Jan 20, 2006 13:09
18 yrs ago
French term

La palme doit revenir.....

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Arty text on oxymorons.....
Continuation of text 2 questions back....

Même chose avec l’idéal d’une « consommation solidaire ». Cette formule, séduisante pour l’homme de bonne foi, fait croire qu’on va corriger les inégalités économiques par la vertu d’un adjectif réhabilitant. Or la logique de la société de consommation est de cultiver un hédonisme individualiste qui identifie la supériorité sociale à la surconsommation. L'égoïsme, la "hiérachite" en sont la moteur essentielle. En appeler dès lors à une consommation "solidaire" ou "citoyenene", c'est conforter l’illusion selon laquelle on peut supprimer l’injustice inhérente au système sans changer le système.

Quant aux investissements éthiques à la mode aussi, ils tentent, par la grâce d’un qualificatif vertueux de purifier la substantielle matérialité des profits récoltes. La palme doit revenir ici à l'expression "placements humanitaires" lesquels proposent à l'investisseur de partager avec l'ONG qui gère ses actions une partie du rendement obtenu. Notre généreux cumulard satisfait alors ses pulsions charitables en même temps que les exigences de son portefeuille...Et voilà la pratique du placement justifiée par l'éthique du don. Du grand art.

Proposed translations

+3
6 mins
Selected

The prize ought to go to/takes the biscuit

The second suggestion reflects the irony of the piece (e.g. "the term 'humanitarian investment' takes the biscuit....").
Peer comment(s):

disagree Sandra Petch : "Takes the biscuit" seems too colloquial for this text .
11 mins
I think that you'll find plenty of "serious texts" where the phrase is used
agree Tony M : Whilst I agree with Sandra that it does have a rather colloquial ring to it, I can't help feeling it is EXACTLY what is called for here!
15 mins
Thanks.
agree Rachel Ward : sounds good to me!
33 mins
Thanks
agree French Foodie : I think takes the biscuit (or cake if US) reflects the irony well
44 mins
Thanks
agree jmcdonough (X)
1 day 9 hrs
Thanks
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks very much John..."
5 mins

My personal favourite / The best example of such a phrase

good luck
Peer comment(s):

neutral Tony M : I agree in principle, but I think it is vital here to retain the quite heavy irony of the original, and I fear your suggestions, transplanted into this phrase, would fail to do that.
18 mins
Something went wrong...
+2
53 mins

top marks/first place surely has to go to the expression....

but the expresson that really takes the bouquet...
Peer comment(s):

agree French Foodie : top marks is good too
5 mins
agree Sandra Petch : The "surely" has a suitably ironic ring...
10 mins
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1 hr

Heading this list...

Just a suggestion...
Good luck with the text!
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2 hrs

the expression"..." wins hands down

Just another way to put it, along with some of the other answers you have been given
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5 hrs

In this respect, the top prize should be awarded

Just another suggestion...
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10 hrs

the prize should go to here to the expression

Found a translation fo this expression in Harper Collins Robert Unabridged Dictionary. Not very creative on my part, but I hope it helps.

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Note added at 16 hrs (2006-01-21 05:30:11 GMT)
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Delete the first "to." Sorry for the confusion.
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17 hrs

and the winner is...

the expression "..."

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Note added at 17 hrs (2006-01-21 06:34:27 GMT)
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the biggest prize of all goes to
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