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French: "on est aux prises"

English translation: grappling/wrestling with



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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:"on est aux prises"
English translation:grappling/wrestling with
Entered by:Rimas Balsys
Options:
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9:04am Oct 29, 2007Login or register (free) for more options.
French to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Management
French term or phrase: "on est aux prises"
This talks about challenges facing managers of complex organisations. "Il est imperatif de planifier mais on est aux prises avec un degre d'incertitude eleve". I can think of various colourful translations of "on est aux prises" but I'd welcome suggestions ("caught on the horns of..."?) ...?
Rimas Balsys
Canada
grappling/wrestling with
Explanation:
Is there any particular reason for rejecting the same literal and metaphorical equivalents that we have in English?
"Une prise" is a "hold" in wrestling.
Hence the image is one of "grappling" or indeed "wrestling with".

Perhaps you think these are too "colourful", but I reckon if it is OK with the author to conjure up images of men in big pants rolling around on a mat, you can too :-)
Selected response from:

Charlie Bavington
United Kingdom
Note from asker to answerer
Actually, I think "wrestling with", "grappling with", "at grips with", "contend with", "deal with", "faced with" - if you look at them - are all the same thing but in decreasing order of oomph. I
(Though "faced with" is probably too weak.)
In my particular context (a fairly punchy marketing spiel) I think "wrestling with" works best, but any of several would work depending on the actual tone of the surrounding text.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3we are up against/we have to contend withxxxCMJ_Trans
4 +2we're looking at/facing
siragui
5we are at grips with ...
Mary-Ann Marque
4there's (always) a high level of uncertaintyBourth
3grappling/wrestling withCharlie Bavington


  

Answers

3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
we are at grips with ...

Explanation:
to be at grips with

Mary-Ann Marque
France
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
we're looking at/facing

Explanation:
You can handle the colourful translations, so here's a down to earth one. Choice of verb depending on desired level of formality.

siragui
France
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree Terry Richards: we are faced with
3 mins
  -> I lean towards "facing", but thanks for the input.
agree Mario Calvagna: to me this is the one that fits the most, nice and simple
48 mins
  -> Thank you, Mario!
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
there's (always) a high level of uncertainty

Explanation:
Not sure if this one qualifies as down-to-earth or carrément underground.

Bourth
France
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
we are up against/we have to contend with

Explanation:
it is more than just "faced" which is passive. We are really up against this problem

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Note added at 18 mins (2007-10-29 09:23:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

even - we are struggling with
we are caught up in

xxxCMJ_Trans
France
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 38

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree Penny Slacke: I think "we have to contend with" conveys the meaning best and is of the appropriate register .
1 hr
  -> my favourite also
agree Melissa McMahon: Nb. also agree 'contend with' is probably the best register - 'deal with' is the same idea
1 hr
agree xxxJM TRAD: contend with
6 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
grappling/wrestling with

Explanation:
Is there any particular reason for rejecting the same literal and metaphorical equivalents that we have in English?
"Une prise" is a "hold" in wrestling.
Hence the image is one of "grappling" or indeed "wrestling with".

Perhaps you think these are too "colourful", but I reckon if it is OK with the author to conjure up images of men in big pants rolling around on a mat, you can too :-)


Charlie Bavington
United Kingdom
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16
Note from asker to answerer
Actually, I think "wrestling with", "grappling with", "at grips with", "contend with", "deal with", "faced with" - if you look at them - are all the same thing but in decreasing order of oomph. I
(Though "faced with" is probably too weak.)
In my particular context (a fairly punchy marketing spiel) I think "wrestling with" works best, but any of several would work depending on the actual tone of the surrounding text.
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