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one must dine on a large dish of humble pie

French translation: vous vous verrez servir un hareng sur un plat d'argent

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:one must dine on a large dish of humble pie
French translation:vous vous verrez servir un hareng sur un plat d'argent
Entered by: Veronique Boulet

18:20 Mar 13, 2004
English to French translations [Non-PRO]
Other / expression
English term or phrase: one must dine on a large dish of humble pie
Expression employée lors de prédictions astrologiques :

Arguments could ensue with unhappy results. If you are not careful with your words you could be the one who must dine on a large dish of humble pie that you find set at your dinner table.
Veronique Boulet
Canada
Local time: 15:33
vous vous verrez servir un hareng sur un plat d'argent
Explanation:
J'ai cette expression en tête, mais ne retrouve pas la source!

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Note added at 37 mins (2004-03-13 18:57:46 GMT)
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Pour info on retrouve la même expression sur le site ci-dessous:
http://www.occams-razor.info/archives/000076.html
Selected response from:

Genestelle
Local time: 21:33
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3faire amende
Hacene
2 +2il faut ravaler ses mots
RHELLER
4vous pouvez vous retrouver avec la mine déconfite...
CHENOUMI (X)
4vous pourriez le regretter amerement plus tard.
lien
2 +1vous vous verrez servir un hareng sur un plat d'argent
Genestelle
3attention au retour de bâton
Helene Diu
2manger la soupe à la grimace
Francoise St Marc


  

Answers


13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
faire amende


Explanation:
I am sure about the meaning, not sure about the translation.
Si vous ne faites pas attention à ce que vous dites, vous risquez d'avoir à faire amende.

The reference to table cannot be translated into French as the only expression I can think of is relating to revenge. If you want to keep the imagery, you need to find a way to translate the sub-meaning which is: "if you don't phrase you words carefully you'll end up eating alone."

Hacene
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:33
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 36

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gayle Wallimann: Robert & Collins Dictionary gives this meaning too.
2 hrs
  -> thank you Gayle
agree  Tom Bishop: Larousse: faire de plates excuses / faire amende honorable / se rétracter
18 hrs
  -> thank you Tom
agree  Isabelle DEFEVERE (X)
1 day 20 hrs
  -> merci
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17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +1
vous vous verrez servir un hareng sur un plat d'argent


Explanation:
J'ai cette expression en tête, mais ne retrouve pas la source!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 37 mins (2004-03-13 18:57:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Pour info on retrouve la même expression sur le site ci-dessous:
http://www.occams-razor.info/archives/000076.html


Genestelle
Local time: 21:33
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 23

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  chaplin
1 hr
  -> merci
neutral  Hacene: jamais entendu cette expression. Ca veut dire quoi?
1 day 21 hrs
neutral  Francoise St Marc: c'est bon les harengs !!!! :)
2 days 22 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +2
il faut ravaler ses mots


Explanation:
you have argued and been proven wrong
now you must eat your words humbly

RHELLER
United States
Local time: 13:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 27

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Gayle Wallimann: I think that this is very close to the meaning, it doesn't translate exactly. www.quinion.com/words/articles/eatcrow.htm - 11k This is not the French translation, but it is interesting to read the link and the origins of the expression.
41 mins
agree  laurawheeler
21 hrs
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
vous pouvez vous retrouver avec la mine déconfite...


Explanation:
...autour de la table.
Une proposition pour essayer de garder l'image de "pie", Le lexique pour les expressions au sens figuré donne :

To eat humble pie = Mettre les pouces

S aflojar/ceder
F Mettre les pouces
E To come to heel / to knuckle under
G Nachgeben.

L'idée est que cette personne si elle n'est pas prudente dans l'utilisation de ses propos peut se retrouver en train de les regretter amèrement ou de capituler misérablement... d'où la traduction de "céder" suggérée en espagnol.
On pourrait dire aussi "se raviser/on vous rabattra le caquet/ ou

>> Si vous n'êtes pas prudent(e) dans ce que vous dîtes, vous pourriez être celui/celle qui sortira victime de votre propre inconséquence verbale...
**Pas du mot à mot mais J'EQÇA. ;)

CHENOUMI (X)
Native speaker of: Native in Haitian-CreoleHaitian-Creole, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 12
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
vous pourriez le regretter amerement plus tard.


Explanation:
Si vous ne faites pas attention a ce que vous dites, vous pourriez le regretter amerement plus tard.



lien
Netherlands
Local time: 21:33
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 7

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  CHENOUMI (X): I already suggested it (...peut se retrouver en train de les regretter amèrement...)
13 mins
  -> je n'avais pas tout lu
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
manger la soupe à la grimace


Explanation:
une possibilité, si l'on veut conserver tout à la fois l'image du juste retour des choses...et de la nourriture...

Francoise St Marc
France
Local time: 21:33
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 14
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1 day 7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
attention au retour de bâton


Explanation:
ou retour de manivelle

Helene Diu
France
Local time: 21:33
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 12
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