Sep 5, 2006 07:44
17 yrs ago
German term
flügge werden
German to English
Law/Patents
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
This term originally comes from ornithology, but is often used in connection with children or young adults.
Example: "Wenn die Kinder flügge werden, ändert sich für Eltern vieles, auch finanziell."
(http://www.zeit.de/online/2006/31/Lebenslagen)
I'm not quite sure whether "to fledge" or "to become flledged" could be used in this context - or whether there are any other similar idioms in English.
I'd really appreciate your suggestions.
Example: "Wenn die Kinder flügge werden, ändert sich für Eltern vieles, auch finanziell."
(http://www.zeit.de/online/2006/31/Lebenslagen)
I'm not quite sure whether "to fledge" or "to become flledged" could be used in this context - or whether there are any other similar idioms in English.
I'd really appreciate your suggestions.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +11 | get ready to leave the nest |
Peggy Maeyer
|
| 4 +1 | are ready to flee the nest |
Henry Schroeder
|
| 4 +1 | take wing |
Brie Vernier
|
| 4 | to get one's wings |
David Moore (X)
|
Proposed translations
+11
3 mins
Selected
get ready to leave the nest
when children get ready to leave the nest...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
BirgitBerlin
0 min
|
|
danke!
|
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| agree |
CMJ_Trans (X)
: are ready to or (better still) leave the nest
2 mins
|
|
danke!
|
|
| agree |
Henry Schroeder
: yes, leave is probably even better. And you were quicker.
3 mins
|
|
danke!
|
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| agree |
Victor Dewsbery
: With CMJ_Trans and Henry (just "leave the nest").
9 mins
|
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OK, thanks!
|
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| agree |
Armorel Young
: or fly the next (which I think is what Henry meant instead of flee - it's difficult to flee from somewhere half-way up a tree)
15 mins
|
|
thanks. I think both works, but "flee" is more commonly used IMHO
|
|
| agree |
Mihaela Boteva
2 hrs
|
|
thanks
|
|
| agree |
mill2
: with CMJ_Trans and Henry
2 hrs
|
|
thanks
|
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| agree |
Rebecca Garber
: with CMJ, Heny, and Millay. fwiw, 'flee' googles 548, 'leave' 150k.
5 hrs
|
|
danke!
|
|
| agree |
Julia Lipeles
5 hrs
|
|
danke!
|
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| agree |
rangepost
16 hrs
|
|
danke!
|
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| agree |
Rachel Ward
: Leave or fly.
1 day 46 mins
|
|
danke!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
+1
6 mins
Henry Schroeder
United States
United States
Native in English
Works in field
United States
20 years of experience, certified, ATA
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English, Russian to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
20
are ready to flee the nest
Duden:
flüg|ge <Adj.> [aus dem Niederd. < mniederd. vlügge= flugfähig; beweglich, emsig, zu fliegen]: (von jungen Vögeln) so weit entwickelt, dass erste Flüge möglich sind: die Amseln werden nach drei Wochen f.; Ü die Kinder sind bald f. (ugs., oft scherzh.; [weitgehend] erwachsen; selbstständig).
English:
http://www.books.google.com/books?lr=&q=children flee "nest"...
There are probably some other possibilities however.
flüg|ge <Adj.> [aus dem Niederd. < mniederd. vlügge= flugfähig; beweglich, emsig, zu fliegen]: (von jungen Vögeln) so weit entwickelt, dass erste Flüge möglich sind: die Amseln werden nach drei Wochen f.; Ü die Kinder sind bald f. (ugs., oft scherzh.; [weitgehend] erwachsen; selbstständig).
English:
http://www.books.google.com/books?lr=&q=children flee "nest"...
There are probably some other possibilities however.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
CMJ_Trans (X)
: are ready to FLY the nest
57 mins
|
| agree |
Martin Cassell
: often, colloquially, "FLY the nest" (in UK uage at least)
1 hr
|
18 mins
to get one's wings
So figuratively: "when the children have got their wings,..." IOW when they have LEFT the nest...
The parents don't experience any financial improvement UNTIL then, now do they??
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-09-05 08:57:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
IOW, then: "when they have left the nest", if you are really afraid the suggested (not particularly common slang) phrase will be taken the wrong way...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-09-05 09:00:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Personally, I wouldn't expect too many readers of "die Zeit" to be bothered by a perfectly idiomatic expression like the one I first proposed...
The parents don't experience any financial improvement UNTIL then, now do they??
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-09-05 08:57:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
IOW, then: "when they have left the nest", if you are really afraid the suggested (not particularly common slang) phrase will be taken the wrong way...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-09-05 09:00:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Personally, I wouldn't expect too many readers of "die Zeit" to be bothered by a perfectly idiomatic expression like the one I first proposed...
+1
2 hrs
Brie Vernier
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Works in field
Germany
Bridging the language gap since 1995
Native in: English (Variants: British, UK, US)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
36
take wing
Another option
Example sentence:
Many parents are relieved when their children take wing, but most feel at least a twinge of loss of purpose. And for some, the departure can be devastating, leaving a gaping wound in search of healing.
Discussion