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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

يخرج من الباب كي يعود من النافذة

English translation: we did not leave through the door just to come back in through the window

15:01 Jan 2, 2012
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Arabic term or phrase: يخرج من الباب كي يعود من النافذة
Interview with a Lebanese politician, who was asked about the possibility of his party joining an alliance. His response was:

نحن لم نخرج من الباب كي نعود من النافذة
Ruth Braine
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:42
English translation:we did not leave through the door just to come back in through the window
Explanation:
I think a literal translation would work well here. This isn't a common phrase in English, but I have heard the metaphor used before, and I think English speaking readers would understand all the implications. It's an interesting image. I like it. It does convey a small amount of foreignness, but I think that would work well with the subject matter.
Selected response from:

Dareth Pray
United States
Local time: 21:42
Grading comment
I agree, the literal expression works quite nicely and it's clear from the context and the rest of his answer what he means. Thanks!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3we did not leave through the door just to come back in through the window
Dareth Pray
5that would defeat the purpose
Ahmed AbuSaad
4we did not leave to come back
Liliane Hatem
4we do not want the disguise
drmutaier


  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
we did not leave to come back


Explanation:
the sentence means that leaving was definitive, final.

Liliane Hatem
Lebanon
Local time: 07:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ArabicArabic
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
we do not want the disguise


Explanation:
-

drmutaier
Australia
Local time: 14:42
Native speaker of: Arabic
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
we did not leave through the door just to come back in through the window


Explanation:
I think a literal translation would work well here. This isn't a common phrase in English, but I have heard the metaphor used before, and I think English speaking readers would understand all the implications. It's an interesting image. I like it. It does convey a small amount of foreignness, but I think that would work well with the subject matter.

Dareth Pray
United States
Local time: 21:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
I agree, the literal expression works quite nicely and it's clear from the context and the rest of his answer what he means. Thanks!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Pierrick Jaouen, CFA
5 hrs
  -> Thank you!
agree  Maureen Millington-Brodie: I agree with your comment
13 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Anis Farhat: Certainly. The "door" and "window" image in this sentence reminds of the proverb "When poverty comes in at the door, love flies out of the window".
17 hrs
  -> That's a good point! Even though we don't use this particular phrase in English, it is a familiar concept. Thank you!
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
that would defeat the purpose


Explanation:
..

Ahmed AbuSaad
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 08:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
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