sobering developments

English translation: disenchanting/disillusioning developments

20:44 Jul 12, 2010

English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Bus/Financial - Finance (general)

English term or phrase: sobering developments

Context.
"The negative sentiment has been sustained by further sobering developments in fundamental economic data in the US. "
Does sobering developments mean worsening? Or something else? The expression seems to be very common.

sirio KudoZ activity Questions: 3 (none open) Answers: 0
Local time: 21:40

Selected answer:disenchanting/disillusioning developments

Explanation:
are two synonyms

Selected response from:

Gert Sass (M.A.)
Germany
Local time: 21:40

Grading comment

Thanks. All answers were useful, but this is the one that best fits the context.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED

4 +6

a change in circumstance which makes you 'wake up' to the 'grim reality' of the situation

Carolyn Gille

disenchanting/disillusioning developments

Gert Sass (M.A.)

developments which destroy certain illusions about economic growth

Stephanie Ezrol

Discussion entries: 1

Answers

2 mins confidence:

disenchanting/disillusioning developments

Explanation:
are two synonyms

Gert Sass (M.A.)
Germany
Local time: 21:40
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 4

Grading comment

Thanks. All answers were useful, but this is the one that best fits the context.

9 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +6

a change in circumstance which makes you 'wake up' to the 'grim reality' of the situation

Explanation:
Yes, it's usually something negative.

Example sentence(s):

Further sobering developments; many new homeless people, 9% jobless rate, etc...

Reference: http://thesaurus.com/browse/development
Reference: http://thesaurus.com/browse/sobering

Carolyn Gille
Local time: 21:40
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

20 mins confidence:

developments which destroy certain illusions about economic growth

Explanation:
Sobering developments does mean worsening developments, but it also has an added meaning because of the metaphorical use of the word sober. The term brings up the idea of sobering up from a drunken spree -- in this type of use, the drunken spree is usually a run up in stock markets, or some other overly optimistic financial forecast or phenomenon. The sobering news usually means the a financial market bubble or something like that is out of whack with the non financial elements of the economy.

The use of the word sobering adds that added dimension.

Stephanie Ezrol
United States
Local time: 15:40
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 51

Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:

ProZ.com term search

Search millions of term translations

sobering developments

English translation: disenchanting/disillusioning developments

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

Your current localization setting

Select a language

sobering developments

English translation: disenchanting/disillusioning developments

Answers

KudoZ™ translation help

You have native languages that can be verified

Your current localization setting

Select a language