Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
Das eine zum anderen kommen
English translation:
Yeah, you never know what'll happen next
Added to glossary by
Ramey Rieger (X)
Jan 23, 2018 21:01
6 yrs ago
German term
Das eine zum anderen kommen
German to English
Other
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
TV crime drama subtitles
I am subtitling a Swiss crime/police drama (I have a German template as I don't speak Swiss German).
The main character (female, the detective inspector) has just had an awkward dinner with family friends. As she leaves, the son of the family, of a similar age to her (who had invited her to dinner) comes out to apologise to her (N.B. there is no love interest between the son and the main character).
She says:
"Ach was, so sind Familien! Wenn du zu uns kommen würdest, wäre es nicht anders."
He then responds:
Ja, da kommt das eine zum anderen.
She says:
Das ist doch gut. Du bist an einem Ort zu Hause.
He says:
Warum? Du nicht?
She says:
Ich weiss nicht.
He says:
Bist du mit deinem Leben unzufrieden?
She says:
Geht so.
[End of scene]
It is the phrase "da kommt das eine zum anderen" I am unsure of in the context. I had thought of it as meaning "one thing leads to another" or similar, but in this context that doesn't seem to fit.
Perhaps I am missing the wood for the trees. Any help would be most appreciated.
The main character (female, the detective inspector) has just had an awkward dinner with family friends. As she leaves, the son of the family, of a similar age to her (who had invited her to dinner) comes out to apologise to her (N.B. there is no love interest between the son and the main character).
She says:
"Ach was, so sind Familien! Wenn du zu uns kommen würdest, wäre es nicht anders."
He then responds:
Ja, da kommt das eine zum anderen.
She says:
Das ist doch gut. Du bist an einem Ort zu Hause.
He says:
Warum? Du nicht?
She says:
Ich weiss nicht.
He says:
Bist du mit deinem Leben unzufrieden?
She says:
Geht so.
[End of scene]
It is the phrase "da kommt das eine zum anderen" I am unsure of in the context. I had thought of it as meaning "one thing leads to another" or similar, but in this context that doesn't seem to fit.
Perhaps I am missing the wood for the trees. Any help would be most appreciated.
Proposed translations
(English)
Change log
Jan 25, 2018 14:24: Ramey Rieger (X) Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
11 hrs
Selected
Yeah, you never know what'll happen next
This may be too long for your frame time. I've based it on how she responds.
Shorter, similar versions would be:
Yes, there's always something.
Yes, that's how it is.
Shorter, similar versions would be:
Yes, there's always something.
Yes, that's how it is.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much to everyone for their help and suggestion. I chose this answer, because it was the one that most fitted her response. Other suggestions (although I feel they work for the phrase out of context) did not fit her reaction."
2 hrs
One [thing] leads to another
is the closest
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Michael Martin, MA
: Not sure about that. Those things could well be unrelated.
5 hrs
|
14 hrs
Lonnie Legg
Germany
Germany
Native in German
&
English
Specializes in field
Germany
25 years in film industry
Native in: English 
, German
Works in: German to English, English to German
Related KudoZ points
:
47
(little) details add up
Each little affront or uncomfortable interaction in itself may be a trifle, but they can add up: to an unpleasant evening.
Example sentence:
trifles – innocent everyday details add up murder
16 hrs
Wendy Robinson
Germany
Germany
Native in English
Works in field
Germany
DE>EN life sciences, medical devices
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, English, English to German
Yeah, it just gets too much (sometimes) ...
It's just general complaining that families can get on your nerves and that there's a build up of events and comments that can get too much to cope with.
1 day 8 hrs
Michael Martin, MA
United States
United States
Native in German
&
English
Works in field
United States
Creativity wins in the long run
Native in: German (Variant: Germany) , English (Variant: US)
Works in: German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
14
There's more than one issue going on.
This is a tricky one. The German expression is idiomatic but a little vague. To me, it suggests an (unhappy) confluence of stuff that's not necessarily related. If that's true, it doesn't mean one thing leads to another because no logical connection is required. It also doesn't mean little issues build up until they burst out in the open or that stuff just piles up sometimes because that merely suggests that somebody feels overwhelmed.
No worries. That's families for you! It's the same when you visit us.
Yeah, there's more than one issue going on.
But that's good. You know you have a home.
Why? You don't?
Not sure.
Are you not happy with your life?
It's ok.
No worries. That's families for you! It's the same when you visit us.
Yeah, there's more than one issue going on.
But that's good. You know you have a home.
Why? You don't?
Not sure.
Are you not happy with your life?
It's ok.
+1
20 mins
German term (edited):
Da kommt das eine zum anderen
The little things just build up
No single incident caused the embarrassment of the occasion, just a build-up of irritating comments until you feel like exploding.
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Note added at 24 mins (2018-01-23 21:25:12 GMT)
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Alternatively
It's just one thing on top of another
Jede Familie kennt schwierige Zeiten, kleine und größere Probleme oder Streit. Das gehört zum Alltag. Doch es gibt Situationen, da kommt das eine zum anderen. Krisen entstehen durch verschiedene Ursachen und ohne „Schuld“ des Einzelnen.
http://www.fachstelle-kinderschutz.de/cms/front_content.php?...
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Note added at 1 day 15 hrs (2018-01-25 12:17:42 GMT) Post-grading
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You're very welcome. However, I thought your enquiry concerned the general meaning of this phrase rather than the expression on the speaker's face.
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Note added at 24 mins (2018-01-23 21:25:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Alternatively
It's just one thing on top of another
Jede Familie kennt schwierige Zeiten, kleine und größere Probleme oder Streit. Das gehört zum Alltag. Doch es gibt Situationen, da kommt das eine zum anderen. Krisen entstehen durch verschiedene Ursachen und ohne „Schuld“ des Einzelnen.
http://www.fachstelle-kinderschutz.de/cms/front_content.php?...
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Note added at 1 day 15 hrs (2018-01-25 12:17:42 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
You're very welcome. However, I thought your enquiry concerned the general meaning of this phrase rather than the expression on the speaker's face.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Axel Dittmer
11 hrs
|
|
Thanks. Asker went for something that "fitted the speaker's reaction".
|
Discussion
"Text should be limited to a maximum of 38 characters per line; if wide letters such as M and W occur frequently, then limit this to 34 for that line to stay within the text safe area."
http://www.channel4.com/media/documents/corporate/foi-docs/S...
Cf http://translationjournal.net/journal/04stndrd.htm
Best