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carta vincente

English translation: "the winner hands-down"

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:carta vincente
English translation:"the winner hands-down"
Entered by: Gary Presto

15:57 Jun 26, 2003
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / idiom
Italian term or phrase: carta vincente
Hi folks
A combination of hot weather and innate mental paucity leaves me unable to find a suitable expression for this common Italianism.
Context: "La nuova carta vincente per rapporto qualità prezzo" (it's a new model of loudspeaker).
Your usual helpful input would be most appreciated.
TIA
Derek
Derek Smith
Local time: 11:31
"the winner hands-down"
Explanation:
I'd go with this idomatic expression, which in American-English, anyway, refers to this alternative being the be-all, end-all, best and sensible latest arrival -- for all affected and included. ;-)

Buon lavoro!
Gary
Selected response from:

Gary Presto
Local time: 06:31
Grading comment
Thanks indeed for your help here. Reliable as ever, Giles has come up with the equivalent idiom (thank you), but was unfortunately unable to provide the storm (though it did it finally hit us here in Modena at 4 am with a very welcome downpour). I know I'm cheating slightly here, but I think I'll go somewhere along the lines of Gary's excellent proposal (thanks) as a less literal alternative, if I can work it into the text somehow. Thanks also to Nancy, Cathy, and Manducci for your off-centre and very relevant proposals, I'm keeping all options open for the present.
Maximum appreciation
Derek
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3trump card
Giles Watson
5 +2"the winner hands-down"
Gary Presto
4the latest and greatest best value for money
CMJ_Trans (X)
4winning ticket
CathyFS
4Simply the best value speakers around/money can buy
manducci
4the winning model in terms of price-quality ratio
Nancy Arrowsmith
3the silver bullet
Cecilia Di Vita


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
trump card


Explanation:
Or "ace in the hole".

There's a storm brewing so I'll sign off.

Cheers,

Giles

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-06-26 16:13:15 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sun\'s out again ...

you could try something along the lines of \"the speaker that\'s trumps for value\".

Bye,

G.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-06-26 16:22:01 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sun\'s out again ...

you could try something along the lines of \"the speaker that\'s trumps for value\".

Bye,

G.

Giles Watson
Italy
Local time: 12:31
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Andreina Baiano
8 mins
agree  manildo: I would have said "ace in the hole", as you did
28 mins
agree  Giusi Pasi
28 mins
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14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the latest and greatest best value for money


Explanation:
.....tried to combine the two ideas in the sentence and this is the result

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2003-06-26 16:12:53 (GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or - the best deal on today\'s market

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 12:31
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 11
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
"the winner hands-down"


Explanation:
I'd go with this idomatic expression, which in American-English, anyway, refers to this alternative being the be-all, end-all, best and sensible latest arrival -- for all affected and included. ;-)

Buon lavoro!
Gary


    Gary Presto, Traduttore e revisore IT>EN
Gary Presto
Local time: 06:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thanks indeed for your help here. Reliable as ever, Giles has come up with the equivalent idiom (thank you), but was unfortunately unable to provide the storm (though it did it finally hit us here in Modena at 4 am with a very welcome downpour). I know I'm cheating slightly here, but I think I'll go somewhere along the lines of Gary's excellent proposal (thanks) as a less literal alternative, if I can work it into the text somehow. Thanks also to Nancy, Cathy, and Manducci for your off-centre and very relevant proposals, I'm keeping all options open for the present.
Maximum appreciation
Derek

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  manducci
54 mins
agree  verbis
6 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
winning ticket


Explanation:
is an expression I've heard used

CathyFS
Local time: 11:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Simply the best value speakers around/money can buy


Explanation:
As value for money goes, they're the best there is/ on the market

manducci
Local time: 12:31
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
the winning model in terms of price-quality ratio


Explanation:
or the top model, the whole carta, winning card bit is unnecessary.

Nancy Arrowsmith
Local time: 04:31
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the silver bullet


Explanation:
I found it once in a text --- it sounds nice!

Cecilia Di Vita
United Kingdom
Local time: 11:31
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
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