German term
in Stein gemeiselt
Ein Sprichwort für etwas das nicht unumstößlich ist.
Vortag vor englischen Muttersprachlern.
| 3 +8 | set in stone |
Steffen Walter
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| 4 +6 | set in stone |
Armorel Young
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| 4 +2 | written in stone |
Lesley Robertson MA, Dip Trans IoLET
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| 4 +2 | Written in stone |
NUFCrichard (X)
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| 5 +1 | chiseled in stone |
Michele Fauble
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Aug 7, 2014 10:17: Sabine Akabayov, PhD changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Non-PRO (3): Harald Moelzer (medical-translator), Cetacea, Sabine Akabayov, PhD
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Proposed translations
Germany
Top-Notch Service | Direct Clients Only
Native in: German (Variant: Germany) 
Works in: English to German, German to English, French to German, and 1 more.
set in stone
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/farming/agribusiness/9272457...
http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/obameter/pr...
http://www.suffolkfreepress.co.uk/news/latest-news/theatre-s...
"Mr Lloyd said the decision to pull down the building was not set in stone, however."
'Written in stone' is equally appropriate, though.
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Note added at 14 mins (2014-08-07 08:02:34 GMT)
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In your context, the proposal is obviously 'not set in stone'.
| agree |
Armorel Young
: If I hadn't stopped to ponder the number of google hits I'd have been you to it with this one :-)/O dear, are my typos now set in stone too?
0 min
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"... I'd have *beaten* you to it ...?" / No, not really - feel free to edit your initial post, and I'll withdraw my comment ;-)
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| agree |
Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
3 mins
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| agree |
franglish
14 mins
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| agree |
Andrew Bramhall
: 'Set in stone' is better; also possible -' carved in stone'.
25 mins
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Yes, I'd thought of that one, too.
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| agree |
Lonnie Legg
49 mins
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| agree |
Sabine Akabayov, PhD
2 hrs
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| agree |
David Moore (X)
: Since Oliver already suggest "carved", I'll not post it, but it would be my choice.
2 hrs
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| agree |
philgoddard
: Not "carved".
6 hrs
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Austria
Lesley Robertson MA, Dip Trans IoLET
Creative and conscientious
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English
written in stone
| agree |
Yorkshireman
2 mins
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| agree |
Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
: http://www.dict.cc/?s=in Stein gemeiselt
11 mins
|
| neutral |
Michele Fauble
: 'Written in stone' sounds odd. 'Inscribed in stone' sounds better.
11 hrs
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Written in stone
| agree |
Yorkshireman
2 mins
|
| agree |
Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
: http://www.dict.cc/?s=in Stein gemeiselt
11 mins
|
| neutral |
Michele Fauble
: 'Written in stone' sounds odd. 'Inscribed in stone' sounds better.
11 hrs
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Well if I had unconfirmed plans I would happily say - "nothing is written in stone", I would never say "nothing is inscribed in stone"! If I was literally writing something in stone with a chisel, then I would say it is inscribed in stone.
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set in stone
| agree |
Steffen Walter
1 min
|
| agree |
Harald Moelzer (medical-translator)
2 mins
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| agree |
franglish
12 mins
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| agree |
Andrew Bramhall
: but..14 million "gits" !!!
25 mins
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| agree |
Dhananjay Rau
: yes, I prefer this to written in stone. I was also going to suggest "cast in stone"
56 mins
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| agree |
Sabine Akabayov, PhD
2 hrs
|
chiseled in stone
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Note added at 11 hrs (2014-08-07 19:13:09 GMT)
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'Inscribed in stone' is another alternative.
| neutral |
Steffen Walter
: It's not *the* usual expression but one of at least three - see above. / You're right in that it comes closest to the German, but 'set in stone' first sprang to my and many other colleagues' minds in this context.
2 hrs
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The most natural sounding to me - also matches the German most closely. And 'written in stone' sounds odd. 'Inscribed in stone' is better.
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| agree |
billcorno (X)
: I think this best represents the source words. "meißeln" is a pretty active verb.
7 hrs
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thanks
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Discussion
'Carved in stone' is the one I grew up with...