This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
confit de vin
utilisation non-repérée

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

l'arrivée du Tour est encore loin

English translation:

there's still a long way to go

Added to glossary by Kerensa Cracknell
Jul 21, 2009 04:54
14 yrs ago
1 viewer *
French term

l'arrivée du Tour

French to English Bus/Financial Finance (general) Report on financial markets
I know what this translates as, but it makes no sense in this context. The source text is a very short report on the state of the financial markets. This is the final sentence. The full sentence and the preceding two (in an attempt to provide some context) are:

"POur autant, extrapoler ces résultats serait faire preuve d'une complaisance coupable. Les actifs toxiques le sont encore, le coût du risque va continuer à augmenter et certains acteurs apparaissent encore bien fragiles. **L'arrivée du Tour** est encore loin."

Is it a metaphorical reference to the Tour de France perhaps (and if so what does it mean?) Or some other French idiomatic phrase?

Thanks for any suggestions!
Proposed translations (English)
3 +10 there's still a long way to go (yet)
4 +1 And one for the sake of tradition
4 the end of the race
4 the final stage of the Tour
3 +1 The road is still long
3 +1 similar images
4 it's not party-time yet
3 we're a long way from being out of the woods yet

Discussion

Kerensa Cracknell (asker) Jul 21, 2009:
Yes - I think that's it, thank you!
Rob Grayson Jul 21, 2009:
Ideas The first thing I did was a quick Google on "l'arrivée du tour", which shows that it's the name of a song by Alain Bashung. You can have a look at the lyrics; I don't think they have any particular relevance to our text. (http://www.musikiwi.com/paroles/alain-bashung-arrivee,tour,2...

My gut feeling is that this means something like "this thing is far from over" (in the sense that we're far from being out of the woods yet). I guess it could be a reference to the Tour de France (especially as "Tour" has a capital t), in which case the "arrivée du Tour" would mean the end of the race – meaning the "race" is far from over.

Perhaps something a bit more generic like "there's still a long way to go" might do the trick?

Proposed translations

+10
1 hr
Selected

there's still a long way to go (yet)

Just turning my discussion entry into an answer...

(Obviously this is much less metaphorical than the original.)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2009-07-21 09:10:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Another suggestion, prompted by Bourth's comment: "There are lots of different ways this could play out".
Peer comment(s):
agree Tony M : Yes, "we're still a long way from the finishing line" — but I don't think the sporting metaphor really works well here in EN.
12 mins
Thanks, Tony
agree Nikki Scott-Despaigne : Yes, "there's still a long way to go". English sometimes uses "finishing post" which could be applied but I reckon the neutral non-sporting solution is more natural to English ears. The relevance and current news element is lost if same image used in EN.
25 mins
Thanks, Nikki
agree Noni Gilbert Riley : Yes, I was going to suggest Tony's finishing line as above, but yes the English are less immersed in the Tour than the rest of Europe (can't get away from it here, since a local boy won last year!)
1 hr
Thanks
agree B D Finch : "Still" or "yet" but not both. Prefer "yet".
2 hrs
Thanks. The question of "still", "yet" or both is perhaps partly a regional one. To my ears, using both of these simply adds extra emphasis. Moot point, though.
agree Bourth (X) : There's still a lot of things can happen. Even further away from the TdF/race image which I think is quite unnecessary./ I can see you're a sportsman!
2 hrs
Thanks, Bourth. Your comment also made me think of something like "there are lot of different ways this could play out"//Sorry to disappoint, but I've never been much of a sportsman...
agree cmwilliams (X)
3 hrs
Thanks
agree whither has fle : absolutely! Have to be careful translating metaphors.
4 hrs
Thanks
agree Charles Hawtrey (X) : Looking at it in terms of a potential world-wide readership, I recommend avoiding a) sporting and b) short-lived allusions wherever possible. Good suggestion.
5 hrs
Thanks, Charles
agree Ariadne Ashby
9 hrs
Thanks
agree kashew : Tour de France bike race.
12 hrs
Thanks
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks for all the comments - after much deliberation I decided on this one. I agree that it's probably best to avoid too-specific and short-lived allusions if possible. Thanks everybody!"
4 mins

the end of the race

We are talking about the finish line.
Something went wrong...
1 hr

the final stage of the Tour

or "the end/the goal is still far" I don't think you need to stay with the Tour de France metaphor. It just happens to be the "air du temps" because it's going on right now. but another few days and it won't be in season any more. You need something with more staying power, no?
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

The road is still long

Yet another idea

CHINA Signs of recovery in the Chinese economy, but the road is ...
- [ Traduire cette page ]
Beijing warns the road is still long. But many sides accuse the authorities of privileging domestic companies in financial hand outs.
www.asianews.it/index.php?l...6...
Peer comment(s):
agree Sandra Petch
2 hrs
Thanks
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

similar images

of course it's a (topical) reference to the Tour de France -perhaps find something more typically "English" ?

The final over is a long way from being bowled.
The home straight is still some way off

The end of the tunnel remains a distant prospect (NOT sport but...)

The referee won't be blowing the final whistle for some time

etc...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-07-21 07:01:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

No idea about the Ashes - cricket is really not my scene but it is the cricket scene, that I know

Of course, you could change image altogether - it will still be some time before the fat lady starts to sing....

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2009-07-21 07:01:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

cricket SEASON - sorry
Note from asker:
The first one being a topical reference to the Ashes?!! Yes, perhaps a more "English" reference would be a good idea here. Thank you!
Peer comment(s):
agree Bourth (X) : The Cup final whistle hasn't been blown yet.
3 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
4 hrs

And one for the sake of tradition

There's many a slip twixt cup and lip.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2009-07-21 19:45:23 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Nope, I'm not in my cups Kashew! Is it really not obvious what I'm getting at?

There's many a slip 'twixt the cup and the lip is an old English proverb. It implies that between the time we decide to do something and the time we do it, things often go wrong.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/There's_many_a_slip_twixt_...

There's many a slip twixt cup and lip. (literary)
something that you say in order to warn someone not to be too confident about the result of a plan, because many things can go wrong before it is completed We still might finish in time for the deadline, but there's many a slip twixt cup and lip.
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/There's many a slip...


Note from asker:
Yes! Not sure it fits in this context but it's a good one to bear in mind for other texts :-)
Peer comment(s):
agree Rob Grayson : Nice one... made me smile :-)
1 hr
neutral kashew : After a bottle of cheap but enjoyable Bordeaux je comprends rien!
9 hrs
Something went wrong...
9 hrs

it's not party-time yet

I would compare the arrival of the Tour in town to the 4th of July fireworks...It' a big event and celebration, especially in small towns.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day10 hrs (2009-07-22 15:19:07 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

UK? How about: "The Queen's not coming to town yet"?
Note from asker:
SOrry - should have specified that this is UK English so 4th July wouldn't mean a lot - but it's a nice idea, thank you!
Yes, I like that! It doesn't fit in this text but will bear in mind for future reference - thanks!
Something went wrong...
1 hr
French term (edited): l'arrivée du Tour est encore loin

we're a long way from being out of the woods yet

If you wish to keep a metaphor, albeit not a sporting one, then this seems like a good choice (as does Polyglot's "(light at the) end of the tunnel".

Both are often used to refer to relief at the end of a period of difficulty.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 days2 hrs (2009-07-23 07:36:40 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, I didn't even spot that RG had already suggested this in his discussion entry above.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search