Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
Чем бы дитя не тешилось, лишь бы не плакало
English translation:
Аny bauble of folly will keep baby jolly
Added to glossary by
glazein
Jun 15, 2008 16:04
15 yrs ago
5 viewers *
Russian term
Чем бы дитя не тешилось, лишь бы не плакало
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Чем бы дитя не тешилось, лишь бы не плакало
английский эквивалент, не перевод. спасибо
английский эквивалент, не перевод. спасибо
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+4
57 mins
Susan Welsh
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Psychology, economics, politics
Native in: English 
Works in: Russian to English, German to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
40
Selected
Аny bauble of folly will keep baby jolly
I think, in order to keep the spirit of the proverb, you need to keep the "babies" in there. This entry from Multitran is clever and seems to do the job.
(Apparently it can be generalized beyond babies/children, but I still think it's best to keep something of the flavor of the original metaphor.)
(Apparently it can be generalized beyond babies/children, but I still think it's best to keep something of the flavor of the original metaphor.)
Note from asker:
| any toy is O.K. that keeps the baby at play what about this one? is it as good as the other one? thanks |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
erika rubinstein
13 mins
|
| agree |
Aleksey Chervinskiy
1 hr
|
| agree |
Nitin Goyal
1 hr
|
| neutral |
Michael Tovbin
: Not convinced. This seems to mean "Any distraction is sufficient ..." whereas the Russian is more along the lines of giving up, "Let sleeping dogs lie". Let the child do whatever it is doing already as long as it keeps the child off my back.
2 hrs
|
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Yes, I think you're right. The one about the toy conveys that sense of parental avoidance better ("let him burn the house down, so long as he leaves me in peace").
|
|
| agree |
Irina Chamritski
15 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank u so much"
4 mins
anything for a quiet life
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Michael Tovbin
: откуда такая уверенность? Ситуация: кто-то часто ездит в командировки и устал от этого. Произносит приведенную Вами фразу. Какое отношение это имеет к "чем бы дитя не тешилось"? Лингво - плохой советчик.
5 mins
|
+1
21 mins
Michael Tovbin
United States
United States
Native in Russian
&
English
United States
Commitment to Quality and Deadlines
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
, Russian (Variant: Standard-Russia)
Works in: Russian to English, French to English, English to Russian, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Leave him/her to his/her own devices
as long as they leave you alone
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
danya
: a good option as the baby thing will seem a little too elaborate, whereas the Russian metaphor is simply a household expression
1 hr
|
36 mins
Alex Koudlai
United States
United States
Native in Russian
Specializes in field
United States
superb quality and velocity
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
14
What ever makes you happy
Это очень употребительно в общении с субъектами, предвзятыми, эмоциональными, не способными к рациональности, не полностью развитыми. Употребляется также редуцированное выражение: What ever, и его варианты.
50 mins
Anton Konashenok
Czech Republic
Czech Republic
Native in Russian
&
English
Works in field
Czech Republic
Competing on quality, not on price
Native in: Russian , English
Works in: French to English, Czech to English, Danish to English, and 10 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
32
Whatever!
Разговорное. Обычно произносится протяжно и сардонически.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Susan Welsh
: This captures the meaning, but strips out any shred of metaphor. It therefore represents a more degenerated use of language--even if commonly used in our linguistically impoverished society, IMHO.
9 mins
|
|
You are right, this one is not metaphoric at all, but it captures not only the meaning but also the usage: either by the lower classes, or as an expression of apathy
|
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| neutral |
Olga Cartlidge
: ''Whatever" is predominantly teenagespeak. // ...I still hear it from my son : - )))
3 hrs
|
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Yes, I used to hear it quite a bit from my daughter :-)))))
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Discussion