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  2. German to English

in trockenen Tüchern

English translation: will be wrapped up for good

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:in trockenen Tüchern
English translation:will be wrapped up for good
Entered by: Yngve Roennike

17:09 Dec 4, 2002
German to English translations [Non-PRO]
Science
German term or phrase: in trockenen Tüchern
Safe and sound, fine and dandy, I guess, or some other suggestions.

Is this a common saying in German, I've never heard it before.
Yngve Roennike
Local time: 21:40
will be done
Explanation:
In one week everything will be done (and over with)
Selected response from:

Kathi Stock
United States
Local time: 20:40
Grading comment
Okay, I'll go for simplicity. In use since 1981, that explains it, that's when I left D'land.

Vielen dank, allerseits!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5finalised, completed, wrapped up, settled, home and dry
Cilian O'Tuama
4 +1done deal
Klaus Herrmann
4all wrapped up
Alison Schwitzgebel
4will be done
Kathi Stock
4home and dry
m-svenja
3signed, sealed and delivered
Jeannie Graham


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
signed, sealed and delivered


Explanation:
it is a common saying in German

Jeannie Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:40
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 256
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
done deal


Explanation:
Yep. It's a common expression in German, IMO.

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Note added at 2002-12-04 17:22:24 (GMT)
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Some \"official\" confirmation (caution - also entertaining): http://www.linguist.de/sprichwort.html

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Note added at 2002-12-04 19:29:31 (GMT)
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Ok. Won\'t work in the context given in the second [sic] note. Pls. ignore.

Klaus Herrmann
Germany
Local time: 03:40
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 3373

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: good suggestion, unless too colloquial
9 mins
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
finalised, completed, wrapped up, settled, home and dry


Explanation:
some more

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-12-04 19:01:12 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

In reply to Note #2

- how about \'over and done with\'? Or as above (i.e. finalised ...)

Cilian O'Tuama
Germany
Local time: 03:40
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in pair: 7294

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  maid Marion: like the "home and dry" as it seems to fit the German "trockene Tücher"
41 mins
agree  jerrie
1 hr
agree  patpending: "home and dry" is a good translation, though the phrase is a business buzzword...also there's the song for it by "New Order"...
2 hrs
agree  Robert M Maier: home and dry
1 day 18 hrs
agree  Steffen Walter: to patpending: Pet Shop Boys IMHO
5 days
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
all wrapped up


Explanation:
would be my version, to get the idea of the cloth in there. I believe that this phrase comes from changing babies nappies. CF: "Was heißt "etwas ist in trockenen Tüchern"?
Verträge oder Geschäfte sind "in trockenen Tüchern", wenn sie nach langen Verhandlungen endlich abgeschlossen werden. "Unter Dach und Fach sein" kann man synonym verwenden. Der Ausdruck "in trockenen Tüchern sein" ist erst seit 1981 belegt. Möglicherweise liegt die Vorstellung eines gewickelten Babys zugrunde. Genaueres ist aber (noch) nicht bekannt

(Vgl. J. Seifert 1998, "In trockenen Tüchern", in: Der Sprachdienst, 42 Jg., S. 214-218)"


    Reference: http://www.schweinebildchen.de/SAHARA.html#tuecher
Alison Schwitzgebel
France
Local time: 03:40
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 3409
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
will be done


Explanation:
In one week everything will be done (and over with)

Kathi Stock
United States
Local time: 20:40
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in pair: 789
Grading comment
Okay, I'll go for simplicity. In use since 1981, that explains it, that's when I left D'land.

Vielen dank, allerseits!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
home and dry


Explanation:
I learnt it from the Pet Shop Boys

m-svenja
Local time: 03:40
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in pair: 4
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