Ajourner n'est pas jouer

English translation: Nothing ventured.... (dot dot dot)

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Ajourner n'est pas jouer
English translation:Nothing ventured.... (dot dot dot)

17:14 Jul 27, 2009
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2009-07-31 14:45:32 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


French to English translations [PRO]
Journalism / Headline
French term or phrase: Ajourner n'est pas jouer
My guess....postponement is out of the question????

Help....it is from an article realting to a decrease in investments as a result of the economic crisis
RProsser
Local time: 06:42
Nothing ventured.... (dot dot dot)
Explanation:
my final offering, in light of the picture & captions (i.e. investor caginess about venturing out into the unknown!). Pithy enough?
Selected response from:

ormiston
Local time: 07:42
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7Nothing ventured.... (dot dot dot)
ormiston
3delaying the process (of investing) is not the least bit like playing around in/taking a risk
Barbara Cochran, MFA
3The game needs its players back
Anne-Marie Grant (X)
3Holding off/out is not how the game is played
MatthewLaSon
3Is putting off off-putting?
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
3no chances, no advances
polyglot45
2putting off (the day/investment) is merely ducking the issue
ormiston
2Playing the waiting game
Susan Nicholls


Discussion entries: 18





  

Answers


2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
delaying the process (of investing) is not the least bit like playing around in/taking a risk


Explanation:
HTH

"playing around in/taking a risk in the market"

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 01:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
putting off (the day/investment) is merely ducking the issue


Explanation:
My guess - would be nice to see how it goes on, but it sounds faintly critical of (lamely) waiting instead of jumping in and literally putting their money on it. I don't feel it goes as far as saying it's not cricket, just that investors are avoiding playing the (investment) game...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 41 mins (2009-07-27 17:55:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

maybe a bit too jolly old England though....!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 50 mins (2009-07-27 18:04:43 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

polyglot is thinking along my lines of investors keeping their heads down (!)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-07-27 18:50:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

it would help to know if the text goes on to DISAPPROVE of such investor inaction...we could have fun with metaphors (holding back means you are out of the game sort of thing)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-07-27 18:55:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'stalling ain't a move in the investment game' (!)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-07-27 19:14:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'Opting out is a cop-out'

- but I'm sure others will come up with something!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-07-27 20:13:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

will your readers see the picture?! it sets a jaunty tone & maybe you could move away from the French, as with 'No players, no game'

ormiston
Local time: 07:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 10
Notes to answerer
Asker: I like the idea of "it's not cricket"....that would make a good headline!

Asker: That's the basic idea, that the writer disapproves of the fact that investors aren;t willing to take a risk and put their money where their mouth is. Asks what has happened to the pioneer spirit which leah NC to succeed in the first place etc etc

Asker: Don't know if you noticed but the article is now online if you'd like a look at it.

Asker: Yes, the picture will still be there. You make a good point!

Asker: any thoughts on the captions on the picture?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Emma Paulay: I reckon it's a reference to "huffing" in draughts (souffler n'est pas jouer). In which case it would be "isn't allowed" rather than "ducking the issue". What do you think?
18 mins
  -> I saw it in a casino context (!) but maybe you are right - if they go on to say why it's a 'no no' !
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
The game needs its players back


Explanation:
I think you need a snappy headline rather than an explanation of the article.

Anne-Marie Grant (X)
Local time: 06:42
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  ormiston: agree it must be snappy (I see we have taken a similar line) but the image/metaphor should not clash with the visual
1 hr
  -> Yes - I hadn't seen the visual when I posted
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Holding off/out is not how the game is played


Explanation:
Hello,

You don't wait for the economic situation to get better in order to start investing again. Do it now and take risks like a real investor!

I hope this helps.

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 01:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
s jouer
Nothing ventured.... (dot dot dot)


Explanation:
my final offering, in light of the picture & captions (i.e. investor caginess about venturing out into the unknown!). Pithy enough?


ormiston
Local time: 07:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 10
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Anne-Marie Grant (X)
11 mins

agree  philgoddard: This is perfect. Or you could say "He who hesitates..."
1 hr

agree  Yolanda Broad: Looks quite pithy, indeed! (I like Phil's "He who hesitates..." too!)
3 hrs

agree  George C.
8 hrs

agree  Jacqui Audouy
9 hrs

agree  Emma Paulay: Good work!//Just used this in the title to an article. Thanks!
12 hrs
  -> very gratifying Emma, I am pleased to have been able to help!

agree  Nektaria Notaridou
15 days
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Is putting off off-putting?


Explanation:
A "fun" suggestion, hoping you find it catchy. The French original plays on the image which accompanies the article. The title plays around with the visual form of the words too - "jou" and the sound revery bit as with the meaning.

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Local time: 07:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

12 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
no chances, no advances


Explanation:
no pain, no gain
no pain, no game

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
Playing the waiting game


Explanation:
A more descriptive option. Variations might include:
Stop playing the waiting game!
Waiting game just not cricket (this expression is fine in the Australasian context, if this is the target audience).


Susan Nicholls
Local time: 15:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search