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précaution oratoire d'usage

English translation: figure of speech


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:précaution oratoire d\'usage
English translation: figure of speech
Entered by: ormiston
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19:03 Jan 3, 2012
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Management / management policy
French term or phrase: précaution oratoire d'usage
The writer defends his previous comments -

Il ne s’agit pas d’une précaution oratoire d’usage, mais d’un aveu d’humilité en matière de science humaine, par opposition aux sciences exactes.
ormiston
Local time: 09:58
Standard figure of speech
Explanation:
As I understand from the very thin context provided, whatever preceded the context was not just a figure of speech - as is usually understood - but actually an expression of humility.
I suppose it would refer to sth. like "in my humble opinion", where the opinion is not humble at all, but rather a figure of speech.
In this case, "humble" would actually mean "humble"

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Note added at 14 hrs (2012-01-04 09:46:35 GMT)
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I meant "this is not just a figure of speech - as is customary". I don't think that this qualifies as "glib".
Selected response from:

Sangro
Local time: 10:58
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2careful phrasing
jmleger
2 +2Standard figure of speech
Sangro


Discussion entries: 14





  

Answers


33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
précaution oratoire d\'usage
careful phrasing


Explanation:
It is not about phrasing carefully the message, but rather an admission of humility as regards the humanities vs. the exact sciences

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Note added at 45 mins (2012-01-03 19:48:22 GMT)
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It just means it not only about putting things nicely (to be non confrontational) It's a genuine admission of (I assume) the failings of the humanities vs. the exact sciences in a specific field, etc. That's how I read it.

jmleger
Local time: 02:58
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: does this mean 'bandying words' or taling for effect then ?


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: Yes, it's very waffly, so anything along these lines would do - "finding the right form of words", perhaps.
15 mins
  -> Waffly? Really. Thanks for this addition to my vocabulary. Happy New Year!

agree  cc in nyc: précautions oratoires : carefully phrased remarks http://dictionary.reverso.net/french-english/précaution orat...
2 hrs
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50 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Standard figure of speech


Explanation:
As I understand from the very thin context provided, whatever preceded the context was not just a figure of speech - as is usually understood - but actually an expression of humility.
I suppose it would refer to sth. like "in my humble opinion", where the opinion is not humble at all, but rather a figure of speech.
In this case, "humble" would actually mean "humble"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2012-01-04 09:46:35 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I meant "this is not just a figure of speech - as is customary". I don't think that this qualifies as "glib".

Sangro
Local time: 10:58
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RomanianRomanian
PRO pts in category: 19
Notes to answerer
Asker: I understood you meant 'glib'

Asker: went too far there I know, but 'figure of speech' alone was fine with its idea of 'trotting out'


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: I think you can drop the "standard" (nothing to do with downing flags!) as redundant.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks, Nikki! "standard" may not have been the best term. The idea was that the figure of speech was not just a hackneyed phrase.

agree  cc in nyc: After reading the Discussion comments, this makes sense here
19 hrs
  -> Thanks, CC!
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