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non addetto ai lavori

English translation: as a mere layman


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GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:non addetto ai lavori
English translation:as a mere layman
Entered by: Oliver Lawrence
Options:
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- Include in personal glossary

18:41 Jul 29, 2010
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Italian term or phrase: non addetto ai lavori
Propongo questo breve appunto, da non addetto ai lavori e senza pretese di completezza, sul sistema dei terminali intermodali.

Il senso è questo: chi scrive si definisce un non addetto ai lavori perchè non lavora nè ha mai lavorato in questo campo: è un appassionato, in realtà con una conoscenza approfondita del settore. Grazie a tutti
Hope05
Local time: 19:56
as a mere layman
Explanation:
the 'mere' adds the element of modesty (which is perhaps overdone in the 'someone who is by no means an expert' answer, which sounds positively self-effacing IMHO), while 'layman' (a very natural and familiar word for this kind of idea) expresses the concept of being an interested non-professional, better IMHO than 'outsider'. HTH :).
Selected response from:

Oliver Lawrence
Italy
Local time: 19:56
Grading comment
grazie grazie grazie! Questa era proprio la parolina che cercavo, ma si era nascosta in qualche angolino della mia mente :-)!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +2from someone is by no means an expert in the fieldsarahca
4 +2as a mere layman
Oliver Lawrence
4 +2outsider
cynthiatesser
3as someone who does not work in the field
Kate Chaffer
3book-learnedxxxMr Murray
3layman
Pierluigi Bernardini


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
from someone is by no means an expert in the field


Explanation:
..

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Note added at 7 mins (2010-07-29 18:48:33 GMT)
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from someone WHO is by no means an expert in the field (scusami - troppa fretta)

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Note added at 17 mins (2010-07-29 18:58:51 GMT)
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esattamente, si capisce perfettamente. Si potrebbe dire I say this as someone who lays no claims to being an expert in the field" che forse potrebbe essere ancora piu' chiaro che in realta' e' solo modestia.

sarahca
Local time: 12:56
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: e in questo modo si capisce che il definirsi un non addetto ai lavori è per modestia e non tanto perchè non sia un esperto? (Cura un sito dedicato al trasporto intermodale) grazie ancora" :-)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  YP - idiomatica: Yes
0 min
  -> thanks Yaiza

agree  philgoddard
1 hr
  -> thanks phil

neutral  Kate Chaffer: Not sure about this. Isn't the point that the person IS an expert, despite not working in the field? "con una conoscenza approfondita del settore"
13 hrs
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40 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
outsider


Explanation:
OXFORD dICTIONARY

outsider (out|sider)
Line-break:
OnOffPronunciation:/aʊtˈsʌɪdə/noun
1 a person who does not belong to a particular organization or professiona person who is not accepted by or who isolates themselves from society


    Reference: http://oxforddictionaries.com/view/entry/m_en_gb0591520#m_en...
cynthiatesser
Italy
Local time: 19:56
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: This is a good, and more concise, alternative.
33 mins
  -> Thank you!

agree  Shera Lyn Parpia
1 hr
  -> Thank you!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
book-learned


Explanation:
Based on the original question

1. "...con una conoscenza approfondita del settore"

2. "...non lavora nè ha mai lavorato in questo campo"

Compare to the definition of book-learning

book learning (noun) knowledge gained from reading or study rather than from practical experience

Related Forms: book-learned, adjective

1. Someone with knowledge (conoscenza approfondita)

but

2. no practical experience (ha mai lavorato in questo campo).

book-learned "...con una conoscenza approfondita del settore" ma "...non lavora nè ha mai lavorato in questo campo"



Example sentence(s):
  • Charles is extremely book learned in just about every area including wilderness survival, but he has no practical experience. [web source]
  • All book learned no practical experience or skills. [web source]

    Reference: http://www.yourdictionary.com/book-learned
xxxMr Murray
Italy
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
as a mere layman


Explanation:
the 'mere' adds the element of modesty (which is perhaps overdone in the 'someone who is by no means an expert' answer, which sounds positively self-effacing IMHO), while 'layman' (a very natural and familiar word for this kind of idea) expresses the concept of being an interested non-professional, better IMHO than 'outsider'. HTH :).

Oliver Lawrence
Italy
Local time: 19:56
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 59
Grading comment
grazie grazie grazie! Questa era proprio la parolina che cercavo, ma si era nascosta in qualche angolino della mia mente :-)!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Pauley
7 hrs

agree  luskie
1 day12 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
layman


Explanation:
Alternatively to "outsider".

Pierluigi Bernardini
Italy
Local time: 19:56
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
as someone who does not work in the field


Explanation:
I think it's best just to spell it out plainly.

Kate Chaffer
Italy
Local time: 19:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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Changes made by editors
Aug 1, 2010 - Changes made by Oliver Lawrence:
Created KOG entryKudoZ term => KOG term


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