Alter Hase/Old Sea Dog!!

[Brian]

Hi Ruy

Please excuse my ignorance, but I realise that I have been elevated to 'Alter Hase'. Is this an honour?

I've looked in the dictionary, only to find German translations meaning 'Old Sea Dog' or 'Old-Age Hare'

Happy New Year and thanks for accepting all of my queries over the past 18 months or so. Hopefully, I have been able to reciprocate in some small way.

Cheers
Brian

[robert_schulte]

Congratulations Brian.
I guess the nearest translation for "alter Hase" would be "an old hand" or "old stager".
It is a benevolent German expression for a person with a big experience of life and in no way degrading.
All the best and a Happy New Year to all,
Robert

[Brian]

Thanks Robert for the explanation.

However, I rather like the term 'Old Sea-Dog', which I'm not! Actually, I don't like the sea very much - nice to look at, but I'm no sailor!

Good wishes to you for 2008

Cheers
Brian

[Nick Beale]

And if they call you "Oster Hase", that means you're the Easter Bunny.

[Brian]

Hi Nick

Easter Bunny, indeed!

I guess I became an Alter Hase following my 1,000th sortie - you'll get there soon!

Cheers
Brian

[John Beaman]

Brian, I seem to recall that it was used as a description for an experienced fighter pilot who who fly in a "jinking" manner changing directions frequently like an "old hare" avoiding a hunter. I.e., by jinking across a field, an alter hasse showed he survived by avoiding being shot, the jinking throwing off a hunter's aim.

[Brian]

Hi John

Thanks for that - I had to do a bit of jinking in my younger days to avoid being shot at by irate husbands! But don't tell the wife.

Cheers
Old Hare