Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
a nos quatre volontes
English translation:
caters to all our needs
Added to glossary by
narasimha (X)
Nov 30, 2006 00:38
17 yrs ago
French term
United States
Scientist / Linguist
Native in: English (Variants: UK, US) 
Works in: French to English, Italian to English, Portuguese to English, and 2 more.
a nos quatre volontes
French to English
Marketing
Food & Drink
play on words
As far as I know this is an idiomatic phrase that can have a variety of meanings. I think they mean it here as a sort of play on words. They are going to sell a fruit-serving set that can be adapted to any need, so to speak. So they are using the following phrase to give consumers the idea that this platter set can be adapted to many uses. Here is the phrase in context:
"...ce nouvel objet se plie ***à nos quatre volontés***.
I have played with the phrase and translated it several ways but I am looking for a close English idiomatic match, if possible rather than use a more literal translation.
All ideas invited and many thanks!
"...ce nouvel objet se plie ***à nos quatre volontés***.
I have played with the phrase and translated it several ways but I am looking for a close English idiomatic match, if possible rather than use a more literal translation.
All ideas invited and many thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
12 hrs
Selected
to satisfy all our needs/requirements
This new product molds itself to satisfy all our needs/requirements as though it has been made specially for us.It caters to all our needs.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This was so hard! I cannot believe all the great ideas and every one of them would work. I had a hard time picking the best fit, but I love "caters to all our needs". I wish I had thought of that myself! Thank you everyone. Now this hard to translate phrase is immortalized here with excellent ideas for future translators."
4 mins
peter mcloughlin
Native in English
Working as a doctor;degree in French/Ger
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Italian to English
appeals to all our basic instincts
How about this for a start?
4 mins
Juan Jacob
Mexico
Mexico
Native in French
Mexico
Literatura, historia, subtitulaje
Native in: Spanish (Variants: Latin American, Mexican) , French (Variants: Standard-France, Belgian)
Works in: French to Spanish, Spanish to French, French, and 5 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
See.
Meaning: As we wish, in anyway we wish or want.
I don't think there is a English idiomatic match.
Good luck.
I don't think there is a English idiomatic match.
Good luck.
44 mins
in any direction you wish/care
possibly implying the four main directions in a transferred sense
+1
1 hr
(it suits) our every need / (it can be used) any way we want / (it can be set) anyway we please
Just a suggestion.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Odette Grille (X)
: suits our every need is perfect
9 hrs
|
|
Merci, Odette
|
2 hrs
[it's] everything you wished for [.... but wait there's more...]
something for Christmas, maybe not quite Ramadam (no disrespect intended), but should do OK for the tourists..
Peace to all !
Peace to all !
6 hrs
meets your needs à la carte!
To keep the French touch (with the French bit in italics, of course). Or you can play around with the first bit.... I suppose my idea is to use "à la carte"!
7 hrs
very/extremely versatile
Not sure why you need a close idiomatic match - it's not always possible! Seems to me English would express the idea in a more straightforward way. More idiomatic, but not a very close match, might be 'ticks all the right boxes', 'comes up trumps every time', but not sure how appropriate those might be without further context.
14 hrs
Rachel Fell
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Thorough, knowledgeable and resourceful
Native in: English (Variant: UK) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
32
every which way
can be used every which way
Just what came to mind, and may not fit the register...
Just what came to mind, and may not fit the register...
Something went wrong...