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Micky-Maus-Angaben

English translation: mickey mouse entries

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Micky-Maus-Angaben
English translation:mickey mouse entries
Entered by: Magdalena Kowalska

13:20 Jan 10, 2016
German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research / Affiliate program
German term or phrase: Micky-Maus-Angaben
This comes in an affiliate program description, under disqualifying an application:

Mehrfachangaben, ungültige Angaben, Micky-Maus-Angaben, Bot Einträge, usw.
Magdalena Kowalska
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:29
mickey mouse entries
Explanation:
tell it like it is...
Selected response from:

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 07:29
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5mickey mouse entries
Ramey Rieger (X)
3 +3frivolous entries
Kristina Cosumano (X)
4 +2bogus entries
Usch Pilz
4 +1nonsensical entries
Lisette Vogler-Chase
5comical and unrealistic entries
Protradit1
3Fictitious
Karen Watkins
3inane entries
gangels (X)
Summary of reference entries provided
Mickey Mouse (operation, etc.)
Julia Burgess

Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
nonsensical entries


Explanation:
Mit „Micky-Maus Angaben“ bedeutet ungefähr so viel wie „blödsinnige Angaben“ oder Blödsinn, Unsinn.


    Reference: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=mickey+mouse
Lisette Vogler-Chase
Bulgaria
Local time: 08:29
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Erzsébet Czopyk
21 mins
neutral  writeaway: it's originally an English (US) expression. No need to change the register by suggesting a synonym. There are less slangy terms/words in German too.
38 mins
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
mickey mouse entries


Explanation:
tell it like it is...

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 07:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 81

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: yes, same in English (after all, it is originally an English language expression, but with caps -Mickey Mouse): http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Mickey Mouse http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/mickey-mo...
28 mins
  -> thanks, Writeaway, I know it with and without caps - Disney has problems with the expression
agree  Lisette Vogler-Chase: and you are absolutely correct!!! it is of course originally an american slang expression, so there is really not need to translate it! I probably still needed more coffee this morning:)
2 hrs
  -> Aaaah, coffee!
agree  BrigitteHilgner: I wouldn't have known - live and learn. ;-)
3 hrs
  -> Yeah,it's an endless process, isn't it?
neutral  Eleanore Strauss: this expression is far more prevalent in German areas, & is not used this way (anymore) - another one of those 'American' expressions that has become part of German usage. Actually in current US culture, the mickey mouse connotation is positive
8 hrs
  -> Hi Elli! that really depends on the context, don't you think?
agree  Danik 2014: Let´s give Mickey Mouse its due!
11 hrs
  -> And Minnie Mouse, too!
agree  Lancashireman: Michael Rodent
5 days
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Fictitious


Explanation:
Could you do something with 'fictitious' or 'deliberately incorrect' information?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 mins (2016-01-10 13:33:36 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I meant to write 'fictitious information'!

Karen Watkins
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 13

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Alexander Schleber (X): "mickey mouse enrties are definitely not fictitious, they are just minor or unimportant entries.
4 hrs
agree  Lancashireman: Two comments in the Discussion Box endorsing 'fake' or 'false', so the above disagree is inappropriate.
4 hrs
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36 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
comical and unrealistic entries


Explanation:
As a translation of the pieces of information conveyed in the German phrase, the term "Micky-Maus' means something that is not serious, as for instance, what the German vernacular term "[das ist doch ein] Witz" conveys. This is something said or written in a serious setting, such as an application [ass suggested by the German word "Angaben'], yet however, cannot be taken seriously by the person reading the phrase because it is outside of what can be justified as reaslistic -- it is in a sense invalid primarily because the person analyzing the information simply because that person cannot imagine how the entries could be applied accurately in the given context. However, it does not mean that the person who made the entries did not have any clear intent in mind when the entres were made, which is implied by the answer "nonsensical" as suggested above. In the German, there are two distinctive pieces to the connotation of the German phrase "Micky-Maus Angaben:: (1) comical and (2) unrealistic for the essentially non-responsive part of the entries. Therefore, it would appear that a translation of the full meaning conveyed in the German source phrase would require both of these elements or contextual components.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 41 mins (2016-01-10 14:02:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sorry [ass suggested' above in my answer is a typo made in error and not intended as a comical or unrealistic entry].

Protradit1
United States
Local time: 22:29
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Alexander Schleber (X): There are better solutions.
4 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
frivolous entries


Explanation:
The US Internal Revenue Service uses this word for the arguments of people who file but argue why they don't need to pay taxes.


    https://www.irs.gov/Tax-Professionals/The-Truth-About-Frivolous-Tax-Arguments-Section-III
Kristina Cosumano (X)
Germany
Local time: 07:29
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexander Schleber (X): This certainly is good - mickey mouse is frivilous. SO if you want to avoid slang, this is a better answer.
3 hrs
  -> Thank you Alexander
agree  Eleanore Strauss: As per my other comments. mickey mouse is not used in this way/context in US English. Frivolous or bogus are both appropriate.
6 hrs
  -> Thanks, ElliCom.
neutral  writeaway: Mickey Mouse is used in this way/context in US English. And it's a term understood/used in British English too.
8 hrs
  -> You may be right but I first heard it used this way in Gemany.
agree  Cilian O'Tuama: I've also encountered this expression much more often in German than in English
1 day 9 hrs
  -> Thanks, Cilian!
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
bogus entries


Explanation:
It's all pretend.

Usch Pilz
Local time: 07:29
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Eleanore Strauss: If this was once used in English, it certainly isn't today (cultural and generational issues). Given the context and real life situations, this is the most appropriate response (frivolous would work too)
1 hr
  -> Thank you, ElliCom!
neutral  writeaway: Bogus is far more definite than Mickey Mouse. The German borrows an English term. Why change it?
7 hrs
  -> Good point! I tend to agree. Still, *bogus* MIGHT fit ...
agree  Danik 2014: Another possibility!
9 hrs
  -> Thanks Danik!!
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
inane entries


Explanation:
may be best here. In general, it means something nitpicking/fastidious/small-minded/silly/cheapo/arcane etc.

Example: I run up a $100 bar bill and tip the bartender a single dollar. That would be a micky-mouse tip (or worse).

Pretty sure the author doesn't really know himself what it means. Probably just pilfered it from some English text (what else is new) because it sounds cute to his denglish ears.

gangels (X)
Local time: 23:29
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 40
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Reference comments


4 hrs peer agreement (net): +2
Reference: Mickey Mouse (operation, etc.)

Reference information:
In the original English usage, the idea is that whatever is being done is not being done well / the operation/business is run by fools (so the results won't be of much use). The German usage seems to skip ahead to the results (or in this case, the applications themselves), and describe these as Mickey Mouse.


    Reference: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Mickey+Mouse
Julia Burgess
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this reference comment (and responses from the reference poster)
agree  writeaway: It's a perfectly usable and used term. If the German uses this borrowed term, there's no point in changing the register and giving a different interpretation just for the sake of appearing to "translate"
5 hrs
agree  Ramey Rieger (X)
14 hrs
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