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The proverbial lamp post

Portuguese translation: lamp post

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:The proverbial lamp post
Portuguese translation:lamp post

20:35 Dec 1, 2009
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2009-12-04 21:54:09 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


English to Portuguese translations [PRO]
Science - Genetics
English term or phrase: The proverbial lamp post
This seems to be an idiom used generally, but I don't know its precise meaning.
Ocri (X)
Brazil
Local time: 08:24
lamp post
Explanation:
:) É preciso mais contexto, mas o significado pode ser este:

‘lamp post’ - This is a reference to an old joke about a drunk searching for his keys under a streetlight. A policeman comes along and asks, “Did you lose them here?” The drunk replies, “No, but the light’s better here.” AB may not be the best target, but it's one of the most studied aspects of AD.

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Note added at 24 mins (2009-12-01 20:59:42 GMT)
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Talvez algo como "regra do foco no secundário"
Selected response from:

Clauwolf
Local time: 08:24
Grading comment
Obrigado, parece ser isto mesmo.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1lamp post
Clauwolf
2 +1o famoso problema do poste (de iluminação), o proverbial problema do poste (de iluminação)
Salvador Scofano and Gry Midttun
4 -1(Sob) a luz proverbial
Marlene Curtis


Discussion entries: 7





  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the proverbial lamp post
o famoso problema do poste (de iluminação), o proverbial problema do poste (de iluminação)


Explanation:
Parece que é um problema da área de estatística no qual uma pessoa andando a esmo (bêbada...) a partir do poste, depois de algum tempo faria uma rotação em torno do poste.

Existem várias referências em inglês no Google.

Salvador Scofano and Gry Midttun
Norway
Local time: 13:24
Native speaker of: Native in NorwegianNorwegian, Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 40
Notes to answerer
Asker: Embora o assunto seja genética, parece que essa é uma expressão idiomática de uso geral. Obrigado pela resposta.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Clauwolf: mas o assunto é genética...
8 mins
  -> Sim, mas a genética pode usar (e usa) estatística também. Falta contexto para que eu possa ajudar de forma mais precisa.
agree  rir: as pessoas vão buscar apoio ao poste de rua, tal como o bêbado, e não iluminação!!mas não é problema, é o famoso, notório provérbio do poste de iluminação...ou ir procurar dinheiro debaixo do poste, porque tem luz, mas procurando no lugar errado
3 hrs
  -> Obrigado por trazer luz à questão. :-) Por curiosidade, achei também outra história com poste, que mostra o uso de estatística para comprovar idéias que não têm fundamento.
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the proverbial lamp post
lamp post


Explanation:
:) É preciso mais contexto, mas o significado pode ser este:

‘lamp post’ - This is a reference to an old joke about a drunk searching for his keys under a streetlight. A policeman comes along and asks, “Did you lose them here?” The drunk replies, “No, but the light’s better here.” AB may not be the best target, but it's one of the most studied aspects of AD.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 24 mins (2009-12-01 20:59:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Talvez algo como "regra do foco no secundário"

Clauwolf
Local time: 08:24
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
Obrigado, parece ser isto mesmo.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  rir: é isso, procurar ou investigar debaixo da luz do poste (falácia), quando não é aí que está o que perdemos ou queremos encontrar;
3 hrs
  -> acredito apenas na historinha da expressão, enquanto não aparece coisa melhor
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
the proverbial lamp post
(Sob) a luz proverbial


Explanation:
9/11: Five Years Later--Gauging Islamist Terrorism
We shouldn't only be looking for terrorists under the proverbial lamppost because that is where the light is brightest. For instance, we need new security ...
www.heritage.org/Research/HomelandSecurity/hl965.cfm

Marlene Curtis
United States
Local time: 07:24
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 36
Notes to answerer
Asker: Perfect! Thank you very much!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  rir: sobre o provérbio do poste de rua...do lamp post...sob o famoso poste proverbial..
3 hrs
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