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Off topic: BOLLOCKS TO BREXIT: How would you say that in your language?
Thread poster: philgoddard
philgoddard
philgoddard
United States
German to English
+ ...
Jul 2, 2019

The Guardian reports that Britain's Liberal Democrat MEPs yesterday entered the parliament wearing t-shirts inscribed BOLLOCKS TO BREXIT.

"[MEP Chris Davies] denied the crude slogan was unparliamentary. He said that, when he met MEP colleagues who told him he would only stay a few months, “I say no. ‘I am here for five years. Bollocks to Brexit.’ And I get the same reaction every time: a big smile. It’s amazing how well Bollocks to Brexit translates into 24 different langua
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The Guardian reports that Britain's Liberal Democrat MEPs yesterday entered the parliament wearing t-shirts inscribed BOLLOCKS TO BREXIT.

"[MEP Chris Davies] denied the crude slogan was unparliamentary. He said that, when he met MEP colleagues who told him he would only stay a few months, “I say no. ‘I am here for five years. Bollocks to Brexit.’ And I get the same reaction every time: a big smile. It’s amazing how well Bollocks to Brexit translates into 24 different languages.”

Your suggestions, please!
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Samuel Murray
Samuel Murray  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 14:39
Member (2006)
English to Afrikaans
+ ...
@Phil Jul 2, 2019

philgoddard wrote:
"It’s amazing how well Bollocks to Brexit translates into 24 different languages."


Actually, slogans tend not to translate well. The biggest reason for this is because slogan often don't mean what they say, and so to come up with a translation, the translation has to say what the slogan says *and* mean what the slogan means. So... does "bollocks to Brexit" mean "from bollocks to Brexit" or "[we are going to] beat up Brexit" (figuratively, of course) or "Brexit is rubbish"? This question is not relevant to the author of the original slogan, nor to any of its users, but translators need to know.

[Edited at 2019-07-02 11:49 GMT]


Mr.Q
 
philgoddard
philgoddard
United States
German to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
It means Jul 2, 2019

Brexit is rubbish.

 
Jan Willem van Dormolen (X)
Jan Willem van Dormolen (X)  Identity Verified
Netherlands
Local time: 14:39
English to Dutch
+ ...
Dutch Jul 2, 2019

Brexit kan de pot op.

[more or less: Brexit can go have a shit]


philgoddard
P.L.F. Persio
 
Lincoln Hui
Lincoln Hui  Identity Verified
Hong Kong
Local time: 21:39
Member
Chinese to English
+ ...
Chinese Jul 2, 2019

Jan Willem van Dormolen wrote:

Brexit kan de pot op.

[more or less: Brexit can go have a shit]

Such a cultured language. In Chinese they would simply be told to eat it.


P.L.F. Persio
philgoddard
 
Tina Vonhof (X)
Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 07:39
Dutch to English
+ ...
From the Canadian West Jul 2, 2019

Brexit is Bullshit.

P.L.F. Persio
philgoddard
Recep Kurt
Adam Warren
Ben Gaia
 
Jo Macdonald
Jo Macdonald  Identity Verified
Spain
Local time: 14:39
Member (2005)
Italian to English
+ ...
It doesn't mean that at all Jul 5, 2019

philgoddard wrote:

Brexit is rubbish.


If I say "Bollocks to that" it means I'm not at all interested in it, and/or I'm not going to do it or go along with it, I think it's a terrible idea, not that it's rubbish.

For example
"The boss has invited you to dinner, but you have to wear a tie."
"Bollocks to that! I never wear ties."

"The vicar wants you to sing in the choir."
"Bollocks to that, that's for girls."

Bollocks to Brexit means it's a bad idea, I don't agree with it, I'm not going to go along with it.

If you wanted to say Brexit is rubbish you say something like Brexit stinks, Brexit is a bucket of crap, sucks any one of a variety of intimate parts of the anatomy.

[Edited at 2019-07-05 11:40 GMT]


Daryo
Chris Foster
Boryana Yovcheva
 
philgoddard
philgoddard
United States
German to English
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER
No Jul 5, 2019

"X is rubbish" means the same as "X is a terrible idea". "Bollocks to" means it's bad, we hate it.

Martin Lang
 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
Impartially unscrupulous Jul 5, 2019

I agree that specialists should work objectively, yet do those promoters--for or against something--realize what really stands behind such catchwords?

While a funny slogan might prove one's skills motiving some people to vote impulsively, yet do they have the client and beneficiary in mind? And who's the audience?


Kaspars Melkis
 
Dave Bindon
Dave Bindon  Identity Verified
Greece
Local time: 15:39
Greek to English
In memoriam
The audience Jul 5, 2019

The original audience was people in the UK who hate Brexit, and "Bollox to Brexit" sums it up very well.

Rachel Fell
P.L.F. Persio
Adam Warren
 
DZiW (X)
DZiW (X)
Ukraine
English to Russian
+ ...
17,410,742 (51.9%) GBquit Jul 5, 2019

Thank you, Dave.
The Bullocks to Grexit! TrBrexit May not come! Gott bless Amerika!


You didn't answer my questions, yet don't you think such minority's "crude slogans" are meant exactly for the majority (who also live in the same country)?


(That's why I asked about the supposed purpose, reason, client, and audience, but nevermind.)


Kaspars Melkis
 
Francisco Chagas
Francisco Chagas  Identity Verified
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:39
Member (2019)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
Lingua franca: Jul 5, 2019

"BREXIT TO BREXIT" would do just fine.

Dave Bindon
P.L.F. Persio
 
Dave Bindon
Dave Bindon  Identity Verified
Greece
Local time: 15:39
Greek to English
In memoriam
Brexit to Brexit Jul 5, 2019

I can certainly imagine that "Brexit" will become a slang word eventually. The exact meaning of the slang will depend on whether or not it ever happens.

I have some ideas about potential meanings in slang, but I don't want to be reprimanded by the moderators!


P.L.F. Persio
 
Lars Foldager
Lars Foldager  Identity Verified
Canada
Local time: 09:39
Member (2018)
English to Danish
+ ...
... Jul 5, 2019

Exit to Brexit, would do pretty nice too

In Danish I would use "Bæ for Brexit" with has a little wordplay/pun too, but literally means "Shit/poop for Brexit" which keeps the slogan style


P.L.F. Persio
philgoddard
 
Daryo
Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:39
Serbian to English
+ ...
Merde au Brexit Jul 6, 2019

in plain speak / same register

"Bollocks to s.t." - I'm not having any of it / won't do it

BTW, after 3 years the situation has changed - given the demographics of the vote and the natural evolution of the population, it's very likely that the in the meantime the "majority" eliminated itself through the process of natural elimination - so now the dead end up deciding for the living?

Also, 3 years is often more than enough time to warrant a reality check on
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in plain speak / same register

"Bollocks to s.t." - I'm not having any of it / won't do it

BTW, after 3 years the situation has changed - given the demographics of the vote and the natural evolution of the population, it's very likely that the in the meantime the "majority" eliminated itself through the process of natural elimination - so now the dead end up deciding for the living?

Also, 3 years is often more than enough time to warrant a reality check on "the will of the people". But let's not digress. The translation would be:

Merde au Brexit
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P.L.F. Persio
 
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