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Investmentvermögen
Feb 1, 2018 21:01
6 yrs ago
2 viewers *
German term

in einer knalligen Farbe streichen

Non-PRO German to English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Trying to figure out if this is an idiom, or if I should do a literal translation

"Man könnte doch wunderbar eine der Wände in einer knalligen Farbe streichen."

Discussion about "Talkative" personalities:

Mitarbeiter – Person F (The Talkative)
Sie finden das ganze Thema großartig und wollen sich auch gerne bei der Gestaltung mit einbringen. Man könnte doch wunderbar eine der Wände in einer knalligen Farbe streichen. Sie finden eigentlich alle Ideen ganz gut. Sie wollen auch gerne wissen, ob nicht alle mal wieder zusammen ein After-Work-Bier trinken wollen – Vor 3 Monaten hatte das so super geklappt.


Is it talking about how they like to exaggerate (paint in bright colours) or that they literally like brightly colored walls (haha).

Sorry, I am bad with identifying idioms in German. It trips me up when there is one randomly thrown into a standard text.
Proposed translations (English)
4 +3 paint [...] in a bright color
5 anything but garish
3 +1 paint the walls in brilliant/garish/vivid colo(u)rs

Discussion

Ramey Rieger (X) Feb 2, 2018:
One/We could paint... I'd go for 'we' here, simply because I don't like using 'one', although that is what is implied. The subject is non-specific and could also be rendered thus,

It'd be great to paint the walls in brilliant/vivid/neon colors
Björn Vrooman Feb 2, 2018:
Yes, it's a reference to "wollen sich auch gerne bei der Gestaltung mit einbringen." An example. Similar to:

You...and you have so many ideas.... Painting one of the walls in a ... color--that'd be something.
Ramey Rieger (X) Feb 2, 2018:
No, forget the subjunctive. It's an inserted sentence, an aside, so to speak. Everyone's eager to have their ideas heard - Man könnte doch wunderbar eine der Wände in einer knalligen Farbe streichen. - is just one of them, a random example of what is being said. Bold is fine, vivid is better :-).
Herbmione Granger Feb 2, 2018:
@Ramey I see. It's something like "You would be up for painting one of the walls... "
Björn Vrooman Feb 2, 2018:
Hello Ramey I think I saw this question yesterday, but didn't say something; that was before you posted your answer. So my post isn't a direct response to what you said, although, admittedly, I was getting a bit confused by the use of "they." Actually, I think this one is part of a list drawn up by the person doing the presentation.

I don't know whether this is part of British understatement, but "bright" doesn't sit well with me here. Still, I don't think "garish," as in disturbingly or distressingly bright, is a good option in this context. I think it'd be too blunt, considering the apparent sarcasm. I could go with brilliant or vivid; maybe "loud" isn't so good either, but "bold" should fit (it's about uber-motivated, chatty people, IMO).

Best
Ramey Rieger (X) Feb 2, 2018:
Right, Björn, the sentence in question is one of the suggestions made by a participant in the discussion (I wasn't referring to MY idea, I was referring to the sentence in question.)
Björn Vrooman Feb 2, 2018:
Sie + knallig This is a special kind of 3rd-person perspective. Lancashireman is right that this is about "you," not they. It's the polite form, "Sie." You are, in effect, addressing the person directly (the talkative one), but in a way you don't (since you don't know who it is; there's no specific person to address--the topic is "personalities"). None of it is "they."

While I don't like "bright" either, I don't think "garish" fits at all--too many negative connotations. Not entirely certain about crazy; a "loud color" maybe, a vivid one could be, "bold" would probably better suit the context.

But these are just ideas. Enjoy your Friday, all of you!
Ramey Rieger (X) Feb 2, 2018:
Person/perspective switch They thoroughly enjoy the topic and are eager to contribute their design ideas. We/You/One could paint the walls in brilliant colors. (This is one of the ideas thrown in). They think all ideas are great.....
Herbmione Granger Feb 2, 2018:
suggestion for phrasing in English "You would be the one to paint [the] wall a crazy color."
BrigitteHilgner Feb 2, 2018:
In my opinion ... "knallig" is more than bright - "garish" was my spontaneous idea.
knallrot = garish red
https://www.dict.cc/?s=garish
Lancashireman Feb 1, 2018:
Sie: they or you? "Person F" is singular, so... "You think it would be a great idea to paint one of walls a bright colo(u)r."
(Slightly disconcerting the way it switches from sie/Sie to man)

Proposed translations

+3
6 mins
Selected

paint [...] in a bright color

I don't see this as a saying/idiom, just a simple statement
Note from asker:
Thank you!
Peer comment(s):
agree Michael Martin, MA : Correct. No idiom here. This is no specific discussion, just something that's supposed to illustrate the mindset of the so-called talkative type
17 mins
agree writeaway : no idiom. Just everyday German word.
1 hr
agree Anne Schulz : illustrative/stereotyped, but not an idom
12 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
10 hrs

paint the walls in brilliant/garish/vivid colo(u)rs

Depending on the perspective:

Let's paint the walls in brilliant/garish/vivid colo(u)rs
You could paint the walls in brilliant/vivid/garish colours
It'd be wonderful to paint.....colors
Why not paint the walls in vivid/garish/brilliant colours?
Peer comment(s):
agree BrigitteHilgner : Yes - more than bright. // Hello Ramey, I'll probably have to paint something red to brighten up my mood - outdoors, it is one of those grey in grey days. ;-) Have a pleasant weekend.
1 hr
Thanks, Lady Brigitte! Paint the town red!
Something went wrong...
7 days

anything but garish

garish is a negative way of saying "bunt". This would be acceptable if the woman is being rude or sarcastic, but otherwise not.
Something went wrong...
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