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Schulterklappen

English translation: (more) seniority

07:18 Apr 13, 2015
German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
German term or phrase: Schulterklappen
This is from a transcript of a telephone call. The context is that the senior person has left the company suddenly and the colleague is unhappy about the situation but supportive of his former boss. They are discussing the former manager's work, his contact with clients and who will take on the role...

"Ich meine, ehrlich gesagt, da brauchst Du schon noch ein bisschen mehr Schulterklappen jetzt als ich sie habe..."

TAI
Roger Matthews
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:59
English translation:(more) seniority
Explanation:
Something along these lines:
"Quite frankly, I think a bit more seniority is required than I have."
('Schulterklappen' are epaulettes, a symbol of rank, but here the sense is, of course, figurative.)
Selected response from:

Clive Phillips
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:59
Grading comment
Thank you to all - very helpful.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2(more) seniority
Clive Phillips
3 +1(enough) stripes
Michael Martin, MA


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


59 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
(more) seniority


Explanation:
Something along these lines:
"Quite frankly, I think a bit more seniority is required than I have."
('Schulterklappen' are epaulettes, a symbol of rank, but here the sense is, of course, figurative.)

Clive Phillips
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:59
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you to all - very helpful.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Clive. You are right - I misread the "Du" as the person he was talking to rather than "man" - as becomes clear from the discussion!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Eckhard Boehle: Sounds good to me!
2 hrs
  -> Thank you, Eckhard.
agree  Jacek Konopka
7 hrs
  -> Thank you, Jacek.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
(enough) stripes


Explanation:
Seniority is a good explanation. Referring to "stripes" (not the ones in your wardrobe) is a common way of getting the same idea across in English. It's also possible that we need the impersonal du here. But that doesn't really impact the rendering of our term here.
Compare with this:

"Sorry Brandon, you don't have enough stripes to even come close to having a public opinion on a coaching decision."
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2014/02/brandon_jenni...

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 01:59
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 63
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you, I hadn't thought of that one.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Horst Huber (X)
5 hrs
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