Nichts Halbes und nichts Ganzes

English translation: half-baked

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

German term or phrase:	Nichts Halbes und nichts Ganzes
English translation:	half-baked
Entered by:	Thayenga

13:19 Nov 1, 2017

German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research

German term or phrase: Nichts Halbes und nichts Ganzes

Dear colleagues,

I'm looking for a catchy translation of this phrase: Nichts Halbes und nichts Ganzes.

It's a discussion about changing the appearance of a product.

Since it's a PPT there is not much content.

Thank you!

Thayenga KudoZ activity Questions: 144 (none open) (11 closed without grading) Answers: 1049 Germany
Local time: 05:51

half-baked

Explanation:
Je nach Kontext könnte half-baked passen – im Sinne von unausgegoren.

Das ist nichts Halbes und nichts Ganzes. -> This is a half-baked idea.

Definition of half-baked:
1 a :poorly developed or carried out; a half-baked idea, half-baked research
b :lacking adequate planning or forethought; a half-baked scheme for getting rich
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/half-baked

half-baked ADJ
1(of an idea or philosophy) not fully thought through; lacking a sound basis.
‘half-baked notions of Teutonic superiority’
https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/half-baked

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Note added at 1 hr (2017-11-01 14:20:32 GMT)
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Nothing to write home about wäre noch eine Option, die gut zum nachgelieferten Kontext passen würde.

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Note added at 1 hr (2017-11-01 14:32:49 GMT)
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Oder warum nicht einfach die Aussage herüberbringen? Ohne idiomatische Wendung, dafür ganz natürlich und auf den Punkt. Zum Beispiel so:

Packaging not ideal oder
Packaging needs improvment
oder ähnlich

Selected response from:

Thomas Pfann
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:51

Grading comment

Half-baked along with we can do better sounds like the best option here. Thank you, Thomas. :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +3

neither fish nor fowl

gangels (X)

3 +1

half-baked

Thomas Pfann

wishy-washy

David Hollywood

Meh - neither here nor there

Michael Martin, MA

2 +1

neither good nor bad / neither here nor there

Wendy Streitparth

la-di-dah/ho-hum/dullsville

Ramey Rieger (X)

neither half nor full mast

Yvonne Roith

Let's take this up a notch, shall we?

Melanie Meyer

Discussion entries: 16

Thayenga

Germany

ASKER

@ David

09:09 Nov 5, 2017

Thank you for your comment...which confirms my thoughts. :)

David Hollywood

23:23 Nov 4, 2017

"half-baked" is spot on as it's critical and should get the people involved moving... my "wishy-washy" is less strong and would probably have the same effect, so you decide

David Hollywood

23:20 Nov 4, 2017

this has been a long discussion and the best I feel so far is "half-baked" in your context

Thayenga

Germany

ASKER

Meh

17:58 Nov 2, 2017

I thought "meh" expressed indifference, or perhaps mild/slight disappointment.

The company seems to be rather dissatisfied with the package design, so I believe it should be a stronger (more negative) term.

David Hollywood

17:12 Nov 2, 2017

@ Thomas ok und im Hinblick auf deine Anmerkung, würde ich meinen Vorschlag modifizieren, so etwa "wishy-washy"

Thayenga

Germany

ASKER

@ Brigitte

16:57 Nov 2, 2017

Yes, it is. Apparently they didn't do a great job designing the package, so a little motivation can't hurt. ;)

@ Thomas
Thank you. :)

BrigitteHilgner

Austria

As far as I understand it ...

12:03 Nov 2, 2017

this is about company-internal communication. That has to be honest to solve a problem.

Thomas Pfann

United Kingdom

I like the "we can do better" idea!

11:29 Nov 2, 2017

I like the "we can do better" idea. It's positive and upbeat and yet honest about the problem.

@David: This is not yet about selling the product. This is a company-internal discussion about how their packaging is crap and needs to be improved.

David Hollywood

11:17 Nov 2, 2017

forget literal and wing it

David Hollywood

11:16 Nov 2, 2017

We have to be upbeat as this is a product they want to sell...

Thayenga

Germany

ASKER

How about?

17:04 Nov 1, 2017

Nondescript - we can do better.

BrigitteHilgner

Austria

I like "nondescript"

16:41 Nov 1, 2017

I think this word comes very close to the original.

Alison MacG

United Kingdom

With Brigitte, Armorel & Ramey

16:22 Nov 1, 2017

Nondescript Packaging
A blah label or package can hurt your product sales as well. A plain box, poor choice of colors on the label, or an otherwise nondescript container will be either unappealing or simply go unnoticed on the shelf.
https://soopak.com/blog/6-signs-your-packaging-or-labeling-i...

Armorel Young

or...

15:09 Nov 1, 2017

just plain "bland"

BrigitteHilgner

Austria

run of the mill / generic (packaging)

14:38 Nov 1, 2017

unappealing, dull
Ich glaube, man löst sich in diesem Fall (soweit ich die Erläuterung verstehe) besser vom Original.

Thayenga

Germany

ASKER

They mean...

13:58 Nov 1, 2017

...that the packaging isn't very appealing to consumers, implying that it could contain any type of this product they're trying to sell. It looks like something one could easily overlook because it simply doesn't stand out from the other products/packaging.

And this phrase is part of the header on a few slides.

Hope this helps. :)

Answers

32 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

neither good nor bad / neither here nor there

Explanation:
But I guess they are too obvious

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Note added at 37 mins (2017-11-01 13:56:36 GMT)
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Neither chalk nor cheese
Neither one nor the other

Wendy Streitparth
Germany
Local time: 05:51
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, Wendy. :)

18 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

nichts Halbes und nichts Ganzes

half-baked

Thomas Pfann
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 12

Grading comment

Half-baked along with we can do better sounds like the best option here. Thank you, Thomas. :)

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, Thomas. :)

1 hr confidence:

la-di-dah/ho-hum/dullsville

Explanation:
With the added information...

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 05:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 81

2 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +3

neither fish nor fowl

Explanation:
xxxxx

gangels (X)
Local time: 21:51
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

German
PRO pts in category: 40

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, gangles. :)

18 hrs confidence:

neither half nor full mast

Explanation:
That's my take. This idiom has a negative meaning, not positive.

Yvonne Roith
Germany
Local time: 05:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 4

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, Yvonne. :)

1 day 3 hrs confidence:

wishy-washy

Explanation:
in light of the discussion

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Note added at 1 day3 hrs (2017-11-02 17:14:50 GMT)
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I think this might cover it

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Note added at 1 day3 hrs (2017-11-02 17:16:55 GMT)
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www.dictionary.com/browse/wishy-washy

Wishy-washy definition, lacking in decisiveness

da hast du die Idee

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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2017-11-02 17:19:08 GMT)
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kurz und bündig

David Hollywood
Local time: 00:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 75

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, David. This might fit. - Along with a little encouragement. ;)

1 day 4 hrs confidence:

Meh - neither here nor there

Explanation:
Although a different context, the example below perfectly matches the German meaning in my opinion:

"I hate the little catchwords that come around, but I really was reminded of the current catchword 'meh' when staying at this Hotel.
It was well furnished, but dull and dreary. They desperately need to do something to make this the kind of place to stay. Perhaps they need to hire better managers who can inspire and motivate their staff. They just seem lacking in all respects. Perhaps better training, perhaps better pay, perhaps more appreciation or feedback."

https://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g255115-d523915-...

https://www.redensarten-index.de/suche.php?suchbegriff=~~nic...

"Neither Heaven Nor Hell" could also still work. "Neither fish or fowl" gets the meaning across but sounds a bit dated..
https://condenaststore.com/featured/this-is-neither-heaven-n...

https://www.redensarten-index.de/suche.php?suchbegriff=~~nic...

Michael Martin, MA
United States
Local time: 23:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German,

English
PRO pts in category: 116

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, Michael. :)

3 days 7 hrs confidence:

Let's take this up a notch, shall we?

Explanation:
Another take on your 'We can do better' suggestion.

Melanie Meyer
United States
Local time: 23:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

German
PRO pts in category: 4

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you, Melanie. :)

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Nichts Halbes und nichts Ganzes

English translation: half-baked

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