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“no dar ni un punto por perdido”

English translation: not give an inch


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08:13 Jun 9, 2011
Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Spanish term or phrase: “no dar ni un punto por perdido”
Hi,
I cannot think of an equivalent in English for this phrase. It is part of a speech:

XXX animó a tener constancia y a “no dar ni un punto por perdido”....

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
Karlameen
English translation:not give an inch
Explanation:
...stand our ground and not give an inch

but without knowing more context (what is the speech about?), it's hard to know if this applies

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2011-06-09 08:21:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sorry: stand his/her ground and not give an inch

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2011-06-09 10:39:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------


Given the new context, you could also say something like "Not give up until the last point has been played" OR "fight on until the last point is over" or "Keep on fighting...", or "Keep at it...", or any combination of course!
Selected response from:

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:32
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7not give an inch
Carol Gullidge
4 +3fight for every last pointCharles Davis
4 +1not write off a single point
Jenni Lukac
4 -1not to lose a single point
laverdad
3to hold firmly onto each point in the match
Deborah Lockett


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
fight for every last point


Explanation:
I think it works expressed like this, even if it doesn't refer literally to a sporting contest.

"We know how hard we'll have to fight for every last point, down to the wire."
http://www.troyleedesigns.com/news/article.php?news_id=680



Charles Davis
Local time: 04:32
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 7

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Simon Bruni: works for me
16 mins
  -> Thanks, Simon :)
agree  Carol Gullidge: works well in the tennis context
2 hrs
  -> Many thanks, Carol :) (But how was one to know?)
agree  James A. Walsh: Yes, I think it's important that 'point' is included for the context.
5 hrs
  -> Thanks, James :)
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to hold firmly onto each point in the match


Explanation:
it's a tennis analogy...

"Sobre Nadal, Federer, Roland Garros y el tenis...

Cada partido es una historia distinta y uno debe mentalizarse con una actitud ganadora, ***no dar ni un punto por perdido*** y procurar dar un mayor numero de ace al sacar durante los juegos el partido, aprender a caer y levantarse y no dar por perdido un partido, por más que estemos en set point o match point, reinventarse rápidamente para poder contrarrestar el juego del contrario, aprender y acostumbrase a romper el servicio (plantar cara a la adversidad de la vida y revertir esa situación), tener la paciencia y osadía de saber cuando atacar en la malla, definir el tai-break punto a punto como si fuera el ultimo partido de tu vida."
http://www.viadescape.com/laignoranciamata/labels/nadal.html

Deborah Lockett
Local time: 03:32
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 83
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
not to lose a single point


Explanation:
saludos

laverdad
Local time: 08:02
Native speaker of: Native in BengaliBengali, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  trixiemck: esto significa "no perder un solo punto" que es una realidad de juego, mientras que "no dar un punto por perdido" es una actitud que impulsa a luchar a pesar de que parezca imposible ganar el punto.
3 hrs
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
not give an inch


Explanation:
...stand our ground and not give an inch

but without knowing more context (what is the speech about?), it's hard to know if this applies

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 mins (2011-06-09 08:21:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

sorry: stand his/her ground and not give an inch

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2011-06-09 10:39:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------


Given the new context, you could also say something like "Not give up until the last point has been played" OR "fight on until the last point is over" or "Keep on fighting...", or "Keep at it...", or any combination of course!

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 03:32
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 118
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Charles Davis: Good idea!
6 mins
  -> many thanks Charles :)
agree  Gilla Evans: given the lack of context, this covers most bases
22 mins
  -> many thanks Gilla :)
agree  Alistair Ian Spearing Ortiz: Or "not to concede" a single inch.
1 hr
  -> many thanks Alistair :) Good idea, or "not budge" if the context is less formal
agree  Michael Powers (PhD): Very nice, Carol - Mike
1 hr
  -> many thanks Mike :)
agree  Thayenga
2 hrs
  -> many thanks Thayenga :)
agree  Linda Grabner: concise, colloquial, and taking the added comments into account, keeps the tennis metaphor
5 hrs
  -> thanks indeed, DrGtranslations :)
agree  Lourdes Sanchez
5 hrs
  -> many thanks Lourdes!
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
not write off a single point


Explanation:
It's actually accounting lingo, but it would work here: every point adds up.

Jenni Lukac
Local time: 04:32
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 35

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lourdes Sanchez
2 hrs
  -> Cheers and thanks, Lourdes.
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