Da könnte ja jeder kommen

English translation: Any Tom, Dick or Harry could come along and...

20:26 Nov 18, 2014
German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Change processes
German term or phrase: Da könnte ja jeder kommen
I saw this in an article about change processes in businesses, and employees' possible objections...

"We've never done it this way"
"It will be too expensive"
"Da könnte ja jeder kommen"

I've talked with other native-speaking colleaugues, and it's hard to translate into English exactly. Any ideas?
Dr. Andrew Hudson
United States
Local time: 19:37
English translation:Any Tom, Dick or Harry could come along and...
Explanation:
... [various endings to this phrase].
The reason I didn't post it earlier was lack of context to suggest what the appropriate ending would be here. As it stands, though, it sounds incomplete.
Selected response from:

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:37
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7Any Tom, Dick or Harry could come along and...
Lancashireman
2 +3Whatever next?
Susanne Rindlisbacher
3We can't just drop everything/ be expected to jump
Michael Martin, MA
3Who knows what would come of it?
Theo Lazar (X)


Discussion entries: 13





  

Answers


49 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
We can't just drop everything/ be expected to jump


Explanation:
.. each time somebody has an idea..

Or something to that effect. Might work in this general context.



Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 20:37
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 63
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Whatever next?


Explanation:
Das passt zwar nicht richtig in deine Liste, trifft die Aussage je nach Situation aber ganz gut.

Susanne Rindlisbacher
Portugal
Local time: 00:37
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Thomas Pfann: Ich würde sagen, das trifft es recht gut.
1 day 9 hrs
  -> Danke, Thomas

agree  seehand: mit Thomas
6 days
  -> Danke, seehand

agree  Johanna Timm, PhD: das passt doch prima in die Liste!
8 days
  -> Danke, Johanna
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12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Who knows what would come of it?


Explanation:
Can be used to express doubts about a new idea...


    Reference: http://www.linguee.de/deutsch-englisch?query=da+k%F6nnte+ja+...
Theo Lazar (X)
Romania
Local time: 02:37
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in RomanianRomanian
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21 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
Da könnte ja jeder kommen...
Any Tom, Dick or Harry could come along and...


Explanation:
... [various endings to this phrase].
The reason I didn't post it earlier was lack of context to suggest what the appropriate ending would be here. As it stands, though, it sounds incomplete.

Lancashireman
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:37
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 160
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ramey Rieger (X): ...provide any ole context. Still, it's the best bet.
6 mins

agree  Wendy Lewin
47 mins

agree  Horst Huber (X)
3 hrs

agree  milinad
11 hrs

agree  Edith Kelly: Though I would say" Any Tom, Dick AND Harry .... but I suppose same same
14 hrs

agree  Thomas Pfann: Possibly. But would this work as a standalone phrase without the ending? The German phrase is complete as it stands and making up an ending might not be an option.
15 hrs

agree  SuzukiBandit
4 days
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