Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
s\'attacher
English translation:
to win or secure
Added to glossary by
Jana Cole
May 16, 2014 04:01
10 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term
s'attacher
French to English
Other
Government / Politics
It seems to mean, basically, "give," but I'm wondering if there's a more specific meaning.
De ce point de vue, le mal endémique que constituent le détournement des deniers publics et la monopolisation du pouvoir politique qui le sert, est toujours vécu comme une agression perpétrée par un État prédateur qui apparaît aux yeux des peuples comme un ennemi dont il faut ***s’attacher*** les faveurs par le clientélisme ou bien soumettre ou fuir !
De ce point de vue, le mal endémique que constituent le détournement des deniers publics et la monopolisation du pouvoir politique qui le sert, est toujours vécu comme une agression perpétrée par un État prédateur qui apparaît aux yeux des peuples comme un ennemi dont il faut ***s’attacher*** les faveurs par le clientélisme ou bien soumettre ou fuir !
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | to win or secure |
Gayle Wallimann
|
| 5 | to curry favour with |
Francis Marche
|
| 4 | snag / grab / scoop up/ snatch / snap |
ViBe
|
Proposed translations
+3
3 hrs
Gayle Wallimann
Native in English
American in Provence
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, English to French, English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
Selected
to win or secure
In this context, I think "win favors" or "secure favors" would work. In short, the country needs to win favors from the other (ennemy in the eyes of the population) through trade relations.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Anne Bohy
1 hr
|
|
Merci.
|
|
| agree |
Jocelyne Cuenin
: sans hésitations
9 hrs
|
|
Merci!
|
|
| agree |
Francis Marche
: Sans hésitations non plus.
2 days 15 hrs
|
|
Merci!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
6 hrs
ViBe
Specializes in field
snag / grab / scoop up/ snatch / snap
I fully concur with Karen, this does seem to be a typo. Not only does “s'arracher” fit in better, but also grammar supports this hypothesis: indeed, the verb “s’attacher” requires a preposition, “on s’attache à q.-ch.,” while the verb here is used as a transitive one.
If you want to be more formal, though, “seek” (favors) could also fly, but you lose the touch of informality present in the source.
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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-05-16 10:31:24 GMT)
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PS. As to the substance matter, I can only imagine, lacking context, that this piece is about the security dilemma small nations are faced with when dealing with a big bully terrorizing their neighborhood. So, the only choice smaller players have in this context is either to submit themselves to the big boy thus becoming his “clients” and seeking favors therefrom or run away and/or team up with other small players.
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Note added at 2 days15 hrs (2014-05-18 19:47:51 GMT)
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to snatch at...
If you want to be more formal, though, “seek” (favors) could also fly, but you lose the touch of informality present in the source.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2014-05-16 10:31:24 GMT)
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PS. As to the substance matter, I can only imagine, lacking context, that this piece is about the security dilemma small nations are faced with when dealing with a big bully terrorizing their neighborhood. So, the only choice smaller players have in this context is either to submit themselves to the big boy thus becoming his “clients” and seeking favors therefrom or run away and/or team up with other small players.
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Note added at 2 days15 hrs (2014-05-18 19:47:51 GMT)
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to snatch at...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: Quite. Other suggestions : extract, obtain
6 hrs
|
| disagree |
Francis Marche
: No typo here, and no snatching, grabbing or scooping.
2 days 13 hrs
|
2 days 19 hrs
Francis Marche
France
France
Native in French
&
English
France
36 years experience on 4 continents
Native in: French 
, English
Works in: English to French, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
8
to curry favour with
"s'attacher les faveurs" (not "s'attacher") is a French idiom meaning "to curry favour with"
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Note added at 2 days19 hrs (2014-05-18 23:38:00 GMT)
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https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201103090650...
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Note added at 2 days19 hrs (2014-05-18 23:41:32 GMT)
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C'est une pratique courante pour s'attacher les faveurs de personnages influents.
http://www.grands-avocats.com/dossiers/karachi-vingt-ans-dim...
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Note added at 2 days19 hrs (2014-05-18 23:42:45 GMT)
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Le système de corruption mis en place par Saddam Hussein pour s'attacher les faveurs d'un réseau d'influence international a jeté ses filets
http://mobile.agoravox.fr/tribune-libre/article/iran-sanctio...
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Note added at 2 days19 hrs (2014-05-18 23:38:00 GMT)
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https://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=201103090650...
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Note added at 2 days19 hrs (2014-05-18 23:41:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
C'est une pratique courante pour s'attacher les faveurs de personnages influents.
http://www.grands-avocats.com/dossiers/karachi-vingt-ans-dim...
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days19 hrs (2014-05-18 23:42:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Le système de corruption mis en place par Saddam Hussein pour s'attacher les faveurs d'un réseau d'influence international a jeté ses filets
http://mobile.agoravox.fr/tribune-libre/article/iran-sanctio...
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