Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
verschroben
English translation:
cantankerous / irascible
Added to glossary by
Damian Harrison (X)
Jul 27, 2007 10:39
16 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
verschroben
German to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
descriptive
From a text about an old man: Thomas ist ein verschrobener Alter.
My dictionary says "cranky" / "eccentric". I´m not really happy with either, other suggestions would be welcome.
Would, for instance, "gnarly" fit?
My dictionary says "cranky" / "eccentric". I´m not really happy with either, other suggestions would be welcome.
Would, for instance, "gnarly" fit?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | odd/weird/eccentric/cranky |
Francis Lee (X)
|
| 4 | Cranky |
senin
|
| 3 +1 | eccentric |
Nicole Tata
|
| 3 | weird |
Stephen Sadie
|
Proposed translations
+1
8 mins
Selected
odd/weird/eccentric/cranky
In fact, "cantankerous" immediately came to mind, but that's not really it
Your own "eccentric" / "cranky" are fine IMO.
Otherwise:
- peculiar old misfit
Depends on the context!
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Note added at 9 mins (2007-07-27 10:49:23 GMT)
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Maybe "cantankerous" (fantastic word!) would fit after all?
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Note added at 19 mins (2007-07-27 10:58:54 GMT)
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- irascible, sullen?
Your own "eccentric" / "cranky" are fine IMO.
Otherwise:
- peculiar old misfit
Depends on the context!
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2007-07-27 10:49:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Maybe "cantankerous" (fantastic word!) would fit after all?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 mins (2007-07-27 10:58:54 GMT)
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- irascible, sullen?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Stephen Sadie
: must agree with cantankerous altho' you sure hedged your bets, francis
11 mins
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Cheers, Francis.
Cantankerous or irascible it is. "
3 mins
Cranky
I would say Cranky.
Example sentence:
He is a cranky old man.
7 mins
Stephen Sadie
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Germany
Practical business experience, reliable
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
20
weird
may work
+1
7 mins
Nicole Tata
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in German
&
English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Transcreation, Marketing/PR, Literary
Native in: English 
, German
Works in: English to German, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
28
eccentric
Hi,
this is a tricky one because verschroben can mean both
- crotchety, bad tempered
- mad, crazy, peculiar
or a combination of both, and we don't really know which one applies.
I think 'eccentric' is a very nice and elegant way of rendering this as it covers both meanings.
hope it helps :-)
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Note added at 12 mins (2007-07-27 10:52:08 GMT)
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Thomas is an eccentric old man
Thomas is a bit of an old eccentric
this is a tricky one because verschroben can mean both
- crotchety, bad tempered
- mad, crazy, peculiar
or a combination of both, and we don't really know which one applies.
I think 'eccentric' is a very nice and elegant way of rendering this as it covers both meanings.
hope it helps :-)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2007-07-27 10:52:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Thomas is an eccentric old man
Thomas is a bit of an old eccentric
Discussion
Weird / eccentric/ peculiar do not fit, unfortunately. A somewhat gruff and stubborn personality, dry humour, yet exceptionally charismatic and quite a humanist. (founder of an SOS-Kinderdorf etc)