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  3. Retail

zahnlos

English translation: ineffectual

16:46 Jun 29, 2009
German to English translations [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Retail
German term or phrase: zahnlos
Allerdings ist jede Technik „zahnlos“, wenn sie nicht optimal genutzt wird.

Thanks.
ClaireReu
Local time: 01:35
English translation:ineffectual
Explanation:
I also think it would be OK to say 'toothless' or even 'toothless and ineffectual'.
Selected response from:

Anne-Marie Grant (X)
Local time: 00:35
Grading comment
Thanks.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +8has no bite (ineffective) or has no teeth
Lingua.Franca
4 +6toothless
ArnoTranslat (X)
3 +1ineffectual
Anne-Marie Grant (X)


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +8
has no bite (ineffective) or has no teeth


Explanation:
Somewhat on the slang side of the spectrum, this, I think has a similar connotation as zahnlos.

Technology not used optimally has no bite.

Lingua.Franca
Spain
Local time: 01:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Birgit Gläser: good analogy
17 mins
agree  Inge Meinzer
20 mins
agree  BirgitBerlin: "no bite" find ich gut.
24 mins
agree  Ingrid Moore
1 hr
agree  Jutta Wappel: mit beiden Birgits
1 hr
agree  Ivan Nieves
5 hrs
agree  O. Korhan KARTIN
13 hrs
agree  Anja Wulf (X): with "has no teeth" or "is without teeth". If something "has teeth", it is said to have power.
1 day 36 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
ineffectual


Explanation:
I also think it would be OK to say 'toothless' or even 'toothless and ineffectual'.

Anne-Marie Grant (X)
Local time: 00:35
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ingrid Moore
50 mins
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
toothless


Explanation:
This literal translation is actually correct and conveys the source's meaning.

"lacking necessary force for effectiveness"

Example sentence(s):
  • A toothless piece of legislation
ArnoTranslat (X)
United States
Local time: 17:35
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  John Fenz
26 mins
  -> Thank you
agree  Ingrid Moore
48 mins
  -> Thank you
agree  michael10705 (X)
2 hrs
  -> Phank you :)
agree  Anne-Marie Grant (X)
6 hrs
  -> Thank you, Anne-Marie!
agree  Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
11 hrs
  -> Danke!
agree  robin25
1 day 12 hrs
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