French to English translations [Non-PRO] Bus/Financial - Business/Commerce (general) / negotiation techniques
French term or phrase:ne serait-ce que d'en discuter
Ensuite, les camions ou les explosions semblent avoir créé une fissure dans les fondations de votre maison, et le refus de la Compagnie ne serait-ce que d'en discuter avec vous est frustrant.
I want this to say "to even discuss it with you" but cannot really see how it works gramatically.
I hoped I had made myself clear, that this is just an idea which sometimes helps to clarify the inended meaning of the s/t.
I hardly think you can claim it to be 'inelegant', it is very common usage, and in certain sentences may well be the neatest and most elegant solution.
The construction with 'ne serait ce que...' can often usefully be considered as 'if only to...' — even though that won't be a viable translation solution in all cases, I find it does at least help me to analyse the underlying sense.
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Answers
4 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +5
to even discuss the matter
Explanation: and the company's refusal to even discuss the matter with you
Anne-Marie Grant United Kingdom Local time: 21:18 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 14
peer agreement (net): +5