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ago della bilancia

English translation: to tip the scale/balance

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:(spostare l') ago della bilancia
English translation:to tip the scale/balance
Entered by: luskie

10:42 Jun 19, 2008
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Italian term or phrase: ago della bilancia
There is no particular context, but the translation holding the balance doesn't seem to convey the real meaning of the phrase and I can't seem to find anything better.
Nicholas Hunt
Italy
Local time: 16:59
to tip the scale
Explanation:
se è questo che stai cercando

to tip the scale towards / in favour of something


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Note added at 16 mins (2008-06-19 10:59:30 GMT)
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Print Article - Is Bengal ready for re-industrialisation? - [ Traduci questa pagina ]
10 giu 2008 ... the Bengal experience provides unclear evidence, with of course Singur and Nandigram tipping the scale in favour of the second option. ...
www.rediff.com/cms/print.jsp?docpath=/ /money/2008/jun/10guest.htm - 11k - Copia cache - Pagine simili

Sticks and Carrots for the Soviets - New York Times - [ Traduci questa pagina ]
In this political maelstrom, Western aid could be decisive in tipping the scale toward the reformers. The gamble is worth taking. If the Soviets renege on ...
query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage. html?res=9D0CE2DB143EF937A35755C0A967958260 - 43k - Copia cache - Pagine simili

toward o towards, confesso di non aver ancora capito la differenza :)
Selected response from:

luskie
Local time: 16:59
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2to tip the scale
luskie
5 +1tip the balance
TrishCivitella
5pointer/tongue/index
Gina Ferlisi
4to counterbalance, to balance,to mediate
Milena Bosco (X)
3Index (of a scale)
Gad Kohenov
3balance of power
Laura Dominicis
3Balance the tongue ( in terms of language)
deep_1235


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
pointer/tongue/index


Explanation:

garzanti
Ago
2 (di bilancia) pointer, tongue, index


Gina Ferlisi
Local time: 16:59
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
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6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Index (of a scale)


Explanation:
ago

s.m. (pl. -ghi)

1 needle: infilare un ago to thread a needle; fatto con l'ago made with a needle.

2 (di strumenti di misura) index, needle, pointer: ago di bilancia index of a scale; ago della bussola compass needle; ago magnetico magnetic needle.

3 (Bot) needle: aghi di pino pine needles.


Gad Kohenov
Israel
Local time: 17:59
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in HebrewHebrew
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14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
to tip the scale


Explanation:
se è questo che stai cercando

to tip the scale towards / in favour of something


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 mins (2008-06-19 10:59:30 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Print Article - Is Bengal ready for re-industrialisation? - [ Traduci questa pagina ]
10 giu 2008 ... the Bengal experience provides unclear evidence, with of course Singur and Nandigram tipping the scale in favour of the second option. ...
www.rediff.com/cms/print.jsp?docpath=/ /money/2008/jun/10guest.htm - 11k - Copia cache - Pagine simili

Sticks and Carrots for the Soviets - New York Times - [ Traduci questa pagina ]
In this political maelstrom, Western aid could be decisive in tipping the scale toward the reformers. The gamble is worth taking. If the Soviets renege on ...
query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage. html?res=9D0CE2DB143EF937A35755C0A967958260 - 43k - Copia cache - Pagine simili

toward o towards, confesso di non aver ancora capito la differenza :)

luskie
Local time: 16:59
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 61
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Shera Lyn Parpia: or tip the balance, same thing,another term http://www.google.it/search?hl=it&q=tip the balance&meta=
48 mins
agree  Alexandra Speirs: I thought of that too...
1 hr
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16 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
balance of power


Explanation:
Può andare?

Laura Dominicis
Local time: 16:59
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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52 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Balance the tongue ( in terms of language)


Explanation:
Balance tongue means balance language ( lingua della billancia) like mother tongue

deep_1235
Local time: 20:29
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
tip the balance


Explanation:
Just an alternative to luskie's "tip the scale"...

TrishCivitella
Local time: 16:59
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tom in London
8 mins
  -> Cheers Tom!
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3 days 19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to counterbalance, to balance,to mediate


Explanation:
It is an expression often used to express that a certain person or action or object will counterbalance a situation or a discussion. For example..."Sarà l' ago della bilancia fra politici di destra e di sinistra...." means that somebody will mediate/balance the two extremes.
Have a nice day.

Milena Bosco (X)
Italy
Local time: 16:59
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian, Native in CatalanCatalan
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