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  3. Poetry & Literature

а то вы...

English translation: before you

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Russian term or phrase:а то вы
English translation:before you
Entered by: Andrew Vdovin

15:45 Feb 5, 2008
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / children's literature
Russian term or phrase: а то вы...
- Пошли скорей к мне домой, а то вы совсем замерзли. Я тут недалеко живу.

Dear colleagues!
Интересует меня следующее: возможно ли в данном случае как-нибудь передать вот это самое "а то...", только чтоб звучало естественно?
Или лучше просто опустить?
Andrew Vdovin
Local time: 14:30
before you freeze to death
Explanation:
Sorry, but none of the previous responses sound natural to me, and I'm surprised no one has offered this option.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2008-02-05 22:40:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I meant the 'before' part, not the 'freeze to death' that Jack already suggested; 'before' is what makes it sound natural and idiomatic.
Selected response from:

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 03:30
Grading comment
I guess this one is most appropriate. Thank you very much for your help Mark!
Thanks everybody!!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +4since you're so cold
sarandor
3 +3because you ...
Alexander Onishko
4 +2otherwise
Jack Doughty
4 +2as you are absolutely frozen
Illa69
4 +2before you freeze to death
Mark Berelekhis
4комментарий вдогонку, not for grading
zmejka


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
because you ...


Explanation:
***

Alexander Onishko
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 63

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  zmejka: ...because you're freezing.
11 mins
  -> Thank you very much!
agree  Marina Kosenkova
29 mins
agree  Andrey Belousov (X): That's the right way!
3 hrs
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
otherwise


Explanation:
...you'll freeze to death (the usual expression, rather than "you'll be quite frozen")

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 658

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  zmejka: "or else" might do as well
3 mins
  -> Thank you. Yes, that would do too.
agree  PoveyTrans (X)
39 mins
  -> Thank you.
neutral  Andrey Belousov (X): nope, Jack. In your version - they WILL get drozen..... at the moment - they are well frozen already/ .... though, a good answer.
3 hrs
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
а то
комментарий вдогонку, not for grading


Explanation:
вообще, я только что поняла, что or else you'll freeze/otherwise you'll freeze — это "иначе вы замёрзнете", тогда как в изначальном контексте барышня (или кто там) УЖЕ замёрзла. тогда, наверное, лучше подходит because (you're freezing) — если важно сохранить дословность. а так мне симпатичнее оборот с otherwise или or else.

хотя ещё можно докопаться до тонких коннотаций: например, если герой говорит "а то", используя холод только как повод заманить собеседника домой, то это скорее оправдание мотива, а значит — because; если герой говорит "а то", искренне подразумевая "в противном случае вы тут скопытитесь от холода", то otherwise или or else звучит тут правдоподобнее. впрочем, возможно, я зря морочусь. )


zmejka
Local time: 10:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Russian
PRO pts in category: 8
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
as you are absolutely frozen


Explanation:
The sentence is given in the present tense not in the future one.


Illa69
Local time: 10:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Karolina Suliokiene
23 mins
  -> Thank you, Karolina!
agree  Andrey Belousov (X): Except for "as" - I like your approach. I would say "since (I can tell)"....
3 hrs
  -> Thank you, Andrey! Yes, you are absolutely right: 'since' sounds much better.
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +4
since you're so cold


Explanation:
Для сохранения разговорного стиля:

Let's go to my place, since you're so cold. I live not far from here

sarandor
United States
Local time: 03:30
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 15

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Andrey Belousov (X): This just proved MY understanding/ Thanks, Галя!
1 min
neutral  zmejka: since you're so cold звучит как "раз уж вы так замёрзли", может быть считано с ноткой сомнения. а так, если в контекст вписывается, то конечно
54 mins
agree  Alex Koudlai: кажется, это более гладко, чем другие предложенные варианты
57 mins
agree  Tatiana Lammers
2 hrs
agree  daruuntje (X): absolutely :)
9 hrs
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
before you freeze to death


Explanation:
Sorry, but none of the previous responses sound natural to me, and I'm surprised no one has offered this option.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2008-02-05 22:40:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I meant the 'before' part, not the 'freeze to death' that Jack already suggested; 'before' is what makes it sound natural and idiomatic.

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 03:30
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 666
Grading comment
I guess this one is most appropriate. Thank you very much for your help Mark!
Thanks everybody!!!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Eoghan Connolly: Spot on!
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Eoghan!
agree  Inga Eremeeva
1 day 2 hrs
  -> Thank you, IAE.
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