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einliegende freie Schraube
periodischer Einstandspreis

Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

keine Hexerei

English translation:

not rocket science

Added to glossary by Hilary Davies Shelby
Feb 20, 2011 17:46
13 yrs ago
3 viewers *
German term

keine Hexerei

German to English Social Sciences Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Hi everyone! I'm having a mental block today. This is from instructions/guidelines for applying for grants. Basically the author is saying that applying for a grant) is difficult, as the process is complex, but that it is "keine Hexerei", i.e. that it's do-able if you follow the process.

I've got "there's no magic to it", but that sounds Denglish to me. Anyone feeling creative on a Sunday?

Thanks very much!
Proposed translations (English)
4 +11 it's not rocket science
4 There's no magic about it!
4 it's no magic trick
3 There's nothing to it
3 no black magic
Change log

Feb 21, 2011 18:02: Hilary Davies Shelby changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/62120">Hilary Davies Shelby's</a> old entry - "keine Hexerei"" to ""it\'s not rocket science""

Discussion

Alison MacG Feb 21, 2011:
If you really can't decide ... why not use both ideas? Things like "it's not magic and it's not rocket science", "it's neither magic nor rocket science" are quite common. Compare, e.g.:
Know the deadline – Grant writing is not magical. Grant writing is not rocket science. But you do have to follow the directions outlined in the grant application.
http://www.bukisa.com/articles/394358_6-steps-to-follow-to-w...
Hilary Davies Shelby (asker) Feb 20, 2011:
I like that, Andrew - thank you!
Lancashireman Feb 20, 2011:
Your own idea with ... ... 'special trick' instead of 'magic': http://tinyurl.com/6ed6gdw
Zareh Darakjian Ph.D. Feb 20, 2011:
Yes Yes, Hilary. That's true...
Hilary Davies Shelby (asker) Feb 20, 2011:
True, but... While this is very true, "it's not rocket science" is a common idiom for something which is not very challenging. It's particularly common in the U.S.: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rocket_science
Zareh Darakjian Ph.D. Feb 20, 2011:
rocket science Of course, rocket science is a possibility. Just a note that rocket science is not one of those sciences that is **that challenging** ... compared to say to some abstract algebras

Proposed translations

+11
12 mins
Selected

it's not rocket science

no big deal

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Note added at 18 mins (2011-02-20 18:05:33 GMT)
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precisely - the science may be rocket but the form filling is not !
Note from asker:
Hmmm... another good phrase, but in this case, it might actually BE rocket science, as these are research grants! :-)
Very good point, caller! :-)
Peer comment(s):
agree Nicole Schnell
15 mins
agree Nicola Wood : this would definitely be my choice
36 mins
agree British Diana : This is the current idiomatic expression, and it doesmn't matter if it is something scientific, it is a tongue-in-cheek idiom anyway
38 mins
agree Helen Shiner
40 mins
agree Trans-Marie
1 hr
agree BrigitteHilgner : Given the asker's explanation I think this fits.
1 hr
agree Lonnie Legg
2 hrs
agree Sarah Bessioud
14 hrs
agree Colin Rowe
19 hrs
agree Melanie Meyer
19 hrs
agree Jenny Streitparth
2 days 5 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "There are some great suggestions on this thread - thank you all very much! I actually used "rocket science" in one place and "special trick" in another. "
2 mins

There's nothing to it

... is what sounds most natural to my ear
Note from asker:
Thanks Lesley! It DOES sound natural, but unfortunately it doesn't convey the idea that applying for a grant is (in this case) a difficult and complex process. Thanks anyway!
Something went wrong...
16 mins

There's no magic about it!

Oxford German Dictionary 2008 p. 361
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

it's no magic trick

... is the idiomatic expression from my neck of the woods
Peer comment(s):
neutral Lancashireman : Neck-of-the-Woods sounds a really idiomatic place to live, Ramey. Do the fox and the hare say "Good Night" to each other there?
2 hrs
Of course, we're all well mannered here.
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

no black magic

"It's no black magic" often has a slightly different emphasis: There's nothing mysterious, it's all rather straightforward. But it might work for you.

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Note added at 2 hrs (2011-02-20 20:41:30 GMT)
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I take back "straightforward", which would mean easy to understand, which doesn't apply. But "no black magic" means that whatever is being referred to has a logic or method to it, which one merely need apply.
Example sentence:

It's no black magic. Here's how it works:

It’s no black magic, it’s quite simple:

Reference:

http://www.warriorforum.com/copywriting-forum/226078-heading-headache.html

http://www.jovoto.com/blog/2009/07/voting-transparency-on-jovoto/

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