This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. English to French
  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

pipe dream

French translation: projet chimérique

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:pipe dream
French translation:projet chimérique
Entered by: Robert Frankling

23:22 May 18, 2005
English to French translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: pipe dream
"His plan is no more than a pipe dream."
Robert Frankling
Local time: 03:17
projet chimérique
Explanation:
Originally, from smoking opium.
Selected response from:

Miguel Falquez-Certain
United States
Local time: 04:17
Grading comment
Tout le monde a contribué des suggestions utiles pour un certain contexte. J'ai trouvé le suivant : "Une utopie est un projet chimérique". Cela correspond au sens de l'anglais, à mon avis. Merci.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +5projet chimérique
Miguel Falquez-Certain
4 +3[beau] rêve
Graham macLachlan
4 +2Chimère (une)
Anna Maria Augustine (X)
4 +1des plans sur la comète
sarahl (X)
4rêve illusoire
TesCor -
3songe irréel
Peter Freckleton


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
rêve illusoire


Explanation:
n'est qu'un rêve illusoire

TesCor -
Canada
Local time: 04:17
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
des plans sur la comète


Explanation:
il faut toujours qu'il tire des plans sur la comète.

sarahl (X)
Local time: 01:17
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sandra C.
1 hr
  -> merci Sandra ;-)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
Chimère (une)


Explanation:
chimère (une)

Anna Maria Augustine (X)
France
Local time: 10:17
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sandra C.
1 hr
agree  Assimina Vavoula
5 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +5
projet chimérique


Explanation:
Originally, from smoking opium.

Miguel Falquez-Certain
United States
Local time: 04:17
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Tout le monde a contribué des suggestions utiles pour un certain contexte. J'ai trouvé le suivant : "Une utopie est un projet chimérique". Cela correspond au sens de l'anglais, à mon avis. Merci.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  writeaway: so sayeth Robert Collins
28 mins
  -> Thank you.
neutral  Anna Maria Augustine (X): bof!
46 mins
agree  GILLES MEUNIER
6 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Jonathan MacKerron: enough googles to convince me
6 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Conor McAuley
9 hrs
  -> Thank you.
agree  Francoise St Marc
17 hrs
  -> Merci
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
songe irréel


Explanation:
Or perhaps you could use 'château en espagne', il se construit...

Peter Freckleton
Australia
Local time: 18:17
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
[beau] rêve


Explanation:
I think "pipe" is misleading because it is just an intensifier and doesn't radically change the notion "dream". It serves to explain that what is being considered is not a "dream" in the passive sleeping sense, but an active reverie, a musing or daydream.

As can be seen from this definition, "beau" clearly serves this same purpose:

n. masc.
2. Construction de l’esprit par laquelle on s’évade du réel par l’imagination. Il est toujours perdu dans ses rêves. / De rêve: qui semble sorti d’un rêve (1), irréel. Paysage de rêve. / Idée chimérique. Son projet n’a été qu’un beau rêve.

That's enough of my nonsense this morning, cheers Bob.


Graham macLachlan
Local time: 10:17
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sabine Seguin
1 hr
  -> thanks Sabine
agree  Corinne: It would be better to know the style of the text and the context to answer, but this solution is fair enough
3 hrs
  -> that's fair of you, thanks Corinne
agree  Christelle OLIVIER: On dit aussi un "doux rêve"
6 hrs
  -> thanks colivier
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search