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neanche fosse

English translation: as if it were

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:neanche fosse
English translation:as if it were
Entered by: swisstell

17:28 Oct 10, 2004
Italian to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Italian term or phrase: neanche fosse
La macchina si ferma davanti ad un cancello di ferro nero. "Neanche fosse una prigione!" dice l'autista osservando le punte di ferro che sporgono minacciose.
Johanna Holmberg (X)
Local time: 22:25
as if it was a prison!
Explanation:
my version
ciao
Selected response from:

swisstell
Italy
Local time: 22:25
Grading comment
Thanks for your help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2as if it was a prison!
swisstell
4 +2You'd think it was a prison!
Francesca Pegazzano (X)
4 +1It's not like it's a prison!
Fiona Grace Peterson
3It looks (really) like a prison!
Maurizio Foroni


  

Answers


1 min   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
It looks (really) like a prison!


Explanation:
.

Maurizio Foroni
Local time: 22:25
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
as if it was a prison!


Explanation:
my version
ciao

swisstell
Italy
Local time: 22:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: German
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks for your help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  zulaika
1 hr
  -> grazie, zulaika
agree  Emilia Mancini
2 hrs
  -> grazie, cleobella!
neutral  Vittorio Felaco: ...as if it were...
8 hrs
  -> absolutely correct, ooops
disagree  Rachel Cope: correct grammar of this phrase would be "As if it WERE a prison" but I don't think this clearly relays the meaning according to context.
19 hrs
  -> you're correct as to grammar, nor correct as to the meaning
agree  Stefano Pastorello: Thanks ...
6183 days
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26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
It's not like it's a prison!


Explanation:
I think the meaning here is that the house is just ordinary and doesn't really require all that protection.
Good luck!

Fiona Grace Peterson
Italy
Local time: 22:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kim Metzger
2 hrs
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
You'd think it was a prison!


Explanation:
un'altra opzione

Francesca Pegazzano (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 21:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Vittorio Felaco
5 hrs
agree  Rachel Cope: Yes! This is right sense of the phrase in such a context.
17 hrs
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