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Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

(Feld), Wald und Wiese

English translation:

everyday / mundane / run-of-the-mill / common or garden / etc.

Added to glossary by Mary Worby
Aug 6, 2002 10:35
21 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term

Wald- und Wiesenthemen

German to English Marketing Idioms / Maxims / Sayings sales training
From a sales training document. Not much in the way of useful context, I'm afraid!

Immer umsehen und dadurch eine Frage sich erarbeiten. Aber ganz auffällige Dinge aus der Umgebung meiden, denn die Kollegen graben diese auffällige Themen auch ab. Auch von Wald- und Wiesenthemen (Parkplatznot, Stau) weggehen.

Does this have a figurative meaning? Parking space and traffic jams don't seem to have much to do with woods and meadows ... or am I missing something?

Not sure if 'environmental issues' would cover it?

Many thanks for any suggestions ...

Mary
Proposed translations (English)
5 +2 everyday / plain-vanilla topics
5 +5 obvious subjects/themes/matters
5 +2 everyday subjects
3 +2 run-of-the-mill
4 +1 shopworn subjects
4 ...all too common topics...
3 small talk, general subjects
3 -1 your answer or eco-issues

Discussion

Steffen Walter Aug 6, 2002:
Yep, that's a good way of saying it, Mary!
Non-ProZ.com Aug 6, 2002:
Steffan Probably not! But it does give me a feeling for the closest equivalent. How about 'mundane, everyday topics/issues'?
Steffen Walter Aug 6, 2002:
What I wanted to ask was whether this expression is really common and idiomatic in this context. Pls enlighten me.
Steffen Walter Aug 6, 2002:
c. or g. *indeed* corresponds to Wald und Wiesen but would you use this in your translation, following your gut feeling?
Non-ProZ.com Aug 6, 2002:
Aha! It all makes sense now! Presumably the English equivalent would be 'common or garden subjects'?

Proposed translations

+2
7 mins
Selected

everyday / plain-vanilla topics

The full German term is "Feld-, Wald- und Wiesen...." - this simply refers to something very common, in everyday use, non-special. No botanical or environmental connotation, and in this case not even a play of words.
Peer comment(s):
agree Erik Hansson
1 hr
agree Manfred Mondt : richtig, Feld hatte gefehlt
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "I always hate this bit! Everyone has given me excellent suggestions and now I have to reject all but one of them )-: Ralf just about squeezed in in front this time, but thanks to everyone for all your good ideas. Steffen, to answer your question - yes, common or garden is an idiomatic expression, but, thinking about it, I'm not sure whether it would sound right in this instance. Thanks again folks! Mary."
+5
5 mins

obvious subjects/themes/matters

or trivial points
or subjects/matters immediately springing to mind

So the question is to avoid those in order to present something unique/new...

"Wald und Wiesen" expresses that a subject is ever-present and has been dealt with for the umpteenth time, leading to some degree of boredom if it's dug out again and again...

No environment involved in this case.

HTH
Steffen :-)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2002-08-06 10:43:18 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...And do avoid (steer clear of) ever-present subjects, such as lack of parking space (parking space shortage), traffic jams etc.
Peer comment(s):
agree Michaela Müller
3 mins
Danke Michaela!
agree Caro Maucher
5 mins
Vielen Dank Caro!
agree Klaus Herrmann
11 mins
Auch vielen Dank :-)
agree Olaf Leichssenring
1 hr
Danke Olaf
agree jerrie : steer clear of everyday issues such as...
4 hrs
yep, good alternative ;-)
Something went wrong...
-1
8 mins

your answer or eco-issues

sounds like someone with an attitude referring to environmental problems.
Peer comment(s):
disagree Steffen Walter : no environmental matters involved here at all, cf. my answer above
1 min
point taken. proves that everything should be looked up, even if it appears straight forward..
Something went wrong...
+2
12 mins

everyday subjects

Hi Mary,
"Wald- und Wiesen" is usually used as a synonym for "all the everyday items", i.e. nothing special or specilized.

HTH
Peer comment(s):
agree Manfred Mondt : man spricht auch von "Feld, Wald und Wiesen" Amwaelten. Im gleichen Sinn wie Maedchen fuer alles!
3 hrs
agree pschmitt
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 hr

...all too common topics...

or..subjects
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr

run-of-the-mill

And another option, suggested by Pons Idioms Dictionary.
Peer comment(s):
agree pschmitt
2 hrs
agree Craig Hills : Common or garden is by far the best and most common phrase, although every day / run of the mill are also very good.
16 hrs
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

small talk, general subjects

has nothing at all to do with woods and meadows or the environment.

Roughly corresponds to the U.S. sayign of "talking about the weather" meaning small talk or very general conversation.
Something went wrong...
+1
4 hrs

shopworn subjects

hackneyed, worn-out, predictable, all-too-common, tiresome, open-and-shut,, played-out, stereotypical themes
Peer comment(s):
agree Dan McCrosky (X) : nice list!
4 hrs
Something went wrong...
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