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couper les ailes à un canard qu’on a déjà, semblerait-il, trop longtemps vu voler
English translation: (it's time) to dispel this old myth/rumour/wives' tale/urban legend
13:52 Aug 28, 2020
French to English translations [PRO] Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Belgian French
French term or phrase:couper les ailes à un canard qu’on a déjà, semblerait-il, trop longtemps vu voler
Le journal au même moment, illustre parfaitement cette situation ou acclimater voisine en synonyme avec naturaliser, dans plusieurs propos qui soutiennent clairement que le processus en question n’est envisageable que dans les cas où un végétal est implanté dans un climat proche de celui de son pays d’origine. Acclimater, dans cette dernière interprétation – celle qui prévaut alors « in the British sphere » – ne signifierait pas forcer une plante à se plier à un climat différent de celui qui l’a vu naître, mais simplement l’implanter avec succès sur une terre où on ne le connaissait pas, et qui diffère peu, quant aux conditions de vie, de celle de ses origines. Le botaniste allemand Link, un des premiers dans nos sources belges, s’émeut également de ce flou lexical et propose une définition destinée à ***couper les ailes à un canard qu’on a déjà, semblerait-il, trop longtemps vu voler*** : « Acclimater dans le vrai sens du mot, veut dire accoutumer un être organisé à un climat que, par lui-même, il ne supporte pas ».
This is a Belgian text about the acclimatisation of plants in the 19th century.
I am trying to find an English expression to translate the following : « couper les ailes à un canard qu’on a déjà, semblerait-il, trop longtemps vu voler ». I have one in mind, but would like to see if anyone has any other ideas.
Why Suzuki used the $30 spark plug in the older RM's ... thumpertalk.com › forums › topic › 1109865-why-suz... Time to dispel this rumour, and myth about why Suzuki recommended to use the EG series plugs. Those plugs are a special racing type of plug ... 30 Oct 2014 - 17 posts - 11 authors
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Old_wives'_tale An old wives' tale is a supposed truth which is actually spurious or a superstition. It can be said sometimes to be a type of urban legend, said to be passed down ...
Are you sure that the source language is French? Link is a german botaniste, he may have expressed his statement first in German. Do you have access to the German wordings? Then it's better to post your question into the German-English language pair.
re that rogue "g": you're quite right of course - where did that come from? Don't know if I can blame predictatext or not, but I truly hope so! Reining in, indeed, with only the one "g"!
Now we both confused! I didn't actually think that anybody had suggested it was a real bird. I still think the field would be better described as General Conversation or Idioms.
Now you've confused me! Afaik, nobody was suggesting that the "canard" was a real bird. Only in the French (and now, British too, apparently!) metaphorical sense of "canard". But I do agree with your summary that " Link wanted to put an end to the British misuse of this particular term and to insist upon it being used properly"
I don't see where you get the idea that the bird is a "rumour", in fact, it seems from the extract you posted, that Link wanted to put an end to the British misuse of this particular term and to insist upon it being used properly. I also don't think that the subject field should be "botany": even if that's the subject of your translation, it isn't relevant to this expression.
The quotes are around the sentence beginning "Acclimater". But that'll teach you not to go off for tea breaks when a debate is raging on ProZ! The target audience is clearly educated, and the piece well written. "Canard" will have some of them reaching for the dictionary, but many will understand it
I went for a cup of tea before posting my above message - which then repeated a lot of what you and others were saying! However, I'm pretty sure that it's Link: "Link, un des premiers dans nos sources belges, s’émeut également de ce flou lexical et propose une définition destinée à ***couper les ailes à un canard qu’on a déjà, semblerait-il, trop longtemps vu voler*** : [the phrase in question, i.e., his proposed new definition]..."
Btw, I like "doing the rounds for a long time, (or "for far too long), but am dubious about "canard" here. It clearly depends on the target audience, but I too was not aware of its use in EN despite being pretty familiar with this French use.
"canard" here...might in fact be intended ironically/metaphorically along the lines of "false note" (Collins)? I.e., Link is making a pun on the word "duck" in that sense, and "clipping the wings...". Quite neat imo, especially considering he's presumably not a native French speaker!
Haha, I see you all came to the same conclusion as I was typing :O))
Thanks for all your ideas! Gabrielle - I really wanted to try to include the 'rumour / unfounded story' meaning of 'canard' but couldn't think of a way to do that with an English expression. But I can't think of a metaphor that combines these ideas. I thought of shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted too, Suzie. The idea is basically 'to put an end to a rumour that has been going around for too long', I think (as Gabrielle said), but I just can't find the right expression in English. And yes, I think you are right, Carol - Link did want to stop this rumour.
Yes, I did suggest that the expression needed to be extended, but I just couldn't think of something that sounded good enough, but you're right that it's important to retain the "flying for too long" aspect
@Suzie: I like "clip the wings", or a similar idea
14:36 Aug 28, 2020
but believe that the metaphor of "flying for too long" should also be retained. My understanding is that this Professor(?) Link felt that the definition that prevailed at the time was somewhat inaccurate -, and it was about time this was put right. The page setting of the question, with the punctuation at the end of the term in quotes and coinciding with the end of the line of print, rather disguises the fact that the final sentence is said Link's proposed new definition.
If I understand rightly, he is saying that Link wants to redefine the meaning of "acclimatisation" when the word is already well established?
I wonder if you could use "clip the wings" as that is an expression that is used when trying to rein something in, but then extend it to say "clip the wings of a bird that flew a long time ago" or words to that effect (I can't find a poetic way to say it)
Similarly, you could do something with "that ship has already sailed" possibly? Or shutting the barn door after the horse has bolted?
Hi Carol, Sorry, I should have included the idea I had - I don't think it's great really, so please feel free to suggest another translation. I was considering the following: ...a definition aimed at ***taking the wind out of the sails of a boat that, it would appear, had already been sailing for too long***. Thanks!
of our efforts, it really would help if you were to divulge your own ideas, so we don't waste your time and ours by repeating what you may have already considered and discarded. Your reasons for rejecting these ideas would also be helpful.
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
1 hr confidence:
(that it's) time to retire the old definition, which is no longer relevant / which is obsolete
Explanation: Just guessing here, based on the context provided.
Libby Cohen Canada Local time: 07:17 Works in field Native speaker of: English
dispel a canard that seems to have been doing the rounds for a long time
Explanation: See the discussion box. I don't think you can reproduce the "clip the wings" wordplay, but you can at least retain the idea of "canard".
Definition of canard 1a: a false or unfounded report or story especially : a fabricated report The report about a conspiracy proved to be a canard. b: a groundless rumor or belief the widespread canard that every lawyer is dishonest http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/canard
philgoddard United States Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 4
clip this little birdie's wings before it causes any more trouble
Explanation: I'm suggesting "little birdie" because you were attracted to the idea of a rumour and little birdies are supposed to spread them. On the other hand, as noted above, I don't think it has anything to do with rumours. A "canard" in French or English can be understood as misleading information, and I think that is more relevant here.
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 2 hrs (2020-08-28 15:56:12 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
Little birdies get everywhere and are the source of all sorts of information and misinformation, especially when communicating it to people who aren't supposed to know.
B D Finch France Local time: 13:17 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 28
(it's time) to dispel this old myth/rumour/wives' tale/urban legend
Explanation: Search Results Web results
Why Suzuki used the $30 spark plug in the older RM's ... thumpertalk.com › forums › topic › 1109865-why-suz... Time to dispel this rumour, and myth about why Suzuki recommended to use the EG series plugs. Those plugs are a special racing type of plug ... 30 Oct 2014 - 17 posts - 11 authors
en.wikipedia.org › wiki › Old_wives'_tale An old wives' tale is a supposed truth which is actually spurious or a superstition. It can be said sometimes to be a type of urban legend, said to be passed down ...
AllegroTrans United Kingdom Local time: 12:17 Works in field Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Many thanks to everyone for all the answers and comments! They were all of great help!
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