The Jewish Home | MARCH 31, 2022
82
1. *
TJH
Centerfold
International Blunders It is not just international leaders that make embarrassing gaffes while abroad, many companies have had stinkers of their own, including the following:
Pepsi’s mid-1990s slogan, “Come alive with Pepsi,” was translated in China as “Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the dead.”
In Italy, a campaign for Schweppes Tonic Water translated the name into “Schweppes Toilet Water.”
In the 1970s, American Motors launched a mid-sized vehicle called the Matador in Puerto Rico. Although the company intended to portray valor and strength, matador roughly translates to “killer” in the local language.
In 1987, KFC’s slogan of “Finger lickin’ good” was translated in China as “Eat your fingers off.”
Coors beer launched its “Turn It Loose” campaign in Spain, not realizing that the Spanish interpretation meant “suffer from a loose stomach.”
Salem cigarettes’ “Salem-Feeling Free” was translated into the Japanese market as “When smoking Salem, you will feel so refreshed that your mind seems to be free and empty.”
Mercedes-Benz entered the Chinese market under the brand name “Bensi,” which means “rush to die.”
Coca-Cola in Chinese is very similar to words that mean “female horse stuffed with wax.”
OctOber 29, 2015 | the Jewish Home
Riddle Me This A detective who was mere days away from cracking an international oil smuggling ring has suddenly gone missing. While inspecting his last-known location, officers find a note: 710 57735 34 5508 51 7718. There are three suspects: Bill, John, and Todd. The senior detective looks at the numbers and says, “Bill is the head of the oil smuggling ring.” How did he know?
40
Answer: The numbers, if read upside down, say, “Bill is boss. He sells oil.”
