the manufacturer's extensive test process for "certification with professional software applications", saying, "I have *seen how the sausage is made* and can tell you that this is a very valuable process ..."

I am aware that this has nothing to do with butchery :)

So far, I've come up with

"Ich habe gesehen wie es gemacht wird und kann Ihnen versichern, dass ..."

but I am not happy with my attempt as it seems a bit 'lame' compared to the original.

TIA for any suggestions!
Nora Morrison
Ethiopia
German translation:den Köchen in die Töpfe geschaut
Explanation:
If you wanted to stick with a kitchen related idiom, this might work. Ich habe den Köchen in die Töpfe geschaut und kann bezeugen..." something like that.
Selected response from:

susannecoax
Germany
Local time: 15:48
Grading comment
Thanks, everyone!
Your creativity is amazing!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5den Köchen in die Töpfe geschaut
susannecoax
4einen Blick hinter die Kulissen geworfen
Silke Walter
3habe gesehen/ weiß jetzt wie der Hase läuft
Michael Martin, MA
3kenne die dunklen Seiten der Realität
Norbert Hohl
3Ich weiss jetzt, worauf es dabei ankommt
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
3und kenne (ihr) das Geheimrezept
Ramey Rieger (X)
3ich weiss was alles drin ist
Yorkshireman
3ich weiß genau/aus eigener Erfahrung, worum es dabei geht [worauf es dabei ankommt]
Steffen Walter
3sich in der Praxis (von etwas) überzeugen
Ivo Lang
3über die Schulter geschaut haben
Regina Eichstaedter


Discussion entries: 12





  

Answers


20 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
habe gesehen/ weiß jetzt wie der Hase läuft


Explanation:
Many ways to slice this but this old standby might work.

http://www.redensarten-index.de/suche.php?suchbegriff=~~wiss...

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 09:48
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
den Köchen in die Töpfe geschaut


Explanation:
If you wanted to stick with a kitchen related idiom, this might work. Ich habe den Köchen in die Töpfe geschaut und kann bezeugen..." something like that.

susannecoax
Germany
Local time: 15:48
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks, everyone!
Your creativity is amazing!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, Susanne. I sent it off with your answer - let's see what Client says.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Carolin Haase
16 mins

agree  Jacek Konopka
31 mins

agree  Helga Woggon, Dr. phil.
2 hrs

agree  Lonnie Legg
21 hrs

agree  Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
1 day 22 hrs
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
einen Blick hinter die Kulissen geworfen


Explanation:
Look behind the scenes.
It is related to a saying which has somehow to do something with butchery: "The less people know about sausages and laws are made, the better they sleep in the night."


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Note added at 34 mins (2014-12-05 13:22:13 GMT)
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http://www.newyorker.com/cartoons/bob-mankoff/enjoy
This saying is (mistakenly) accredited to Otto von Bismarck: https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck


Silke Walter
Germany
Local time: 15:48
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
kenne die dunklen Seiten der Realität


Explanation:
Ich glaube, es geht hier um eine Anspielung an die Schattenseiten der realen Praxis, die es gilt, mit Hilfe der Software zu erfassen.

Siehe
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Otto_von_Bismarck
Laws are like sausages. You should never watch them being made.



Norbert Hohl
Australia
Local time: 23:18
Native speaker of: German
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Ich weiss jetzt, worauf es dabei ankommt


Explanation:
etwas freier

Ingeborg Gowans (X)
Canada
Local time: 10:48
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 16
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
und kenne (ihr) das Geheimrezept


Explanation:
I feel a bit more certain about this one, according to the information in the discussion.

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 15:48
Native speaker of: English
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23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
ich weiss was alles drin ist


Explanation:
Or something like this.
...und ich weiss was die darein packen.

"da ist wirklich Fleisch dran" - to get back to butchery

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Note added at 26 mins (2014-12-05 13:14:34 GMT)
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"wie die ihr Süppchen kochen" is another culinary alternative

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Note added at 29 mins (2014-12-05 13:17:45 GMT)
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"was auf der Dose drauf steht, ist auch in der Dose drin."

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Note added at 2 hrs (2014-12-05 15:17:06 GMT)
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"It certainly does what it says on the can" is a common expression

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Note added at 4 hrs (2014-12-05 17:09:49 GMT)
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Modification:

"was auf der Dose drauf steht, ist wirklich auch in der Dose drin."

Yorkshireman
Germany
Local time: 15:48
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Horst Huber (X): Was sie da reinpacken? Nur die berühmten eher kitschigen ...glocken läuten darein.
8 hrs
  -> Yup! missed a space!! Mea culpa. Naja, ist bald Weihnachten!
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
I have seen how the sausage is made
ich weiß genau/aus eigener Erfahrung, worum es dabei geht [worauf es dabei ankommt]


Explanation:
"Ich weiß genau/aus eigener Erfahrung, worauf es dabei ankommt, und kann Ihnen versichern, dass ..."

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Note added at 4 hrs (2014-12-05 17:12:56 GMT)
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Vielleicht auch: Ich kenne das "Innenleben" aus eigener Erfahrung, und ich kann Ihnen versichern, dass ... ("Innenleben" durchaus in Anführungsstrichen).

Steffen Walter
Germany
Local time: 15:48
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 48
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
sich in der Praxis (von etwas) überzeugen


Explanation:
Scheint mit auf diese Situation am besten zu passen.

Ivo Lang
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:48
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 33
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
über die Schulter geschaut haben


Explanation:
nachdem ich den Profis über die Schultern geschaut habe, kann ich guten Gewissens behaupten, ...

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Note added at 3 days20 hrs (2014-12-09 09:28:00 GMT)
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ohne Kochanalogie ;-)

Regina Eichstaedter
Local time: 15:48
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 36
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