Glossary entry (derived from question below)
German term or phrase:
sich halten an jdn.
English translation:
to hold sb liable
Added to glossary by
Rebecca Garber
Apr 21, 2010 02:04
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
German term
fluency in engineering
Native in: English 
Works in: German to English, Latin to English, German Middle High (ca.1050-1500) to English, and 2 more.
sich halten an jdn.
German to English
Law/Patents
Law: Contract(s)
real estate, land transactions
This concerns a building, which was sold with a considerable defect: the building's owner had been informed that it was too tall and that several stories had to be removed. The owner sold the building to avoid this, did not inform the buyer, and the buyer sued.
Hier hatten die Parteien sich auf ein Grundstück mit einer ganz bestimmten Mietskaserne geeinigt, die eine ganz bestimmte Höhe hatte. Nun musste der Käufer jedoch ein oder mehrere Geschosse abtragen, was nicht nur Kosten verursachte, sondern auch die erzielbaren Mieteinkünft schmälerte. Das Grundstück verlor dadurch erheblich an Wert. **Konnte sich der Käufer deswegen and den Verkäufer halten?**
The glossaries and dictionaries I have offer: follow someone, or adhere to, comply with, stick to some*thing*.
Could the buyer therefore adhere to the seller? sounds very odd to me.
I know it has to do with liability, and holding the seller liable for the buyer's losses. However, how do I get this meaning out of the German?
Hier hatten die Parteien sich auf ein Grundstück mit einer ganz bestimmten Mietskaserne geeinigt, die eine ganz bestimmte Höhe hatte. Nun musste der Käufer jedoch ein oder mehrere Geschosse abtragen, was nicht nur Kosten verursachte, sondern auch die erzielbaren Mieteinkünft schmälerte. Das Grundstück verlor dadurch erheblich an Wert. **Konnte sich der Käufer deswegen and den Verkäufer halten?**
The glossaries and dictionaries I have offer: follow someone, or adhere to, comply with, stick to some*thing*.
Could the buyer therefore adhere to the seller? sounds very odd to me.
I know it has to do with liability, and holding the seller liable for the buyer's losses. However, how do I get this meaning out of the German?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +7 | to hold sb liable |
Anne-Carine Zimmer
|
| 4 +2 | hold the seller responsible/liable |
David Hollywood
|
| 2 | to rely on somebody |
HanulaPaul
|
Proposed translations
+7
8 mins
Anne-Carine Zimmer
United States
United States
Specializes in field
United States
detail oriented and diligent
Works in: German to English, English to German, Spanish to English, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Selected
to hold sb liable
Dietl/Lorenz :)
or: "to have recourse to sb."
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Note added at 14 mins (2010-04-21 02:18:54 GMT)
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the second one sounds weird to me, though (but it's in the dictionary)
or: "to have recourse to sb."
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Note added at 14 mins (2010-04-21 02:18:54 GMT)
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the second one sounds weird to me, though (but it's in the dictionary)
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Johanna Timm, PhD
: or: "take recourse against" "http://shortify.com/10184
1 hr
|
| agree |
Jon Fedler
1 hr
|
| agree |
Norbert Hermann
4 hrs
|
| agree |
David Wright
: or David Hollywood's suggestion, which is almost the same
5 hrs
|
| agree |
Steffen Beilich
: to hold sb. liable
7 hrs
|
| agree |
Rolf Keiser
9 hrs
|
| agree |
David Hollywood
: as David says, my suggestion is almost the same so I would ask Rebecca to regard it as yours :) it was just a wee bit more specific ....
12 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to everyone! It seems I got lost in the intricasies of Roman land transfer law (priests, witnesses, which characteristics must be specified and which can be glossed over in gentlemen's agreements, etc). Both Karin's and David's answers were truly helpful. "
+2
48 mins
David Hollywood
Native in English
worked for int. orgs (IMF, OAS, IDB)
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, German to English
Related KudoZ points
:
327
hold the seller responsible/liable
:)
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-04-21 03:15:58 GMT)
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just means that any losses will have to be borne by the seller
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-04-21 03:15:58 GMT)
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just means that any losses will have to be borne by the seller
24 mins
to rely on somebody
...could the buyer rely on the seller
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Note added at 13 hrs (2010-04-21 15:56:04 GMT)
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Note to Mr.Wright:
...could the buyer rely on the seller['s moral approach to the deal...?]
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Note added at 14 hrs (2010-04-21 16:04:26 GMT)
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More simple;
Was the seller planning a fraud from the start?
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Note added at 13 hrs (2010-04-21 15:56:04 GMT)
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Note to Mr.Wright:
...could the buyer rely on the seller['s moral approach to the deal...?]
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Note added at 14 hrs (2010-04-21 16:04:26 GMT)
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More simple;
Was the seller planning a fraud from the start?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Gabriella Bertelmann
: agree
2 hrs
|
|
thank you Gabriellab
|
|
| disagree |
David Wright
: Not here. The result wouldn't actually make much sense!
5 hrs
|
|
thank you anyway David
|
Discussion