https://www.proz.com/kudoz/german-to-english/general-conversation-greetings-letters/1583646-allgemein-zu-empfehlen-ist-es-sicherlich-nicht.html

Glossary entry

Deutsch term or phrase:

allgemein zu empfehlen ist es sicherlich nicht

Englisch translation:

it cannot be generally recommended

Added to glossary by Sophia Hundt (X)
Oct 9, 2006 04:28
17 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Deutsch term

allgemein zu empfehlen ist es sicherlich nicht

Deutsch > Englisch Kunst/Literatur Allgemeines/Konversation/Grußworte/Briefe expression
The context is more or less like this: whatever you may be thinking about XXX, allgemein zu empfehlen ist es sicherlich nicht...

It seems simple but I just can't wrap my mind around it (I don't fully understand what it means).

Thank you!

Discussion

Francis Lee (X) Oct 9, 2006:
Any more context, Sophia? What kind of activity - surely it can't be secret?(unless it's about bomb-making) Target readership? Full sentence?
Sophia Hundt (X) (asker) Oct 9, 2006:
XXX is a certain type of activity.
Steffen Walter Oct 9, 2006:
It would help to know what XXX is to offer more targeted suggestions.
Sophia Hundt (X) (asker) Oct 9, 2006:
I was thinking something like: "Although it certainly isn't generally recommended" / "Although it certainly isn't for everyone." It's the "allgemein" that I am confused by here. What precisely does it mean here?

Proposed translations

+3
4 Stunden
Selected

it cannot be generally recommended

or: it cannot be recommended for general use

if you want something that "flows" in English.
Peer comment(s):

agree Sandra Bradford
18 Min.
agree Niraja Nanjundan (X)
1 Stunde
agree gangels (X)
6 Stunden
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you!"
45 Min.

in general, it is assuredly not to be recommended

My take!
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35 Min.

It's probably not a good idea

I wouldn't really recommend it

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Note added at 57 mins (2006-10-09 05:26:03 GMT)
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on the whole, ...
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2 Stunden

correct - it certainly isn't recommended in general

I agree with your formulation. Sounds copacetic.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-10-09 06:31:28 GMT)
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The "allgemein" is sort of separate - as I read it. Reworded it is: allgemein / es ist sicherlich nicht zu empfehlen, though in English it would be stylistically better to place the "allgemein" (in general) at the end.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2006-10-09 08:54:35 GMT)
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very fine, satisfactory (это скучно все время писать те же самые слова - надо иногда использовать более творческие на мой взглад, даже если они уже совсем старые). Я тоже только что заметил, что вы занимаетесь тоже немецким языком - весело. Я почти отвечал на русском из-за той же причины, но передумал.
Note from asker:
Hi Henry - didn't know you did German as well. Could you please explain to me what "copacetic" mean? :)
means
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