demob happy

[Theseus]

This is a common British idiom used metaphorically to describe the state of elation, carelessness, or reduced productivity felt when someone is nearing the end of a difficult, unpleasant, or long-term obligation.
I would like an idiomatic word or phrase which I can use in this context:-
“I just had my car serviced and now the water pump has gone bust! I phoned the garage to complain but found out that, after twenty odd years of custom from me, they have recently sold up and left! Quite obviously they were demob happy.”
This example refers to the shoddy job that was done by a mechanic who knew that soon the garage was to close and his work was poorly done in the knowledge that he would soon retire.

 

[cougr]

I eagerly await a response on this one, Theseus. Personally I wouldn't have a clue as to how it could be succinctly rendered. I'd have to go into a long, drawn-out explanatory type of rendering to get the meaning across.

 

[Theseus]

Thanks, cougr. The only Greek phrase I could think of προφανώς αυτοί ήταν με το ένα πόδι έξω από την πόρτα: 'with one leg out (of the door', in other words, ‘half-way to leaving/resigning' but that seems to ignore the element of shoddy work before their retirement. But in the idiom, I don’t think that shoddiness is a necessary implication.


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[Duke_of_Waltham]

I eagerly await a response on this one, Theseus. Personally I wouldn't have a clue as to how it could be succinctly rendered. I'd have to go into a long, drawn-out explanatory type of rendering to get the meaning across.

Δεν ξέρω για πόσο drawn-out μιλάμε, αλλά ναι, ούτε εγώ μπορώ να σκεφτώ κάποια φράση που να ταιριάζει στη συγκεκριμένη περίπτωση. Θα μπορούσα να γράψω κάτι σαν «Προφανώς έκαναν πασαλείμματα επειδή ετοιμάζονταν να την κοπανήσουν». Πιάνει την ουσία, και δεν είναι ούτε διπλάσιο σε έκταση.

 

[cougr]

But in the idiom, I don’t think that shoddiness is a necessary implication.

Not explicitly, but behaving in a careless manner/ being careless can constitute a part of its definition. This - as well as including the nuance of elation - are the sticking points when it comes to finding an equivalent Greek term or expression.

 

[SBE]

Can't think of anything, but I would probably say τα φόρτωσαν στον κόκκορα γιατί έβγαιναν στη σύνταξη/ εκλειναν το μαγαζί.

 

[anepipsogos]

Απ' τη χαρά του λουκέτου τα κάνανε μούτι!