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invendable

English translation: Unbelievable

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:invendable
English translation:Unbelievable
Entered by: Alison Billington

10:12 Feb 4, 2009
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
French term or phrase: invendable
This literally means 'unsaleable' - however I think here it may be a slang word as the context is not retail and nothing is being sold. It is followed by an exclamation mark and the speaker is obviously in a state if excitement. Found in the play 'Pieds dans l'eau'. Does anyone know what the meaning could be?
Alison Billington
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:41
Unbelievable
Explanation:
Could be 'unbelievable!' or some such exclamation, but would need clarification on context...
Selected response from:

K. Ganly (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:41
Grading comment
Yes this fits the context nicely. (the dog has just behaved in a ver unacceptable manner and someone exclaims that it is 'invendable'. Yes, 'unbelievable'!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
1 +5I'm not buying that!
Tony M
4 +1Get outa here!
wordgirl
4not fit for sale
Gabriel Csaba
3 +1Unbelievable
K. Ganly (X)
4not for sale/inestimable!
Mostafa MOUHIBE
4'can't sell that'/'it's nonsense'/'it's crap' depending on the context...
Arusha Topazzini (X)
3inconceivable
Carmen Schultz
2You couldn't make it up! / No way!
Andrew Fanko


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
not fit for sale


Explanation:
I think it conveys the underlying nasty tone.


    Reference: http://www.google.com.ar/search?hl=es&q=%22not.fit.for.sale%...
Gabriel Csaba
Argentina
Local time: 06:41
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in HungarianHungarian
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Unbelievable


Explanation:
Could be 'unbelievable!' or some such exclamation, but would need clarification on context...

K. Ganly (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:41
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Yes this fits the context nicely. (the dog has just behaved in a ver unacceptable manner and someone exclaims that it is 'invendable'. Yes, 'unbelievable'!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yolanda Broad: A standard familiar language expression. This would work, depending, as you say, on context.
4 hrs
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
You couldn't make it up! / No way!


Explanation:
Just a total stab in the dark without more context such as what precedes 'invendable!'

Andrew Fanko
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:41
Native speaker of: English
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
inconceivable


Explanation:
an option

Carmen Schultz
Local time: 04:41
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in SpanishSpanish, Native in EnglishEnglish
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10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 1/5Answerer confidence 1/5 peer agreement (net): +5
invendable!
I'm not buying that!


Explanation:
Does rather depend on the tone in which it is being said, and what it is about; however, my instinctive reaction is that it is probably an indication of incredulity.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-02-04 12:11:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Just wanted to add that I have come across a not dissimilar expression in colloquial use: « Vendu ! », which seems to mean "OK, you've sold me the idea!" — usually, it seems, with a sub-text of "...so now shut up, there's no need to keep going on and on about it!"

Tony M
France
Local time: 11:41
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 128

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): if I remember correctly, this play is just a series of mundane day=-to-day life experiences, so this might well fit
1 hr
  -> Danke, Ingeborg!
agree  Andrew Fanko: I like this - strikes the right tone and retains the French nuance!
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Andrew! Well, if the meaning is correct, then it might work, mightn't it?
agree  Helen Shiner: Good one, Tony
3 hrs
  -> Thanks, Helen!
agree  K. Ganly (X): I like this one more than my suggestion!
5 hrs
  -> Thanks a lot, katganly!
agree  Jenn Mercer
4 days
  -> Thanks, Jenn!
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Get outa here!


Explanation:
I quite like a number of the other suggestions provided, but here is one more, very informal version (New York City style!)...

wordgirl
Italy
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Yolanda Broad: Looks like a safe guess.
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Yolanda
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
not for sale/inestimable!


Explanation:
not for sale/inestimable!

Mostafa MOUHIBE
Morocco
Local time: 10:41
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 4
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21 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
'can't sell that'/'it's nonsense'/'it's crap' depending on the context...


Explanation:
Depending on the context, it could range from being a literal criticism to a downright rude comment:

So, if it is meant literally, for example in reference to a product, and idea: then yes, it could be translated as 'it won't sell'...or 'you won't be able to sell/market this...'

If it is meant in reference to something unbelievable or a lie, then you have what other Proz members wrote: 'get outa here', 'not buying that' etc etc...

Now, if is a rude comment about something, for exampe: 'putain ton truc c'est de la daube, c'est invendable'...then it translates as 'crap', 'absolute pants', 'it's nonsense', 'awful' etc etc....

Hope this helps.

Arusha Topazzini (X)
France
Local time: 11:41
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
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