Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

einen Tick aufs Gas latschen

English translation:

to be a little too accelerator happy

Added to glossary by PoveyTrans (X)
Mar 26, 2008 22:20
16 yrs ago
German term

einen Tick aufs Gas latschen

German to English Other Slang Questionnaire into attitudes to makes of car
As per previous question, also an extract from an online questionnaire into attitudes to drivers of different makes of car.

"who like putting their foot down a bit too much"?

Heidi aus Hamburg: Ich mag keine ABC-fahrer und ich mag auch keine ABCs. Definitiv nicht, das sind in der Regel wildgwordene Ingenieure oder stressgeplagte Aussendienstler, die immer einen Tick zu viel aufs Gas latschen und auf der Autobahn gerne den Vorfahrer bedrängen.
Change log

Mar 26, 2008 23:21: Steffen Walter changed "Term asked" from "einen Ticks aufs Gas latschen" to "einen Tick aufs Gas latschen"

Proposed translations

+5
17 mins
German term (edited): einen Ticks aufs Gas latschen
Selected

a little too accelerator happy

"accelerator happy" gets some Google hits.
A slightly more literal alternative: are always a little too quick in giving gas.

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Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-26 23:28:13 GMT)
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Hi Simon, anything with "gas" would definitely be more American, but I think "... happy" is quite usual/acceptable in the UK. Here are a couple of websites as examples:
http://www.londonnet.co.uk/ln/talk/news/feature-tube.html
(see "Slow Down, Urge Police")
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_an...

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Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-26 23:29:45 GMT)
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I notice these two examples both hyphenate the term: "accelerator-happy"

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Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-26 23:35:18 GMT)
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[I did find a number of websites - all US, I think, so not that useful for Simon - that talked about engines stalling, etc., "when giving gas". But it probably isn't the best phrase here - I take it back!! :) ]

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Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-26 23:47:52 GMT)
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Sorry - no hyphen after all!
"who are a little too accelerator happy" is correct.
(whereas the examples talk about "accelerator-happy drivers")
Thanks, Andrew.
Note from asker:
Thanks. Do you happen to know if this is US or UK? I am looking for UK...
Peer comment(s):

agree Hilary Davies Shelby : i like "accelerator-happy" - sounds quite British to me, too, so would work well. "Giving gas" is a bit too literal for "gas geben", though!
53 mins
Thanks, Hilary
agree Lancashireman : with your first suggestion
59 mins
Thanks, Andrew
agree Paul Skidmore
11 hrs
Thanks, Paul
agree LP Schumacher : seems to suit "Heidi's" tone best
11 hrs
Thanks, Liesl
agree Colin Rowe : "Accelerator-happy" works for my British ears. "Gas" definitely more US, but long since recognized in UK also.
13 hrs
Thanks, Colin :)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all. This is a UK question so this is probably the best option here. "
5 mins
German term (edited): einen Ticks aufs Gas latschen

tickle the accelerator a little too much

Not quite "the pedal to the metal" but they are speeding never-the-less. Maybe a more literal translation would be "step a little on the accelerator '
Note from asker:
Thanks. Do you happen to know if these expressions are US only or UK too?
Something went wrong...
+5
54 mins
German term (edited): einen Ticks aufs Gas latschen

have a bit of a lead foot

This is what my driving instructor always said to me...

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Note added at 1 hr (2008-03-26 23:30:24 GMT)
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I can't say for sure if it's US only but it did get some hits:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=safari&rls=en-us&q...
Note from asker:
Thanks Emily. Do you happen to know if these are US only or UK too?
Peer comment(s):

agree Hilary Davies Shelby : I like this - I've only heard it in the US, though
15 mins
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : same here: goes for Canada, too
2 hrs
agree David Moore (X) : AFAIK, the UK expression tends to be "heavy-footed"
10 hrs
agree Rebecca Garber : I know it from US
15 hrs
agree BrettMN : This would work for US English only, but it's great
15 hrs
Something went wrong...
11 hrs

step on the gas (a bit, a bit too much)

This is definitely UK English or I wouldn't know it!
Something went wrong...
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