un vero "tagliando della vita"

English translation: a (real) wake-up call

17:37 Aug 4, 2020
Italian to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Italian term or phrase: un vero "tagliando della vita"
Hi. I'm trying to work out the meaning of the phrase "tagliando della vita". Here is the context:

Per molti l’esperienza vissuta ha rappresentato e continua a rappresentare un vero “tagliando della vita”, sollevando domande importanti sulle priorità personali e il bisogno di dare un senso più profondo alle cose essenziali.

The article discusses the priorities in life as we live through the pandemic.

I was wondering if it meant something like "a real moment of truth". The literal translation "coupon of life" doesn't make a lot of sense!

Any other ideas?

Thank you.
Ian Rowe
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:42
English translation:a (real) wake-up call
Explanation:
fairly loose translation but it should capture the underlying meaning
Selected response from:

polyglot45
Grading comment
Thanks. I'm giving you the 4 points for your response.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5a real "life check-up"
Lisa Jane
3 +5a (real) wake-up call
polyglot45
4 +1reassess their lives
Brent Sørensen
5life overhaul
Carla Catolino
3a true inventory of one's life
Barbara Cochran, MFA


  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
a real "life check-up"


Explanation:
Tagliando here isn't a coupon but the annual service or MOT that is performed on your car (or on a machine) in order to check what is working and what needs attention. This is the idea the phrase is trying to convey. When we go through hard times we often look closely at our lives to assess what is and isn't working, making the necessary adjustments...just as we do with our cars!

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Note added at 16 mins (2020-08-04 17:53:16 GMT)
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I would also suggest translating it as "a true reality check" which has a similar meaning even if the play on words to do with cars would be lost.

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Note added at 17 mins (2020-08-04 17:54:13 GMT)
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https://it.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tagliando_(trasporti)

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 14:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 496
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks for your reply. An interesting analogy to the MOT performed on cars.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  dandamesh: perfetta l’interpretazione
17 mins
  -> Thanks Danda!

agree  Michele Fauble
24 mins
  -> Thanks Michele!

agree  Isabella Nanni: exactly, and after the check up he/she gets a stamp "approved, fit for life"
32 mins
  -> Thanks Isabella!

agree  Janice Giffin: I like the analogy, but I'm not sure I would use "check up". It is more like a reassessment. "Moment of truth" isn't bad..
3 hrs
  -> Thanks Janice!

agree  philgoddard: I think "reality check" is more idiomatic.
3 hrs
  -> Thanks Phil!
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18 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
a (real) wake-up call


Explanation:
fairly loose translation but it should capture the underlying meaning

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks. I'm giving you the 4 points for your response.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you. I think "wake-up call" is the best fit for my translation.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wendy Streitparth
29 mins

agree  philgoddard
3 hrs

agree  Kathryn Jones
10 hrs

agree  Fiona Grace Peterson
16 hrs

agree  Yvonne Gallagher
18 hrs
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22 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
a true inventory of one's life


Explanation:
Taking the time to look at how you have come to the point you have in life, because of certain contingencies, including the pandemic, and then making some determinations about it, i.e., what you will do in the present, and maybe on into the future.

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Note added at 25 mins (2020-08-04 18:02:16 GMT)
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https://www.sharecare.com/health/wellness-healthy-living/how...

Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 09:42
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 42
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41 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
un vero \"tagliando della vita\"
reassess their lives


Explanation:
If you reformulate the sentence, you can write something like:

The experience has caused and is causing many people to reassess their lives…

For example:
Covid-19 has given us an opportunity to reassess our lives
https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sunday-magazine/article/2001...

Alternatively, you can incorporate Barbara’s suggestions and say:

The experience has led many people to take inventory of their lives.

Brent Sørensen
Germany
Local time: 14:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wendy Streitparth: Preferably your original version
6 mins
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
life overhaul


Explanation:
In this case, tagiando refers to "tagliando della vettura", which is translated as overhaul. So, I looked on internet for life overhaul and many interesting articles showed up.

Carla Catolino
Italy
Local time: 14:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thank you for this, Carla.

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