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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Bastelbude

English translation:

bodger\'s shop

Added to glossary by Nadine Gliesche (X)
Dec 17, 2009 13:47
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Bastelbude

German to English Other Petroleum Eng/Sci
Es geht um eine unorganisierte Firma, die man auch als "Hühnerverein" oder "Bastelbude" bezeichnet.

Für Vorschläge, im Voraus, herzlichen Dank!
Proposed translations (English)
2 +3 bodger's shop
3 Slapdashery
2 amateurs/hacks/keystone cops

Discussion

Paul Cohen Dec 17, 2009:
@Jonathan Naw, rest assured I saw the old tongue in cheek, old chap! I just couldn't find the facetious button...
Jonathan MacKerron Dec 17, 2009:
@Paul I see that me feeble attempt at humor has gone over like a ton of bricks - did you really think I was serious??
Paul Cohen Dec 17, 2009:
Hühnerverein ... has nothing to do with poultry per se, and any translation in that direction is, in my opinion, probably for the birds.
Helen Shiner Dec 17, 2009:
With Andrew and on the Partridge front!
Lancashireman Dec 17, 2009:
We need to see the word used in context ... but if it's British English you want, then 'shambles (noun) or 'shambolic' (adjective) might serve your purpose.
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/shambolic
Thayenga Dec 17, 2009:
@ Andrew Yes, I have one more than one occassion, though admittedly only for short periods at a time.
Lancashireman Dec 17, 2009:
Thayenga Have you ever visited the UK?
Thayenga Dec 17, 2009:
@ Jonathan I like Partridge Organisation. The way it sounds, it could fit here.
Jonathan MacKerron Dec 17, 2009:
maybe they really are a Chicken Association/Poultry Guild/Hen Society/Partridge Organisation/Fowl Club
Nadine Gliesche (X) (asker) Dec 17, 2009:
Britisches Englisch Thanks a lot for your proposals. In this case, I need a British English translation.
Paul Cohen Dec 17, 2009:
Amerikanisches oder britisches Englisch? In this case, it really is a question of one thing or the other. And it makes a big difference. Most readers in the US would be amused and/or befuddled by "slapdashery" and "bodger's shop"!
Paul Cohen Dec 17, 2009:
On the German use of "oder"... (sarcasm on) Which is it? Are they described as a "Hühnerverein" or as a "Bastelbude"? (sarcasm off).

Proposed translations

+3
15 mins
Selected

bodger's shop

or similar, just to get the ball rolling. Sounds like what we would have referred to as a bodger when I was still a practical mechanic.
Peer comment(s):
agree Helen Shiner : Or Andrew's shambolic 'outfit'
2 hrs
agree Dr. Kathleen Cross : Like it. Could be slightly dated, but most mother-tongue readers will know exactly what's meant, I'm sure.
2 hrs
agree Rolf Keiser
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
21 mins

Slapdashery



Slapdashery!
noun - when there is something random going on: "There's slapdashery afoot!" noun - crappy

Without care; in a slapdash manner; "the Prime Minister was wearing a gray suit .... uncontrolled urban growth, unorganized urban growth), lukraak getrokken ...
www.websters-online-dictionary.org/ha/haphazard.html - Cached
Peer comment(s):
neutral Helen Shiner : This sounds very Victorian and a one-off phrase at that
2 hrs
not too my old ears ...
Something went wrong...
1 hr

amateurs/hacks/keystone cops

jokers/clowns/cowboys/a mess/a joke/what a way to run a business/a dump/job botchers

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-12-17 15:17:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

disreputable/badly run company/couldn't run a business if their lives depended on it/unprofessional/lacking in basic skills/losers/low-life/wouldn't know a Chicken Association if one bit them in the arse

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-12-17 15:22:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

the gang that couldn't shoot straight/their CEOs: Laurel and Hardy/unsavory outfit/effete corps of impudent snobs
Peer comment(s):
neutral Paul Cohen : ... keep 'em rollin' in, Jonathan! The "arse" bit sounds vaguely British to me, old chap. "Laurel and Hardy" is cute but impractical here, low-life is OTT, and unsavory outfit and impudent snobs are somehow off the mark, I dare say! ;-)
1 hr
and of course they were all very serious suggestions on my part...
Something went wrong...
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