Jun 29, 2009 14:43
15 yrs ago
French term
les arrangements ordinaires de l'existence
French to English
Art/Literary
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Hi
About a guy in his late-20s with plenty of potential but who can't find the motivation to put his ideas into practice.
"Ses désirs profonds ne peuvent se satisfaire des arrangements ordinaires de l'existence."
It's pretty clear what it means but I'm darned if I can get it into words!
As ever, many thanks.
About a guy in his late-20s with plenty of potential but who can't find the motivation to put his ideas into practice.
"Ses désirs profonds ne peuvent se satisfaire des arrangements ordinaires de l'existence."
It's pretty clear what it means but I'm darned if I can get it into words!
As ever, many thanks.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
13 mins
Selected
the everyday business of life
This might be an option. Something along the lines of his deepest desires finding no satisfaction in the everyday business of life?
Cocktails and irresponsibility... sounds like you're having fun!
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2009-06-30 15:53:34 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks Sandra.
Cocktails and irresponsibility... sounds like you're having fun!
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2009-06-30 15:53:34 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks Sandra.
Note from asker:
Only vicariously I'm afraid! ;-) |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Monique McColgan
: This choice makes a lot of sense to me (for English from the US)
1 hr
|
Thanks Monique
|
|
agree |
Linda Brunet
1 hr
|
Thank you Linda
|
|
agree |
Marta Scott
: This captures it well for me from the UK side of the world
2 hrs
|
Thank you Marta
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "I'm still inclined towards the idea of compromise, but perhaps I'm over-interpreting? This is a nice turn of phrase so thanks very much Susan!"
3 mins
The ordinary aspects of life
Or perhaps you could use "mundane" instead of "ordinary"...
+2
30 mins
a humdrum existence
or "the daily grind"
Note from asker:
Thanks Mark, I almost went with "daily grind," it was a hard choice! |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
B D Finch
: Good
15 mins
|
Thanks
|
|
agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: I was thinking along the same lines
6 hrs
|
Thanks
|
+1
18 hrs
compromises of everyday life
In light of your recent discussion with Susan, the word compromise came to mind...
Do we need more social engineering for sex equality? asks ...
21 Nov 2008 ... with real women confronting the realities and making the necessary compromises of everyday life whilst striving for greater fairness. ...
www.compassonline.org.uk/news/item.asp?n=3415 - Cached - Similar
Amazon.com: James Seidler's review of Back to Earth: A ...
... his marriage his ended, and his path has become misdirected, diverted by the tiny, cumulative compromises of everyday life. In an effort to re-focus, ...
www.amazon.com/review/R10TTRBJSEGPJP - Cached - Similar
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Note added at 18 hrs (2009-06-30 08:57:37 GMT)
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Duh - obviously compromise came to mind - you use the word yourself in the discussion! (more coffee, Mara...)
So all of that to say, I think your idea of compromise works well with what you describe, if it fits in with the overall context of your piece and this young man's character.
Do we need more social engineering for sex equality? asks ...
21 Nov 2008 ... with real women confronting the realities and making the necessary compromises of everyday life whilst striving for greater fairness. ...
www.compassonline.org.uk/news/item.asp?n=3415 - Cached - Similar
Amazon.com: James Seidler's review of Back to Earth: A ...
... his marriage his ended, and his path has become misdirected, diverted by the tiny, cumulative compromises of everyday life. In an effort to re-focus, ...
www.amazon.com/review/R10TTRBJSEGPJP - Cached - Similar
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Note added at 18 hrs (2009-06-30 08:57:37 GMT)
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Duh - obviously compromise came to mind - you use the word yourself in the discussion! (more coffee, Mara...)
So all of that to say, I think your idea of compromise works well with what you describe, if it fits in with the overall context of your piece and this young man's character.
Note from asker:
Thanks Mara, "dans le doute" I thought I'd best play safe ;-) |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Emma Paulay
: I thought of "perpetual compromise", did a search and found this quote from Bertrand Russell who seems to have a similar outlook: http://www.coolquotes.com/compromise.html
49 mins
|
yes, that does seem to fit, doesn't it!
|
22 hrs
run-of-the-mill adjustments of daily existence/life
I think that "adjustment" could be another alternative. It seems that the guy has greater ambitions than spending his time having to adapt to the ins and outs of everyday existence. But French Foodie's "compromise" is good too!
4 hrs
from the way life is from day to day
Hello,
He can't get any satisfaction from the way life is from day to day. I think we can get away a little from the nominalization in the English translation, no? You don't have to, but I would prefer to do so.
arrangements ordinaires de l'existence = how life is arranged from day to day = the way life is from day to day
I hope this helps.
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Note added at 1 day1 hr (2009-06-30 16:01:07 GMT) Post-grading
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how life is set up from day to day = just how life is from day to day
ordinaires = everyday
I don't think they are talking about a "compromise" here.
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Note added at 3 days11 hrs (2009-07-03 02:02:08 GMT) Post-grading
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arrangements ordinaires = how life is set up from day to day
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Note added at 3 days11 hrs (2009-07-03 02:04:14 GMT) Post-grading
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"It is so interesting that the way life is set up day to day, with many concerns, but underneath, it is just a spiritual journey. When man becomes secular"
www.newarkspeaks.com/forum/archive/index.../t-8054.html
I also like "how life is set up day to day"
He can't get any satisfaction from the way life is from day to day. I think we can get away a little from the nominalization in the English translation, no? You don't have to, but I would prefer to do so.
arrangements ordinaires de l'existence = how life is arranged from day to day = the way life is from day to day
I hope this helps.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day1 hr (2009-06-30 16:01:07 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
how life is set up from day to day = just how life is from day to day
ordinaires = everyday
I don't think they are talking about a "compromise" here.
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Note added at 3 days11 hrs (2009-07-03 02:02:08 GMT) Post-grading
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arrangements ordinaires = how life is set up from day to day
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 days11 hrs (2009-07-03 02:04:14 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------
"It is so interesting that the way life is set up day to day, with many concerns, but underneath, it is just a spiritual journey. When man becomes secular"
www.newarkspeaks.com/forum/archive/index.../t-8054.html
I also like "how life is set up day to day"
Discussion