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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

Ajourner n'est pas jouer

English translation:

Nothing ventured.... (dot dot dot)

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2009-07-31 14:45:32 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Jul 27, 2009 17:14
14 yrs ago
French term

Ajourner n'est pas jouer

French to English Other Journalism Headline
My guess....postponement is out of the question????

Help....it is from an article realting to a decrease in investments as a result of the economic crisis
Proposed translations (English)
3 +7 Nothing ventured.... (dot dot dot)
3 delaying the process (of investing) is not the least bit like playing around in/taking a risk
3 The game needs its players back
3 Holding off/out is not how the game is played
3 Is putting off off-putting?
3 no chances, no advances
2 putting off (the day/investment) is merely ducking the issue
2 Playing the waiting game

Discussion

ormiston Jul 27, 2009:
the picture should dictate ! I doubt you will be translating the captions so I really think the title should be in line with the visual of them all looking dumbly or gloomily at the horizon. Cagey players ...? (MUST be short though!)
MatthewLaSon Jul 27, 2009:
It's like saying "Ajourner, c'est pas jouer! (in informal langauge)
RProsser (asker) Jul 27, 2009:
ok, links to article online are as follows:
http://www.rsptranslations.com/id7.html
http://www.rsptranslations.com/id8.html
http://www.rsptranslations.com/id9.html
RProsser (asker) Jul 27, 2009:
PRen, fair comment regarding not being able to read the article. I have a pdf version of it but how would I put it online so you can all have a look????
PRen (X) Jul 27, 2009:
Good heavens - I missed the headline note - my apologies. But I'm still curious as to how others can be expected to translate a headline without reading the article.
RProsser (asker) Jul 27, 2009:
How about "Putting it off, not playing the game."?
RProsser (asker) Jul 27, 2009:
PRen....if you refer to the bit of the post Journalism / Headline, you;d know that this IS the WHOLE sentence.
Thanks
PRen (X) Jul 27, 2009:
I'm curious as to how the asker thinks she can get an aswer with any degree of certainty without even posting the whole sentence??
Emma Paulay Jul 27, 2009:
Souffler n'est pas jouer = huffing It's when you could have taken one of your opponent's pieces but you didn't. It's against the rules.
RProsser (asker) Jul 27, 2009:
Polyglot, sorry no internet address, I only have a hard copy. :(
polyglot45 Jul 27, 2009:
for example delaying tactics are not the same as gambling - wait and see not outbid me
polyglot45 Jul 27, 2009:
unless it simply means playing waiting game is not taking a risk (with other people's money) !
have you an Internet address to see the article ?
RProsser (asker) Jul 27, 2009:
Emma, am still none the wiser....
Emma Paulay Jul 27, 2009:
Souffler n'est pas jouer I think this might be a reference to the saying "souffler n'est pas jouer" in the game of draughts.
RProsser (asker) Jul 27, 2009:
and yes the spelling is correct.
RProsser (asker) Jul 27, 2009:
Gist of article Relates to the decrease in investment from businesses in S of New Caledonia in the North of N.C. and the concern it is causing....that's about it really
Susan Nicholls Jul 27, 2009:
What is the general gist of the article, please? A bit more context would be helpful.
Estelle Demontrond-Box Jul 27, 2009:
Are you sure about the spelling? jouer or joué?

Proposed translations

+7
4 hrs
French term (edited): s jouer
Selected

Nothing ventured.... (dot dot dot)

my final offering, in light of the picture & captions (i.e. investor caginess about venturing out into the unknown!). Pithy enough?
Peer comment(s):
agree Anne-Marie Grant (X)
11 mins
agree philgoddard : This is perfect. Or you could say "He who hesitates..."
1 hr
agree Yolanda Broad : Looks quite pithy, indeed! (I like Phil's "He who hesitates..." too!)
3 hrs
agree George C.
8 hrs
agree Jacqui Audouy
9 hrs
agree Emma Paulay : Good work!//Just used this in the title to an article. Thanks!
12 hrs
very gratifying Emma, I am pleased to have been able to help!
agree Nektaria Notaridou
15 days
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Selected automatically based on peer agreement."
2 hrs

delaying the process (of investing) is not the least bit like playing around in/taking a risk

HTH

"playing around in/taking a risk in the market"
Something went wrong...
22 mins

putting off (the day/investment) is merely ducking the issue

My guess - would be nice to see how it goes on, but it sounds faintly critical of (lamely) waiting instead of jumping in and literally putting their money on it. I don't feel it goes as far as saying it's not cricket, just that investors are avoiding playing the (investment) game...

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Note added at 41 mins (2009-07-27 17:55:58 GMT)
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maybe a bit too jolly old England though....!

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Note added at 50 mins (2009-07-27 18:04:43 GMT)
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polyglot is thinking along my lines of investors keeping their heads down (!)

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Note added at 1 hr (2009-07-27 18:50:33 GMT)
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it would help to know if the text goes on to DISAPPROVE of such investor inaction...we could have fun with metaphors (holding back means you are out of the game sort of thing)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-07-27 18:55:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'stalling ain't a move in the investment game' (!)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-07-27 19:14:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'Opting out is a cop-out'

- but I'm sure others will come up with something!

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Note added at 2 hrs (2009-07-27 20:13:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

will your readers see the picture?! it sets a jaunty tone & maybe you could move away from the French, as with 'No players, no game'
Note from asker:
I like the idea of "it's not cricket"....that would make a good headline!
That's the basic idea, that the writer disapproves of the fact that investors aren;t willing to take a risk and put their money where their mouth is. Asks what has happened to the pioneer spirit which leah NC to succeed in the first place etc etc
Don't know if you noticed but the article is now online if you'd like a look at it.
Yes, the picture will still be there. You make a good point!
any thoughts on the captions on the picture?
Peer comment(s):
neutral Emma Paulay : I reckon it's a reference to "huffing" in draughts (souffler n'est pas jouer). In which case it would be "isn't allowed" rather than "ducking the issue". What do you think?
18 mins
I saw it in a casino context (!) but maybe you are right - if they go on to say why it's a 'no no' !
Something went wrong...
3 hrs

The game needs its players back

I think you need a snappy headline rather than an explanation of the article.
Peer comment(s):
neutral ormiston : agree it must be snappy (I see we have taken a similar line) but the image/metaphor should not clash with the visual
1 hr
Yes - I hadn't seen the visual when I posted
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

Holding off/out is not how the game is played

Hello,

You don't wait for the economic situation to get better in order to start investing again. Do it now and take risks like a real investor!

I hope this helps.
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

Is putting off off-putting?

A "fun" suggestion, hoping you find it catchy. The French original plays on the image which accompanies the article. The title plays around with the visual form of the words too - "jou" and the sound revery bit as with the meaning.
Something went wrong...
12 hrs

no chances, no advances

no pain, no gain
no pain, no game
Something went wrong...
13 hrs

Playing the waiting game

A more descriptive option. Variations might include:
Stop playing the waiting game!
Waiting game just not cricket (this expression is fine in the Australasian context, if this is the target audience).
Something went wrong...
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