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empty batteries in US? flat batteries in UK?

English translation: lege batterij/batterij is leeg

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Dutch term or phrase:empty batteries in US? flat batteries in UK?
English translation:lege batterij/batterij is leeg
Entered by: Frank Hesse

03:17 Mar 1, 2005
Dutch to English translations [Non-PRO]
Electronics / Elect Eng
Dutch term or phrase: empty batteries in US? flat batteries in UK?
Dutch has "De batterij is leeg"; there are two target languages: UK English and US English.

Is "flat battery" preferred for UK English and "empty battery" for US English? Or no marked preference?
Hirundo
Local time: 03:48
flat
Explanation:
Flat battery seems to be the common term in Australia.
Selected response from:

Frank Hesse
Mexico
Local time: 12:48
Grading comment
1 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4US: dead battery
Maria Danielson
5 +1exhausted batteries
Marijke Mayer
4 +1flat
Frank Hesse


  

Answers


27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
flat


Explanation:
Flat battery seems to be the common term in Australia.

Frank Hesse
Mexico
Local time: 12:48
Native speaker of: Native in DutchDutch, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rebekah Wils (X): we have flat batteries in the UK
5 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
US: dead battery


Explanation:
We say dead battery here.

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Note added at 1 hr 10 mins (2005-03-01 04:27:30 GMT)
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Empty battery sounds like a Dutchism to me.

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Note added at 1 hr 11 mins (2005-03-01 04:28:10 GMT)
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Flat battery also sounds unfamiliar to me.

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Note added at 1 hr 15 mins (2005-03-01 04:32:19 GMT)
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Googling shows that all three options are possible. Flat and empty are used particularly for rechargeable batteries.

Maria Danielson
United States
Local time: 14:48
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Francina: dead batteries are very common in my household ):
17 mins
agree  bigedsenior: In the US, DEAD and if not completely dead, weak.
55 mins
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
12 hrs
agree  Chris Hopley: 'flat' is BrE
1 day 4 hrs
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
exhausted batteries


Explanation:
Flat (UK) and dead (US) batteries are colloquial expressions and definitely not wrong. If you want a more generic 'Transatlantic' or global version, you could use 'exhausted'. Circa 5.530 Google hits for "exhausted batteries". I also know because I do a lot of IT translations where 'exhausted batteries' is often used.

... Return exhausted batteries Used batteries can be brought back to the place where they were acquired for proper disposal. >, Battery ...
www.widex.co.za/battery.htm - 27k -

[PDF] Stand-Up Ball BlastBestandsformaat: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - HTML versie
... the door. • Remove the exhausted batteries from the battery compart- ment. Properly discard the exhausted batteries. • Insert ...
www.fisher-price.com/inst_sheets/73397d-0920.pdf

Marijke Mayer
Netherlands
Local time: 20:48
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Dutch
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chris Hopley: although 'exhausted' sounds rather formal to my ears
1 day 1 hr
  -> I suppose, that would depend on one's writing style.
neutral  Frank Hesse: flat batteries are an exhausting occurence
2 days 4 hrs
  -> Zo, dacht je van even 'lekker puh!' Siert je niet. Overigens wordt "occurrence" met 2 'r' geschreven.
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