Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Arabic term or phrase:
وعدهم خيرا
English translation:
He promised to look into the... (issue, problem,....)
Added to glossary by
Sam Berner
Mar 11, 2007 02:53
17 yrs ago
Arabic term
Australia
Craftsmanship, ideas, expert knowledge
Native in: Arabic (Variants: Standard-Arabian (MSA), Syrian, Egyptian, Palestinian, Lebanese, Sudanese) 
, English (Variants: US, British, Australian)
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
وعدهم خيرا
Arabic to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
I know what it means - they asked for something, he didn't want to commit himself, so he said "إن شاء الله خير" or similar. They left and had to tell the pres what HE said; couldn't tell the media he fobbed them off so they said "وعدنا خيرا". How do I translate the lack of commitment plus the inherent fatalism of both parties that is packed so neatly into these two words?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 | He promised to look into the... (issue, problem,....) |
mireille aboumrad
|
| 4 | 'It was promising' |
the Train
|
| 3 -1 | promised them well; a Well willing |
Randa Farhat
|
Proposed translations
1 hr
mireille aboumrad
United States
United States
Native in Arabic
United States
Technical and Scientific Translations
Native in: Arabic , French
Works in: French to English, English to French, Arabic to French, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
He promised to look into the... (issue, problem,....)
That could be a statement of non commitment.
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-03-11 04:18:01 GMT)
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a promise of non commitment ;)
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Note added at 1 hr (2007-03-11 04:18:01 GMT)
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a promise of non commitment ;)
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks again, Mireille!"
-1
7 hrs
Randa Farhat
Lebanon
Lebanon
Native in Arabic
Lebanon
Science, UN agencies, NGOs, Corporations
Native in: Arabic (Variant: Standard-Arabian (MSA))
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, Arabic
Related KudoZ points
:
28
promised them well; a Well willing
Well, by God's will = إن شاء الله خير
He promised them well = وعدهم خيراً
or, Gave/showed a well willing.
He promised them well = وعدهم خيراً
or, Gave/showed a well willing.
1 day 23 hrs
'It was promising'
It does not score well on the side of fatalism, but it relieves all sides from appearing to be making a promise or even a statement. Also, it has the element of wishful thinking to it, which might compensate for fatalism.
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