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  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

Il y en a qui sont morts d'attendre

English translation: You could die waiting [for this to happen]

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Il y en a qui sont morts d'attendre
English translation:You could die waiting [for this to happen]
Entered by: Sylvie Mathis

16:51 Jan 31, 2009
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
French term or phrase: Il y en a qui sont morts d'attendre
Would you just say "some died waiting" or is there a more suitable way to phrase this in English?

Thanks for your help.
Sylvie Mathis
Spain
You could die waiting [for this to happen]
Explanation:
Might be an equivalent expression...

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Note added at 28 mins (2009-01-31 17:19:52 GMT)
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I have to say, this is an expression I use quite a lot, FWIW.

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-31 18:21:18 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks for the points, Sylvie
Selected response from:

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:44
Grading comment
Thank you so much to all of you! It was difficult to select the one answer. I wished I could split the points... have a good WE.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3You could die waiting [for this to happen]
Helen Shiner
4 +1don't hold your breath
SJLD
4some died waiting
Monique McColgan
4In the process, you may/might die waiting for it
MatthewLaSon
4Some are tired of waiting
Nama Vivian


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
some died waiting


Explanation:
I think your answer is the right one.

Monique McColgan
Local time: 12:44
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
don't hold your breath


Explanation:
It *really does* depends on the context. There is no stock expression in English with "died waiting".

SJLD
Local time: 18:44
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Catherine Gilsenan: This is good, too!
1 min
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
In the process, you may/might die waiting for it


Explanation:
Hello,

I think this would work.

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 12:44
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 145
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
You could die waiting [for this to happen]


Explanation:
Might be an equivalent expression...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 28 mins (2009-01-31 17:19:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I have to say, this is an expression I use quite a lot, FWIW.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-01-31 18:21:18 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Thanks for the points, Sylvie

Helen Shiner
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:44
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44
Grading comment
Thank you so much to all of you! It was difficult to select the one answer. I wished I could split the points... have a good WE.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Yes thank you Catherine for this as well! For this we say: "à la saint glin-glin" and "quand les poules auront des dents"... ;-)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Catherine Gilsenan: Or, "It'll never happen in a month of Sundays!", or "Pigs might fly!", or some such expression.
17 mins
  -> Thanks, Catherine - yes, there are lots of ways it could be rendered!
agree  Kate Hudson (X)
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Kate
agree  swanda
17 hrs
  -> Thank you, swanda
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1 day 3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Some are tired of waiting


Explanation:
I prefer not to take the literal meaning of "morts d'attendre". To me, the writer is complaining about how much time is spent waiting.

Nama Vivian
Cameroon
Local time: 17:44
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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