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. Hebrew to English
  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

איך התגלגלו הדברים

English translation: chain of events

11:32 Jul 8, 2012
Hebrew to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Hebrew term or phrase: איך התגלגלו הדברים
A family is writing about a poor customer service they experienced, and they say that they don't understand
איך התגלגלו הדברים
and I am having trouble finding the best US English equivalent.
moshiachnow
Israel
Local time: 03:16
English translation:chain of events
Explanation:
:-)
Selected response from:

Sandra & Kenneth Grossman
Israel
Local time: 03:16
Grading comment
Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1how things transpired
Donn Hyman (X)
4chain of events
Sandra & Kenneth Grossman
4how things unfolded / how things got like that
Ty Kendall
4The way things went down...
criden
3How one thing led to another
Gad Kohenov
3how things turned out
Colin Rowe
3what was going on, how it came to this, why this happened
Mary Jane Shubow


  

Answers


24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
chain of events


Explanation:
:-)

Sandra & Kenneth Grossman
Israel
Local time: 03:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RomanianRomanian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
how things transpired


Explanation:
see web reference


    Reference: http://popwatch.ew.com/2012/06/21/alec-baldwin-letterman-pap...
Donn Hyman (X)
Israel
Local time: 03:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in HebrewHebrew
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michal Goren
55 mins
  -> thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
How one thing led to another


Explanation:
My suggestion.

Gad Kohenov
Israel
Local time: 03:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in HebrewHebrew
PRO pts in category: 96
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
how things turned out


Explanation:
?

Colin Rowe
Germany
Local time: 02:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
how things unfolded / how things got like that


Explanation:
הצעתי............

Rosenthal says the following about "להתגלגל":

"מתרחש במהלכים עוקבים, לכאורה ללא שליטה: "זה התגלגל במהירות מטורפת.....והנה אני מוצא את עצמי בטלוויזיה ובחורות צועקות עופר, עופר"."

Given that the register probably isn't too high, I think these options are possibilities.

Also seeing as the essential meaning of "להתגלגל" here is "to happen" you should also consider the verb "to unfold". This also means "to happen" in English, but with negative connotations, which are appropriate here given the negative context.




    Reference: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfold
Ty Kendall
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks Ty

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
The way things went down...


Explanation:
This is a less formal, more hip, modern(ish), American, conversational version.

Example sentence(s):
  • The way things went down, was like this: First.....
  • That's the way things went down.
criden
Local time: 17:16
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in HebrewHebrew
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
what was going on, how it came to this, why this happened


Explanation:
There are many ways to translate this according to what works in the particular context

Mary Jane Shubow
United States
Local time: 17:16
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks

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