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政治擦边球

English translation: A political edge ball　／　touch ball

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Chinese term or phrase:政治擦边球
English translation:A political edge ball　／　touch ball
Entered by: Mark Xiang

00:05 Jan 16, 2005
Chinese to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Journalism
Chinese term or phrase: 政治擦边球
related to media censorship in China
Amanda Ng-Fujimoto
A political edge ball　／　touch ball
Explanation:
"政治擦边球"本来就是比喻，直译即可．
Selected response from:

Mark Xiang
Local time: 04:00
Grading comment
thanks! You reinforce my thought.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3FYI
isahuang
4 +1another choice
Shang
4A political edge ball　／　touch ball
Mark Xiang
1Could it be a 'hot potato'?
David Sinclair (X)


  

Answers


22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
政治擦边球
FYI


Explanation:
I guess it talks about something that falls into a grey area or a topic that is not clearly one thing or antoher. But the exact translation depends on the context.

isahuang
Local time: 16:00
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Chinese
PRO pts in category: 19

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Xiang Ding
38 mins
  -> thanks,
agree  Denyce Seow: "Grey area" sounds good, but I guess more context is needed.... ** Have a nice weekend! :-)**
54 mins
  -> thanks, Is it cold in Germany?
agree  Shang
2 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
政治擦边球
another choice


Explanation:
loophole

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 48 mins (2005-01-16 02:53:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

打擦边球：take advantage of the loophole

Shang
China
Local time: 04:00
Native speaker of: Chinese
PRO pts in category: 6

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  jyuan_us: loophole in XXXX(cencership?)
3 hrs
  -> thanks!
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5
政治擦边球
Could it be a 'hot potato'?


Explanation:
just another guess

David Sinclair (X)
Taiwan
Local time: 04:00
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
政治擦边球
A political edge ball　／　touch ball


Explanation:
"政治擦边球"本来就是比喻，直译即可．

Mark Xiang
Local time: 04:00
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
thanks! You reinforce my thought.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  chica nueva: but what on earth does it mean??? I have no idea...I think it needs an explanation in English as well unless it is clear from the context. At the boundary/margin of what is acceptable. Skating on thin ice. Testing the boundaries. A risky/touchy subject.
7 hrs
neutral  Peter Smith: This is indeed an example of a metaphor that does not translate well. It means nothing really to an English-speaking reader; more context required.
9 hrs
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