| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Idioms in translation - the weather (May 12, 2011) Thread poster: RominaZ
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RominaZ 
Argentina
English to Spanish
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Hi!
I've received a nice suggestion from Silvio to create multilingual bank of idioms (proverbs and sayings) in which idioms and their linguistic equivalents in other languages could be stored. Such a multilingual bank could be a very useful resource for translators facing idioms and proverbs at work.
So let's start with these 5 idioms in English, please post their equivalent in your language. More threads with another set of five idioms can be added later. Once there is enough material, the information gathered can take the form of an article in the Translation Industry Wiki.
So here's the first set of idioms related to the weather:
1.- Come rain or shine. (If a person does something come rain or shine, they do it regularly, whatever the circumstances.)
2.- The lull before the storm. (This expression refers to a period of unnatural calm before a difficult time or violent activity.)
3.- A bolt from the blue. (To refer to something as a bolt from the blue means that it happened completely unexpectedly.)
4.- It never rains but it pours. (This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse.)
5.- Make hay while the sun shines. (This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last.)
List the equivalents in your language and please indicate the number of the idiom you are referring to and the language.
| | | | Ildiko Santana
United States
Local time: 21:20
Member (2002)
Hungarian to English
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MODERATOR
Hi Romina, Silvio,
what a neat idea! Here is how I would translate these into Hungarian:
1.- Come rain or shine.
Akár esik, akár fúj.
2.- The lull before the storm.
Vihar előtti csend.
3.- A bolt from the blue.
Derült égből villámcsapás.
4.- It never rains but it pours. ("When it rains it pours")
Csőstül jön a baj.
5.- Make ... See more Hi Romina, Silvio,
what a neat idea! Here is how I would translate these into Hungarian:
1.- Come rain or shine.
Akár esik, akár fúj.
2.- The lull before the storm.
Vihar előtti csend.
3.- A bolt from the blue.
Derült égből villámcsapás.
4.- It never rains but it pours. ("When it rains it pours")
Csőstül jön a baj.
5.- Make hay while the sun shines.
Addig üsd a vasat, amíg meleg.
(The last two do not refer to weather, though - does anyone know a better equivalent perhaps?) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Silvio Picinini
United States
Local time: 21:20
English to Portuguese
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| In Brazilian Portuguese | May 12, 2011 |
1.- Come rain or shine - Chova ou faça sol - Exactly the same as in English
2.- The lull before the storm - A calmaria antes da tempestade - not really an idiom in BRPT.
3.- A bolt from the blue - Do nada - it means "out of nowhere" in BRPT. Nothing really blue about it.
4.- It never rains but it pours - Miséria pouca é bobagem
I love this one! In BRPT it means "A little bit of miser... See more 1.- Come rain or shine - Chova ou faça sol - Exactly the same as in English
2.- The lull before the storm - A calmaria antes da tempestade - not really an idiom in BRPT.
3.- A bolt from the blue - Do nada - it means "out of nowhere" in BRPT. Nothing really blue about it.
4.- It never rains but it pours - Miséria pouca é bobagem
I love this one! In BRPT it means "A little bit of misery is silly, let's have a lot of misery!"
The BRPT works also for "Misery loves company".
5.- Make hay while the sun shines - I can't think of an idiom in BRPT :|
This is fun! ▲ Collapse
| | | | kchansen
Local time: 06:20
English to Danish
The corresponding Danish idioms are not all weather related.
Come rain or shine - Hvad der end sker ("Whatever happens").
The lull before the storm - Stilhed før storm ("Quiet before the storm"; more or less the same as in English).
A bolt from the blue - Som lyn fra en klar himmel ("Like lightning from a clear sky").
It never rains but it pours - Et uheld kommer sjældent alene ("One bad thing rarely happens alone").
Make hay whi... See more The corresponding Danish idioms are not all weather related.
Come rain or shine - Hvad der end sker ("Whatever happens").
The lull before the storm - Stilhed før storm ("Quiet before the storm"; more or less the same as in English).
A bolt from the blue - Som lyn fra en klar himmel ("Like lightning from a clear sky").
It never rains but it pours - Et uheld kommer sjældent alene ("One bad thing rarely happens alone").
Make hay while the sun shines - Smede mens jernet er varmt ("Smithying while the iron is hot"). ▲ Collapse
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| Spanish (Spain) | May 13, 2011 |
Corresponding idioms in Spanish (Spain):
1. Come rain or shine:
No importa que llueva o truene
No importa si llueve o truena
(Doesn't matter of it's raining or thundering)
2. The lull before the storm:
La calma que precede a la tormenta
La calma que presagia una tormenta
(Quiet preceding/predicting the storm)
3. A bolt from the blue
(Caer) como una bomba
([To fall down] like a bomb)
4. It never ra... See more Corresponding idioms in Spanish (Spain):
1. Come rain or shine:
No importa que llueva o truene
No importa si llueve o truena
(Doesn't matter of it's raining or thundering)
2. The lull before the storm:
La calma que precede a la tormenta
La calma que presagia una tormenta
(Quiet preceding/predicting the storm)
3. A bolt from the blue
(Caer) como una bomba
([To fall down] like a bomb)
4. It never rains but it pours
Las desgracias nunca vienen solas
(Misfortunes never happen alone)
5. Make hay while the sun shines
a la ocasión la pintan calva
(chance is painted as bald - refers to a Roman goddess, Chance, which was represented as a beutiful woman with bald back part of her head in order to indicate that it's impossible to catch the chance when it has already passed) ▲ Collapse
| | | |
Corresponding idioms in Spanish (Spain):
1. Come rain or shine:
- Niech się wali, niech się pali
(Let it crumble/fall down, let it burn)
- Choćby się góry i mury waliły
(Even if mountains and walls were falling down)
- Choćby świat się walił
(Even if world was falling down/collapsing)
2. The lull before the storm:
Cisza przed burzą
(Quiet before the storm)
3. A bolt from the blue
(Jak) grom z ... See more Corresponding idioms in Spanish (Spain):
1. Come rain or shine:
- Niech się wali, niech się pali
(Let it crumble/fall down, let it burn)
- Choćby się góry i mury waliły
(Even if mountains and walls were falling down)
- Choćby świat się walił
(Even if world was falling down/collapsing)
2. The lull before the storm:
Cisza przed burzą
(Quiet before the storm)
3. A bolt from the blue
(Jak) grom z jasnego nieba
([Like] lightning from a clear sky)
4. It never rains but it pours
Nieszczęścia chodzą parami
(Misfortunes comes in pairs)
5. Make hay while the sun shines
Kuć żelazo póki gorące
(To forge the iron while it's hot)
It's quite surprising that Polish versions are similar to the Danish ones (have an eye on the last one, "make hat while the sun shines"). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | #4 in Chinese | May 13, 2011 |
RominaZ wrote:
4.- It never rains but it pours. (This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse.)
The only one I can think of off my head is #4 and it’s not weather related. The usual idiom in Chinese is 禍不單行 (bad things don’t just happen once).
This is actually the second half of a longer idiom, 福無重至，禍不單行, which, depressingly, means “Good things don’t come in pairs; bad things don’t just happen once”.
| | | | RominaZ
Argentina
English to Spanish
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TOPIC STARTER | Linguistic equivalent may not be weather realted | May 13, 2011 |
Hi all,
Thanks so much for your contributions. I think it is worth clarifying that the linguistic equivalent of the idiom may or may not be related to the weather. What would be interesting to see is if there is an exact equivalent in other languages i.e. if there are idioms to mean exactly the same or that are used in the same situations (not the literal translation). Some languages may have specific idioms that can be used in the situations described some others may not have any, ... See more Hi all,
Thanks so much for your contributions. I think it is worth clarifying that the linguistic equivalent of the idiom may or may not be related to the weather. What would be interesting to see is if there is an exact equivalent in other languages i.e. if there are idioms to mean exactly the same or that are used in the same situations (not the literal translation). Some languages may have specific idioms that can be used in the situations described some others may not have any, which again poses the question of how a translator can solve such a challenge.
I like this idea a lot. Keep the idioms in your language coming! ▲ Collapse
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Hi,
Literal EN translation of the French idiom in brackets.
1.- Come rain or shine. (If a person does something come rain or shine, they do it regularly, whatever the circumstances.) > Qu'il pleuve ou qu'il vente (= come rain or wind)
2.- The lull before the storm. (This expression refers to a period of unnatural calm before a difficult time or violent activity.) > Le calme avant la tempête (exact equivalent)
3.- A bolt from the blue. (To re... See more Hi,
Literal EN translation of the French idiom in brackets.
1.- Come rain or shine. (If a person does something come rain or shine, they do it regularly, whatever the circumstances.) > Qu'il pleuve ou qu'il vente (= come rain or wind)
2.- The lull before the storm. (This expression refers to a period of unnatural calm before a difficult time or violent activity.) > Le calme avant la tempête (exact equivalent)
3.- A bolt from the blue. (To refer to something as a bolt from the blue means that it happened completely unexpectedly.) > Comme un cheveu sur la soupe (= As a hair falling into the soup)
4.- It never rains but it pours. (This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse.)
> Un malheur n'arrive jamais seul (= a misfortune never comes alone)
5.- Make hay while the sun shines. (This expression is used as an encouragement to take advantage of a good situation which may not last.) > Il faut battre le fer tant qu'il est chaud (= strike while the iron is hot)
The first 2 ones are also related to weather, not the others.
Interesting ! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Conversely ... | May 13, 2011 |
... what would be the equivalents of those FR weather-related idioms?
1) Contre vents et marées (to do something "contre vents et marées" means that you are doing something despite a lot of obstacles, you are persevering despite big difficulties)
2) Faire la pluie et le beau temps (means to be all mighty, to have full powers, full authority, to make all decisions)
3) Ne pas être né (or tombé) de la dernière pluie (to be experienced, not to be naive)<... See more ... what would be the equivalents of those FR weather-related idioms?
1) Contre vents et marées (to do something "contre vents et marées" means that you are doing something despite a lot of obstacles, you are persevering despite big difficulties)
2) Faire la pluie et le beau temps (means to be all mighty, to have full powers, full authority, to make all decisions)
3) Ne pas être né (or tombé) de la dernière pluie (to be experienced, not to be naive)
4) Avoir du vent dans les voiles (two meanings : a) To be drunk and walk unsteadly, and b) To be drunk - however a little less than in case (a) - and determined to do something without being really aware of the risks).
5) Un déjeuner de soleil (Two meanings : a) a fabric the colour of which is fading rapidly, and b) a short-lasting thing)
Enjoy a sunny (?) week-end.
Catherine ▲ Collapse
| | | | | French vs Chinese | May 14, 2011 |
Catherine GUILLIAUMET wrote:
4.- It never rains but it pours. (This expression is used to comment on the fact that when something bad happens, other bad things often happen too, and make the situation even worse.)
> Un malheur n'arrive jamais seul (= a misfortune never comes alone)
This is a much better English translation than mine! (The French version is virtually word-for-word identical to the Chinese one…)
(Now that we know what the equivalent of #5 is in French, it is obvious that the—or at least a—Chinese equivalent is also identical to the French version. The similarity between some of the French and Chinese expressions sometimes really scares me.)
[Edited at 2011-05-14 05:17 GMT]
| | | | Vera Schoen
Sweden
Local time: 06:20
Member (2008)
German to Swedish
+ ...
1.- Come rain or shine.
I ur och skur ( When i rains a little or a lot)
2.- Lull before the storm
Lugnet före stormen. (The calm preceding the storm)
3.- A bolt from the blue.
Som en blixt från klar himmel (Like a bolt from a clear skye)
4.- It never rains but it pours.
En olycka kommer sällan ensam (A missfortune rarely appears alone)
5.- Make hay while the sun shines.
Smida medan järnet är varmt (Forge... See more 1.- Come rain or shine.
I ur och skur ( When i rains a little or a lot)
2.- Lull before the storm
Lugnet före stormen. (The calm preceding the storm)
3.- A bolt from the blue.
Som en blixt från klar himmel (Like a bolt from a clear skye)
4.- It never rains but it pours.
En olycka kommer sällan ensam (A missfortune rarely appears alone)
5.- Make hay while the sun shines.
Smida medan järnet är varmt (Forge while the iron is hot)
Vera ▲ Collapse
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Tanja Zott (X)
Local time: 06:20
English to German
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1.- Come rain or shine.
= Ob es regnet oder schneit. (Come rain or snow.)
2.- The lull before the storm.
= Die Ruhe vor dem Sturm. (same)
3.- A bolt from the blue.
= Ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel. (same)
4.- It never rains but it pours.
= Ein Unglück kommt selten allein. (A missfortune rarely appears alone.)
5.- Make hay while the sun shines.
= Man muss das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist. (For... See more 1.- Come rain or shine.
= Ob es regnet oder schneit. (Come rain or snow.)
2.- The lull before the storm.
= Die Ruhe vor dem Sturm. (same)
3.- A bolt from the blue.
= Ein Blitz aus heiterem Himmel. (same)
4.- It never rains but it pours.
= Ein Unglück kommt selten allein. (A missfortune rarely appears alone.)
5.- Make hay while the sun shines.
= Man muss das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist. (Forge the iron while it's hot.) ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Make hay while the sun shines - das Eisen schmieden | May 16, 2011 |
Tanja Zott wrote:
5.- Make hay while the sun shines.
= Man muss das Eisen schmieden, solange es heiß ist. (Forge the iron while it's hot.)
We have the same one in French, "Il faut battre le fer tant qu'il est chaud".
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1.- Come rain or shine.
= Yagmur camur demeden. (Come rain or mud.)
2.- The lull before the storm.
= Firtina oncesi sessizlik. (Quiet before the storm.)
3.- A bolt from the blue.
= Catkapi (knock on the door) or pat diye (suddenly)
4.- It never rains but it pours.
= Aksilikler hep ust uste gelir (Misfortunes comes in pairs.)
5.- Make hay while the sun shines.
= Yagmur yagarken kupunu doldur. (Fill your cube while... See more 1.- Come rain or shine.
= Yagmur camur demeden. (Come rain or mud.)
2.- The lull before the storm.
= Firtina oncesi sessizlik. (Quiet before the storm.)
3.- A bolt from the blue.
= Catkapi (knock on the door) or pat diye (suddenly)
4.- It never rains but it pours.
= Aksilikler hep ust uste gelir (Misfortunes comes in pairs.)
5.- Make hay while the sun shines.
= Yagmur yagarken kupunu doldur. (Fill your cube while it's raining.) ▲ Collapse
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