This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English
  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

modest

English translation: shy, diffident, falsely pretending not to be as good as you really are

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:modest
Selected answer:shy, diffident, falsely pretending not to be as good as you really are

15:23 Sep 14, 2017
    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2017-09-18 13:54:07 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)


English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / modest
English term or phrase: modest
I ain't got no room to be modest it's time for me to shine.
S.J
Canada
Local time: 00:18
shy, diffident, falsely pretending not to be as good as you really are
Explanation:
I can't afford to pretend to be worse than I am, now is the time for me to show how good I can be.
Selected response from:

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:18
Grading comment
Thanks a lot
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +9shy, diffident, falsely pretending not to be as good as you really are
Jack Doughty
4to play dumb/ignorant
Phoenix III


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


45 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +9
shy, diffident, falsely pretending not to be as good as you really are


Explanation:
I can't afford to pretend to be worse than I am, now is the time for me to show how good I can be.


Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 05:18
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 370
Grading comment
Thanks a lot

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M
2 mins
  -> Thank you, Tony.
agree  Robert Forstag: "False modesty" is what is really being referred to here.
9 mins
  -> Thank you. Yes.
agree  Armorel Young
3 hrs
  -> Тhank you.
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
3 hrs
  -> Тhank you.
agree  writeaway
4 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  JaneTranslates
6 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  B D Finch: More not putting oneself forward than pretending not to be good.
17 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Thayenga: :)
19 hrs
  -> Тhank you.
agree  acetran
6 days
  -> Thank you.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to play dumb/ignorant


Explanation:
This is clearly not the time to play dumb. It's my time to shine.

In keeping with the slang this would be the best way to express it.

Phoenix III
United States
Local time: 00:18
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 2

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  writeaway: not what it means
2 hrs
disagree  B D Finch: It isn't stupid to be modest.
16 hrs
agree  acetran
2 days 19 mins
  -> Gracias!
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.

Return to KudoZ list

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:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search