Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
phrase voyante
English translation:
(glaringly) obvious phrase
Added to glossary by
Sonya Mountford-Jones
Nov 25, 2012 16:29
11 yrs ago
French term
Translation, proofreading and editing
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
phrase voyante
French to English
Bus/Financial
Business/Commerce (general)
The document I'm translating is a sort of guide on how to give a good presentation. This is about the question and answer session. I'm struggling to understand what "voyant" means in this context. Any ideas?
REPONDRE AUX QUESTIONS PIEGES
Eviter les phrases trop « voyantes »
- « C’est une bonne question »
- « Je suis content que vous me posiez cette question »
Thanks in advance.
REPONDRE AUX QUESTIONS PIEGES
Eviter les phrases trop « voyantes »
- « C’est une bonne question »
- « Je suis content que vous me posiez cette question »
Thanks in advance.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
1 day 46 mins
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Native in English
Psychologist, Court-certified legal
Native in: English
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
148
Selected
(glaringly) obvious phrase
One among a number of possibilities.
For the phrase : "Eviter les phrases trop « voyantes »",
I would suggest simply
"Avoid stating the obvious".
For me here, it is more a matter of what would be said in this situation that sticking texto to the original.
As a stand-alone term in this type of context, "voyant" means "obvious".
For the phrase : "Eviter les phrases trop « voyantes »",
I would suggest simply
"Avoid stating the obvious".
For me here, it is more a matter of what would be said in this situation that sticking texto to the original.
As a stand-alone term in this type of context, "voyant" means "obvious".
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Nikki, "Avoid stating the obvious" fit really well here."
5 mins
unsubtle terms
Avoid clichés or unsubtle phrases
15 mins
philgoddard
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
295
patronizing phrases
I agree with Emma that one meaning of "voyant" is "unsubtle", but I think this would fit the context better. Saying things like "I'm glad you asked me that question" is insulting the listener's intelligence, ie patronizing them.
+1
23 mins
polyglot45
Native in French
&
English
Native in: English 
, French
Works in: English to French, French to English, German to French, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
88
obvious padding
playing for time
+4
25 mins
hackneyed phrases
Not that I disagree with what has already been proposed. Just another idea - I also thought of "trite"; i.e. the kind of answer "I'm glad you asked me that", which makes the listener (this listener!) just groan.....
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
1 hr
|
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thanks gallagy2 :-)
|
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| agree |
Sheila Wilson
1 hr
|
|
thanks Sheila :-)
|
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| agree |
Emma Paulay
: Yes, this is better than my suggestion. Perhaps add "obvious": "obvious, hackneyed phrases" to really convey the "stick out like a sore thumb" idea of "voyant".
3 hrs
|
|
Thanks Emma :-). Yes I was aware that my idea didn't really give the idea of "voyant", so 'obvious' is perhaps a good solution. I had toyed with the idea of "time-worn" or "well-worn", but that doesn't go with the 'hackneyed' imo.
|
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| agree |
GILLES MEUNIER
14 hrs
|
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thanks Gilou :-)
|
31 mins
overused expressions
These are the sort of replies that are heard too frequently and have little meaning except to give the speaker some time to come up with an answer
+1
17 hrs
cliches
You could possibly add add an adjective like 'patronizing' suggested elsewhere.
Reference:
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