schleimig

English translation: obsequious

11:59 Sep 7, 2009

German to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Marketing / Market Research

German term or phrase: schleimig

schleimig as in übertrieben freundlich, not relating to a person (smarmy) but a text which oozes phrases that are just, well, what?

I don't have a useful sample sentence, it's a reaction to a draft text, the reaction being 'schleimiger geht's ja wohl nicht!'

I couldn't think of a category to place this question in, so if you have a better suggestion than my choice, please do let me know.

Isabel Severing KudoZ activity Questions: 5 (none open) (1 without valid answers) Answers: 21
Local time: 14:25

English translation:obsequious

Explanation:
It could hardly be more obsequious could fit in that case

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Note added at 8 mins (2009-09-07 12:08:13 GMT)
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brown nosed wäre auch eine Alternative, Isabel

Selected response from:

Stephen Sadie
Germany
Local time: 14:25

Grading comment

4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

3 +4

obsequious

Stephen Sadie

unctuous

Kim Metzger

sucking up

Wendy Lewin

sycophantic

Andrea Garfield-Barkworth

Answers

5 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

obsequious

Stephen Sadie
Germany
Local time: 14:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 68

Notes to answerer

Asker: Hi, thanks for 'obsequious' - 'brown nosed' I did not want, guess I should have mentioned that in my question!

1 hr confidence:

unctuous

Explanation:
Unctuous, oily
http://ask.metafilter.com/38293/like-obsequious-but-for-grat...

Words for Subservient People and Actions
One of the most unforgettable characters in literature is Uriah Heep in the novel David Copperfield by Charles Dickens.

Heep is the stereotypical toady, a person who bows and scrapes his way among his superiors, plotting his own ends behind an obsequious exterior. Here are some words for writing about such characters.
http://www.dailywritingtips.com/words-for-subservient-people...

unctuous (adj)

Synonyms: ingratiating, sycophantic, obsequious, groveling, smug, phony, slimy, smarmy, creepy, oily

http://encarta.msn.com/thesaurus_561579672/unctuous.html

Kim Metzger
Mexico
Local time: 06:25
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 215

Notes to answerer

Asker: thanks, Kim - I can always learn lots from your answers!

1 hr confidence:

sucking up

Explanation:
this is slang so may fit context better
alternatives:
kissing ass (to be used with caution - may be deemed offensive)
flattery will get you everywhere

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-09-07 13:27:58 GMT)
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so in your sentence - you couldn't suck up more if you tried!

Wendy Lewin
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Notes to answerer

Asker: Hi, and thanks - obsequious will be my choice for the glossary, but yes, you're right, in English it should be expressed with a verb, not an adjective.

2 hrs confidence:

sycophantic

Explanation:
or even fawning.

Andrea Garfield-Barkworth
Germany
Local time: 14:25
Specializes in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

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schleimig

English translation: obsequious

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English translation: obsequious

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