French term
United Kingdom
La divine surprise
How would you say this in French? I don't want to say dark horse.
Thanks
S
| 4 +4 | the unexpected savio(u)r |
Colin Rowe
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| 4 | Just what the French Left had been waiting for |
ShopForWords
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| 3 | charming surprise weapon |
Philippa Smith
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| 1 +1 | divine contender |
Jonathan MacKerron
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Feb 22, 2011 10:00: Stéphanie Soudais (X) changed "Field (specific)" from "Cinema, Film, TV, Drama" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"
Feb 22, 2011 11:12: writeaway changed "Field" from "Art/Literary" to "Social Sciences" , "Field (write-in)" from "(none)" to "journalism"
Feb 22, 2011 11:13: writeaway changed "Field (write-in)" from "journalism" to "Fr politics/journalism"
Proposed translations
Germany
Par Excellence Translations
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: German to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 3 more.
the unexpected savio(u)r
Like the "messianic" Obama!
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Note added at 48 mins (2011-02-22 10:41:47 GMT)
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or possibly:
"the unlikely savio(u)r of the French Left"
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Note added at 1 hr (2011-02-22 11:35:17 GMT)
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or even:
"a godsend for the French left"
| agree |
Philippa Smith
: I think your solution is just right - certainly much better than mine! Chimes well with the article...
46 mins
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Many thanks!
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| agree |
B D Finch
: All good suggestions.
1 hr
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Many thanks!
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| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: I like "godsend for the French left/ more context/date/ would have been desirable
2 hrs
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Thanks, Ingeborg!
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| agree |
Lara Barnett
5 hrs
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Thanks!
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29 years turning out perfect English
Native in: English (Variant: British) 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
charming surprise weapon
Or "delightful surprise weapon", or another option, "charming/deightful revelation".
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English, and 3 more.
Just what the French Left had been waiting for
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
divine contender
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Note added at 35 mins (2011-02-22 10:29:29 GMT)
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the Left's divine hope eternal
| agree |
AllegroTrans
: divine hope eternal works well and does not over-translate the term
2 hrs
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Reference comments
Native in: English , French
Works in: English to French, French to English, German to French, and 4 more.
http://24heuresactu.com/blog/2010/09/01/segolene-royal-la-divine-surprise-de-la-gauche-francaise/
Whence the need for context
| agree |
Colin Rowe
: Sorry, I am finding ProZ highly unstable today. Some things being posted twice, others not at all, and other people's entries not visible until about 20 minutes later!
15 mins
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| agree |
writeaway
: mais oui. it's journalism and politics so the first thing to do is look it up on the www
47 mins
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Charles Maurras/Pétain...Be careful!
http://www.academie-francaise.fr/immortels/base/academiciens/fiche.asp?param=576
http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2008/04/29/une-divine-surprise_1039709_3224.html
| agree |
writeaway
: no it can't be taken at face value. serious research is always part of this type of text. the translator has to make informed decisions
2 mins
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| agree |
Evans (X)
6 mins
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| agree |
Colin Rowe
: Indeed, the article does not claim that Royal IS what the Left needs, but questions whether she COULD be (from their point of view)
20 mins
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There is so much political history in those two words and depending on what the translation is for, the French title may need to be explained.
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Germany
Par Excellence Translations
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: German to English, French to English, Italian to English, and 3 more.
Ségolène Royal : la divine surprise de la gauche française ?
"Les grandes idées de droites sont incarnées à gauche… et vice versa. Ségolène Royal dont tout le monde ricane depuis des années (y compris moi) est finalement la seule à proposer un diagnostic sans complaisance et des solutions réalistes au problème de fond qui lamine notre pays. ..."
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Note added at 2 hrs (2011-02-22 12:15:23 GMT)
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Another example of "la divine surprise" in the context of French politics can be found under:
http://books.google.de/books?id=hGSJlVD1OVoC&pg=PA24&lpg=PA2...
The French General Election of March 1978: La Divine Surprise
http://24heuresactu.com/blog/2010/09/01/segolene-royal-la-divine-surprise-de-la-gauche-francaise/
Discussion