أكل الأخضر واليابس

English translation: obliterated everything (of substance)/Devoured everything

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Arabic term or phrase: أكل الأخضر واليابس
English translation:obliterated everything (of substance)/Devoured everything
Entered by: Hassan Al-Haifi (wordforword)

15:08 Feb 21, 2006
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Government / Politics
Arabic term or phrase: أكل الأخضر واليابس
ولكن الآن هذا النظام بعد أربعة وعشرين سنة أكل الأخضر واليابس
I am looking for an English idiom that would serve the meaning. thanks.
sithanem
Local time: 13:17
obliterated everything (of substance)/Devoured everything
Explanation:
See second link for second meaning which has the following meaning:

2 : to use up or destroy as if by eating <we are devouring the world's resources>

The dry and wet would entail: everything of substance

Selected response from:

Hassan Al-Haifi (wordforword)
Local time: 20:17
Grading comment
Thank you
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1obliterated everything (of substance)/Devoured everything
Hassan Al-Haifi (wordforword)
4To casue Utter Annihilataion
Zeinab Asfour
3wiped out
Iman Khaireddine
3The world has enough for man's need but not for man's greed
sktrans


  

Answers


57 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
أكل الأخضر واليابس
wiped out


Explanation:
wiped out/devastated everything in its path



Iman Khaireddine
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:17
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 75
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
To casue Utter Annihilataion


Explanation:
X

Zeinab Asfour
Jordan
Local time: 20:17
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 19
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
The world has enough for man's need but not for man's greed


Explanation:
Suggestion for a proverbial rendition

In this instance, it mean's that excessive greed has ruined the economy of the nation, has left it devastated. There is nothing left! They took everything!

The world has enough for man's need, but not for man's greed. Mahatma Ghandi ... African proverb - Not to know is bad; not to wish to know is worse ...
dbhs.wvusd.k12.ca.us/webdocs/Sayings.html - 18k - Cached - Similar pages



    -
sktrans
Local time: 13:17
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 52
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
obliterated everything (of substance)/Devoured everything


Explanation:
See second link for second meaning which has the following meaning:

2 : to use up or destroy as if by eating <we are devouring the world's resources>

The dry and wet would entail: everything of substance




    Reference: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/obliterate
    Reference: http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/devour
Hassan Al-Haifi (wordforword)
Local time: 20:17
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Arabic
PRO pts in category: 31
Grading comment
Thank you

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  radwa abdel ghany
83 days
  -> Thanks Radwa. Might I suggest again that you focus on questions with unchosen responses yet
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search