barking mad

Finnish translation: seinähullu

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:barking mad
Finnish translation:seinähullu

22:14 Mar 30, 2008
English to Finnish translations [Non-PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: barking mad
looking for a translation for the british saying: "barking mad" to the same in 'bad' finnish.
This is for the naming of a boat that was build in Finland in 1970's. It should have a Finnish name we thought.
Up till now I have found:1# haukkuva hullu & 2# hullu hurtta
I don't know what to use.
I speak english, dutch & german
Plse advise
René Struik
seinähullu
Explanation:
The term "seinähullu", I find, is more or less the same as "barking mad" and can be used in a similar derogatory, genteel or kind fashion; lit. "mad as a wall" Don´t know the etymology I´m afraid...
Selected response from:

Mark Thompson
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:28
Grading comment
Basicly I'm trying to translate the english saying 'barking mad to WRONG Finnish in this case.
My next question would be : 'Does 'hulla hurtta'mean Howling (like a dog) crazy ? If so I would prefer that up till now.
Looking forward to a bit more info to get to a final decision.
Cheers René
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +5seinähullu
Mark Thompson


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


56 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +5
seinähullu


Explanation:
The term "seinähullu", I find, is more or less the same as "barking mad" and can be used in a similar derogatory, genteel or kind fashion; lit. "mad as a wall" Don´t know the etymology I´m afraid...

Mark Thompson
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:28
Native speaker of: Native in FinnishFinnish
Grading comment
Basicly I'm trying to translate the english saying 'barking mad to WRONG Finnish in this case.
My next question would be : 'Does 'hulla hurtta'mean Howling (like a dog) crazy ? If so I would prefer that up till now.
Looking forward to a bit more info to get to a final decision.
Cheers René

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Heinrich Pesch
2 hrs
  -> Thank you!

agree  Alfa Trans (X)
6 hrs
  -> Thanks Marju!

agree  Ville Kilkku (X): The origin I've heard is that long ago, difficult patients in psychiatric hospitals were chained to the walls, thus a "seinähullu" was particularly crazy
6 hrs
  -> Thank you very much for that! Makes sense...!

agree  Jussi Rosti
6 hrs
  -> Thank you!

agree  finntranslat (X): yes, this is actually "Mad as the wall", but id would sound much better and fit in to the same category as the original.
8 hrs
  -> Thank you!

neutral  Timo Lehtilä: I would say that 'hullu hurtta' would be an apt name for a boat. I could imagine a Finn to name his boat 'hullu hurtta' but not 'seinähullu'. 'Hullu hurtta' is sth like 'mad hound' in English.
9 hrs
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