Johanna Timm, PhD Dec 25, 2010:

not sure if this helps but the German "dreimal anders" is a play on"einmal anders" > "for a change"

Thayenga Dec 25, 2010:

@ Asker Yes, if the confidentiality of the text must be observed, then asking a colleague in private will be your best bet...as writeaway has suggested. Merry Christmas.

writeaway Dec 25, 2010:

Imo, when confidentiality is so important that NO context at all can be given and the term is an expression that can be translated umpteen different ways, depending on the (invisible) context, there isn't much point in posting on a www site. I suggest asking a colleague privately so the secret context can be revealed in all safety, since without context it's anyone's guess

Lancashireman Dec 25, 2010:

Purely hypothetically... If this were from a menu (say a fish dish) and the fish were named (say a Bodenseefelchen) and the troublesome phrase came immediately afterwards in double quotes, then it could mean cooked or served in three different ways. But without further context, it is indeed difficult to help you out on this one.

British Diana Dec 25, 2010:

@Brigitte You are right, it might indeed have to do with "three"; on the other hand I have head "dreimal" used just as a reinforcer, rather like "doppelt und dreifach", without a real numerical context. Pity our Asker is having to be so secretive.

BrigitteHilgner Dec 25, 2010:

This can mean a lot of things ... "three different versions of something" is my first guess, "different from others in three ways" my second one, "different on three occasions" the third.