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  2. German to English
  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

nicht mehr alle Latten am Zaun haben

English translation: a few planks short of a fence

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:nicht mehr alle Latten am Zaun haben
English translation:a few planks short of a fence
Entered by: Sarah Bessioud

04:19 Jan 20, 2011
German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
German term or phrase: nicht mehr alle Latten am Zaun haben
Dieser nette Herr hat nicht mehr alle Latten am Zaun. Schließen Sie Lücken durch personalisierte Produktempfehlungen.

Is this like "nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben"? Or is it meant literally? It's the first sentence in a doc that goes on to talk about customising online shops and making recommendations so customers buy more products.
Thanks
Gillian
Gillian Searl
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:43
a few planks short of a fence
Explanation:
This is a common way of expressing "a few screws loose" in English, which (I believe) began with the expression "two rungs short of a ladder". There are now hundreds of ways of expressing this to fit the occasion, a few of which are listed here: http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t71417.html

I can't help but feel that it is important to keep the idea of the fence in your translation, due to the fact that the gaps then need to be 'filled' with product recommendations. Maybe the text is illustrated, or if online, there may be a 'drag and drop' element. Perhaps worth checking out with the client?
Selected response from:

Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Local time: 12:43
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +8to be missing a few screws / nuts and bolts / marbles / buttons
NGK
4 +7a few planks short of a fence
Sarah Bessioud
5doesn't have all buttons on
gangels (X)
4to be a bit confused as to what you want
Robin Salmon (X)
4to have a screw loose
Wendy Streitparth
4isn't playing with a full deck
Ramey Rieger (X)
3to have lost (all of) one's marbles
Thayenga


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +8
to be missing a few screws / nuts and bolts / marbles / buttons


Explanation:
Normally it's like "nicht alle Tassen im Schrank haben," but the twist here seems to be that it's taken literally, i.e. a customer needs something. So I you might go for something like "This nice gentleman is missing a few buttons. Fix him up with custom-tailored product recommendations." (Of course, if there's an actual picture of a picket fence, you're SOL.)

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Note added at 54 mins (2011-01-20 05:13:32 GMT)
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If you need more ideas, check this out:
http://www.fun-with-english.co.uk/2005/02/politically-correc...

NGK
United States
Local time: 05:43
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 40

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  IngePreiss
28 mins
agree  Johanna Timm, PhD: nice:-) thanks for the link!
1 hr
agree  BrigitteHilgner: Good suggestions.
2 hrs
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: a sandwich short of a picnic
5 hrs
agree  Moira Monney
5 hrs
agree  Cetacea: a couple of burritos short of a combination plate
5 hrs
agree  Clive Phillips: A few cans short of a six-pack or The lights are on but no-one's at home or A kangaroo loose in the top paddock.
8 hrs
agree  Jenny Streitparth
17 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to be a bit confused as to what you want


Explanation:
I think it means, "This nice gentleman is a bit confused as to what he wants. Fill in the gaps for him by making some product recommendations to suit his needs."

Robin Salmon (X)
Australia
Local time: 20:43
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to have a screw loose


Explanation:
Or yes, nicht mehr alle Tassen im Schrank haben is equivalent

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 12:43
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 11
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
isn't playing with a full deck


Explanation:
an alternative

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 12:43
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 70
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
a few planks short of a fence


Explanation:
This is a common way of expressing "a few screws loose" in English, which (I believe) began with the expression "two rungs short of a ladder". There are now hundreds of ways of expressing this to fit the occasion, a few of which are listed here: http://www.toytowngermany.com/lofi/index.php/t71417.html

I can't help but feel that it is important to keep the idea of the fence in your translation, due to the fact that the gaps then need to be 'filled' with product recommendations. Maybe the text is illustrated, or if online, there may be a 'drag and drop' element. Perhaps worth checking out with the client?

Sarah Bessioud
Germany
Local time: 12:43
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cetacea: Even if it isn't important to keep the idea, it's funny just the same...
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Cetacea
agree  British Diana: I hope you get the four points all the same!
3 hrs
  -> Thank you Diana, but the points should go to the most 'fitting' translation - not easy for the asker if her client keeps moving the goalposts;-)
agree  Helen Shiner
3 hrs
  -> Thank you Helen
agree  Horst Huber (X): Yes, it needs to be gently funny. Maybe "has come short a few planks in his fence"?
8 hrs
  -> Thank you Horst
agree  Ramey Rieger (X): Now that is brilliant!
10 hrs
  -> Thanks Ramey
agree  Jenny Streitparth
12 hrs
  -> Thank you Jenny
agree  Colin Rowe: Better late than never!
1 day 8 hrs
  -> Thank you Colin and welcome back to Kudoz ;-)
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1 day 3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to have lost (all of) one's marbles


Explanation:
;)

Thayenga
Germany
Local time: 12:43
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
doesn't have all buttons on


Explanation:
just another definition of our 'maddening times'

gangels (X)
Local time: 04:43
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 14
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