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surextermination
MWc
Oct 29, 2009 01:10
14 yrs ago
French term

dans le sens du vent… et du soleil !

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature Alternative energy
I'm looking for creative input, which is why I have posted this as literary and not energy. This is the phrase in question:

"Lors du lancement de Remap, nous étions, semble-t-il, véritablement dans le sens du vent… et du soleil !"

The context is that the REMAP pre-empted the Mediterranean Solar Plan (PSM), so the woman is saying that they were ahead of the game. Any creative suggestions, using the sun and wind?
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 sailing with the wind ... and the sun
3 +9 we had the wind at our back and our sights on the sun
3 +2 going with the flow...and the glow!
3 +1 the way the wind blows and the sun glows
3 +1 we had the wind in our sails and the sun straight ahead.
3 +1 we were heading into the sun with a following wind
4 flying with the wind...and the sun!
4 wind and sun.....everything was going our way !
3 as if the wind and... the sun were backing us
3 With wind (and solar) assistance, we found it a breeze
3 -1 the launch was mind-blowing

Discussion

Cath St Clair (X) (asker) Oct 29, 2009:
Keep going! Fabulous! Keep those suggestions coming!

Proposed translations

+1
6 hrs
Selected

sailing with the wind ... and the sun

another
Peer comment(s):
agree Carol Gullidge : gets the "using natural ressources" message simply and clearly - in a similar fashion to the ST
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Many thanks to everybody for your creative offerings :) I particularly liked the poetry of John Detre's suggestion but having tried it, it didn't seem to flow naturally within the person's speech. This simple phrase expressed the fact that the group was on the right track and it sat naturally within the speech. Thank you."
+1
7 mins

the way the wind blows and the sun glows

"the way the wind blows" is a common usage, so I tried for a little poetic combination
Peer comment(s):
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : I like it
30 mins
Thanks, Ingeborg
Something went wrong...
+9
19 mins

we had the wind at our back and our sights on the sun

maybe
Peer comment(s):
agree Travelin Ann : Nice, John
1 hr
Thanks Ann, very kind!
agree Miranda Joubioux (X) : Best one so far, with a nice marketing tone.
5 hrs
Thanks Miranda
agree Catherine Gilsenan : I echo Miranda's comments. Nice one.
8 hrs
Thanks Catherine
agree Jennifer Moulard : I echo the two above comments.
9 hrs
Thanks!
agree Chris Hall
11 hrs
Thanks Chris
agree bcsantos
16 hrs
Thanks!
agree Barbara Wiebking : Cf. http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070821082739AA...
16 hrs
Thanks, I had never heard that quote. It seems more apt than anything any of us has some up with!
agree JH Trads
1 day 12 hrs
agree Lianne Wilson
4 days
Something went wrong...
-1
9 mins

the launch was mind-blowing

...quite a sunny outlook!

just a suggestion

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-10-29 02:11:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

a burst of fresh air

just brainstorming :)
Note from asker:
Do.... brainstorm as much as you like :)
Peer comment(s):
disagree Chris Hall : Asker specifically mentions that reference is made to both the sun and the wind.
11 mins
sure, the wind blows :)
Something went wrong...
+2
5 hrs

going with the flow...and the glow!

I'm not sure it's a great idea to use wind and sun here. "Aller dans le sens du vent" means [to be heading in the right direction/following the crowd/going with the flow] and that's the idea you should really keep in the translation, rather than specifically "wind", I think.

Headed the right way, towards the rays!
Peer comment(s):
agree Philippa Smith : Agree that wind and sun should not be forced in, and I like this solution - if the fairly casual tone suits the text.
3 hrs
Thanks for saving me from my "moment de solitude". I found the actual text and this is a quote. I think it might work.
agree Ana Irena Hudi : I really like the solution - it provides a really poetic touch!
1 day 13 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
6 hrs

we had the wind in our sails and the sun straight ahead.

Although this is a nautical image it gives the sense of both terms as well as indicqating you were both head of the game and on the right track.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 hrs (2009-10-29 07:42:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

..........as well as indicating you were ahead of the game and on the right track
Peer comment(s):
agree Helen Shiner : Has more of a sense of being ahead in the game than other suggestions so far
30 mins
Something went wrong...
+1
8 hrs

we were heading into the sun with a following wind

another option
Peer comment(s):
agree B D Finch : So long as they didn't start out in the morning going East and swing round to the West by the evening.
1 hr
too true! thanks
Something went wrong...
10 hrs

as if the wind and... the sun were backing us

Another choice!
Something went wrong...
14 hrs

flying with the wind...and the sun!

Another variation on the theme...I thought that the idea of "flying" might capture a bit of the essence of being ahead.
Something went wrong...
16 hrs

wind and sun.....everything was going our way !

:)
Something went wrong...
17 hrs

With wind (and solar) assistance, we found it a breeze


OR
assisted by a fair wind (and the sun), it was a breeze
OR
... " " " " ... we breezed in first past the post


Anway, there are 2 "wind" metaphors here to compensate for the lack of a respectable play on words
Something went wrong...
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