Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
s'il en est
English translation:
if ever there was one
French term
United Kingdom
BA(Hons) FITI MCIL CL ISO 17100:2015
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English, and 1 more.
s'il en est
"Aux Pays-bas, pays cosmopolite **s'il en est**, l'anglais est pratiqué comme nulle part ailleurs."
My best attempt is "In the Netherlands, being the cosmopolitan country that it is, ....."
Can anyone suggest anything better?
Many TIA
Vicky
Jun 8, 2008 12:42: Tony M changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Non-PRO (1): writeaway
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Proposed translations
if ever there was one
a cosmopolitan country if ever there was one
cosmopolitan country par excellence
a cosmopolitan country by any standards
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Richard Benham
: I agree with your explanation, but I think "if ever there was one" captures that sentiment better.
2 mins
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you're absolutely right!
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MatthewLaSon
: I don't think you're wrong. You don't have to say "if there ever was one" How about "The Netherlands, a country which gives true meaning to the word 'cosmopolitan' " uses English...
14 hrs
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France
When quality counts
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, English
if ever there was one
Sont d'un nuage épais toujours embarrassées ;
Le jour de la raison ne le saurait percer.
Avant donc de traduire, apprenez à penser.
With apologies to Nicolas Boileau, who actually wrote "Avant donc que d'écrire...".
I hid my original answer, but I thought I'd put back the Boileau quote (only more of it, and with a subtle amendment) due to popular demand.
Not for grading; French Foodie beat me to the suggestion.
| agree |
writeaway
: Yes the 17ème was just as enlightening as the 18ème.... (centuries, not arrondissements...... ;-) )
10 mins
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Thanks.
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The Netherlands, a country which gives true meaning to the word "cosmopolitan", uses English...
s'il en est = gives true meaning to (if there ever was one)
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