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.
English language (monolingual) [PRO] Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Used in a video game
English term or phrase:take a dive for me
Hello.
I am translating some strings for an online bowling game. I have come across this expression that I cannot figure out. Here is the sequence of strings:
Awesome!! I received {0} chips! If you are interested in Slot machine, you should give it a shot!
OMG!! I’ve just earned {0} chips from Slot machine! Slot machine in Bowling XXX is also fun!
You ranked {0}th in this season! I feel so good about this season.
I ranked {0}th in the world in this season! If you can do better than me, download Bowling XXX NOW!
Please take a dive for me!!
I sent you invitation request. Be my buddy!
I am a beginner. Go easy on me J
Thanks in advance for any help that you can give me.
The client said it really means "to lose intentionally". It makes sense because this string is found in a section called "cheat". Now that I know this, it makes sense to me too. If someone posts the correct answer, I will be happy to award the points.
I do not have the original text in Korean, this time. You are right Tony, but interpreting it in the right way would mean saying something that is against all commercial logic. I think my interpretation is confirmed by the text that follows. I think that "Take a dive for me." is the equivalent of "Go easy on me".
Well, if the EN is really as flawed as you suggest, then it could mean almost anything!
It's all very well saying what you THINK it ought to mean, or what you'd LIKE it to mean — but that amounts to gross over-interpretation here; whatever the range of possible nuances of meaning, there is really no way that 'take a dive for me' in EN can possibly mean what you seem to want it to mean; the only real solution here is to ask the customer what they thought they were trying to say.
I think they mean, "come play with me, you will have fun because I am easy to beat." (Quote: you can do better than me, I am a beginner, go easy on me). Of course, the company's purpose is to attract players, that is buyers, who will in turn be attracted by the hope of winning, not of losing.
People do not communicate with one another here, I supppose. It is an online game.
John Alphonse (X)
United States
15:31 Jul 7, 2014
There are two unrelated games being written about. One is bowling. You can easily lose at bowling on purpose to help the other person's ranking by some sort of agreement with them.
Anyway, in this game, you get rewards and chips if you win, not if you lose. And you have to spend money in order to play. So why should one be interested in losing?
John Alphonse (X)
United States
15:25 Jul 7, 2014
It originated in boxing. It's just something that occurs. People lose on purpose in boxing for money reasons. Here the concept was just being carried over, the expression used. It is commonly used to refer to a person losing on purpose to suit a need or request, not ethical but it is done. I don't think the "why" is important here. It's importantr that you realize this is a common expression and this is what it means.
There are a few things here that sound a little odd — in particular "I sent you invitation request"; this could be a clue that this was written by a non-native speaker (Far Eastern?) That in turn might suggest the possibility that someone was simply using the idiom inaccurately — perhaps through only having understood it empirically!
However, I tend to agree with Donal: since the speaker seems to be comparing performances, it may well be "do you think you are better than me" / "do you think you are as good as me" / "you're so good, please slow down and give me a chance"! I still suspect, however, that the expression 'to take a dive' is not being used here with quite its normal sense. Maybe what they meant to say was soemthing more like "Give me a break!"
As I said, these are isolated strings. That is why it is so hard to figure out what they actually mean.
John Alphonse (X)
United States
14:59 Jul 7, 2014
Donal's reference is obviously correct, however I have a sense the expression is being used incorrectly here. It seems the speaker is inviting the reader to play, to sort of "dive in" to playing the game. Yet, "Go easy on me" would in fact suggest that the person is asking that the reader lose on purpose... Also, are these lines of text connected or are they just a list of somewhat disconnected game responses? Assuming the latter because it goes from slots to bowling, thus it doesn't seem to be contiguous text.
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.