Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 11, 2014:

feather in your cap is very nice!

Kate Collyer Jun 10, 2014:

Accentuate the positive? I agree with Armorel and freekfluweel that the way to go might be to turn the phrase round. The phrase that springs to my mind is "feather in your cap", thus keeping the headwear image!

David Moore (X) Jun 10, 2014:

Like others here, I dislike the German expression - it's just not apposite for an apprentice. It is as if the "Abschluß" were the whole aim of it, and once that's achieved, the apprentice can sit back for the rest of his life.

My idea would be something like: "Without a certificate, you've wasted your apprenticeship". Okay, it may be a little 'interpreted', but I wouldn't dream of trying to translate the concept actually expressed literally, for the reason given above.

Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 10, 2014:

@Brigitte I agree, the trend towards walking on eggshells is absurd. I would never delude my kid into thinking that everything he does is praiseworthy. Finish what you start or you blew it, kid. That's life, for heaven's sake.

BrigitteHilgner Jun 10, 2014:

@ Horst Huber I don't like submitting an answer when I feel uneasy about the original AND useful context is missing. I find the German phrase strange because basically I agree with Wendy Streitpath's interpretation.
Who writes the sentence? Is this a school trying to motivate students not to give up early but pass their final exams? If yes, is it really necessary to hide the bitter truth from the students, as Ramey Rieger suggests? I don't know and I don't want to guess.

Horst Huber (X) Jun 9, 2014:

Maybe Brigitte can post her answer? Something like "remains incomplete" might do it? Or "falls short of completion"? It is not quite clear what type of communication we are dealing with.

Ramey Rieger (X) Jun 9, 2014:

New pedagogy dictates that critism must be couched in such terms as to spare the student any possible sense of failure (whatsoever). So as I agree with your suggestion, Wendy - and would probably, on certain days, put it in much harsher terms - I'm pretty sure the euphemism must be maintained.

Wendy Streitparth Jun 9, 2014:

Without a final certificate your apprenticeship is worthless/wasted.

BrigitteHilgner Jun 9, 2014:

Without passing the final examination your apprenticeship is incomplete.

John Hein-Hartmann Jun 9, 2014:

Without seeing the whole paragraph, it is difficult to say how this is meant. Possibly: You need to complete the apprenticeship to reap the rewards.

martina1974 (asker) Jun 9, 2014:

"Lehrabschluss" is meant here by "Abschluss". The context here are apprenticeships and apprenticeship examinations.

freekfluweel Jun 9, 2014:

crowning No crowning glory without graduation.

(but I'm no native)

John Hein-Hartmann Jun 9, 2014:

What is the context? What is meant here by "Abschluss", and what kind of teaching are we talking about?