Aug 27, 2022 19:44
1 yr ago
55 viewers *
French term
Canada
donner le change
French to English
Social Sciences
Education / Pedagogy
International Olympiad in Economics
Article sur un étudiant qui vient de gagner un prix prestigieux - L’Olympiade internationale d’économie 2022.
C’est “donner le change” qui me chiffonne dans ce contexte.
« Vous avez su démontrer pour vous, votre équipe, et bien sûr votre pays tous les possibles en matière de formation à l’économie », le félicite la maîtresse de cérémonie, ***donnant le change*** à l’humilité avec laquelle il [celui qui à qui le prix a été décerné] accueille un titre dont on oublierait pratiquement qu'il est avant tout individuel. »
Merci d'avance.
C’est “donner le change” qui me chiffonne dans ce contexte.
« Vous avez su démontrer pour vous, votre équipe, et bien sûr votre pays tous les possibles en matière de formation à l’économie », le félicite la maîtresse de cérémonie, ***donnant le change*** à l’humilité avec laquelle il [celui qui à qui le prix a été décerné] accueille un titre dont on oublierait pratiquement qu'il est avant tout individuel. »
Merci d'avance.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+2
9 hrs
Selected
in contradiction with
In this context, it could be translated as:
in contradiction with the humility shown by the recipient
The Linguee link shows how often this expression is mistranslated.
in contradiction with the humility shown by the recipient
The Linguee link shows how often this expression is mistranslated.
Note from asker:
| I think "counterbalance" or "belie" might work in this context. Another term that occurred to me: "undercut." Merci. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Wolf Draeger
: Or "in contrast to". I also wonder whether the FR meaning hasn't shifted over time to something like "offset" or "counterbalance".
7 hrs
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| agree |
Nicole Acher
: "In contrast with" would express it best, I think.
15 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks to everyone. I decided on "counterbalancing"."
16 mins
knowing how to
In this context, it might be something along the lines of my example sentence below. On the other hand, it might not (therefore low certainty)
Example sentence:
...knowing how to accept with humility...
1 hr
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
27
downplaying
The mistress of ceremonies seemed to want to aggrandize (showmanship) the importance of the award and the recipient's accomplishment, while the latter was trying to remain as humble as possible about it, since most people aren't really going to care about it, or even remember his accomplishment, when all is said and done. She is downplaying his modesty, as if he should exhibit more pride in the accomplishment than he has.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2022-08-27 21:46:11 GMT)
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The idea is that she is reacting to his modesty, as if she is trying to cover up or hide the fact that the award isn't, like the recipient believes, all that big of a deal, in the general scheme of things.
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Note added at 2 hrs (2022-08-27 21:46:11 GMT)
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The idea is that she is reacting to his modesty, as if she is trying to cover up or hide the fact that the award isn't, like the recipient believes, all that big of a deal, in the general scheme of things.
+5
2 hrs
belie
As in, the article (rather sniffily) suggests the praise was over the top and out of proportion to the winner's attitude and the nature of the prize.
Although according to the IEO's website, the 2022 olympiad was held online, so how well a winner's humility or otherwise can be gauged is uncertain.
Le Petit Robert 2011 & CNRTL: Donner le change à qqn lui faire prendre une chose pour un autre.
OED: belie 1. (of an appearance) Fail to give a true impression of (something). 2. Fail to fulfil or justify (a claim or expectation).
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Note added at 2 hrs (2022-08-27 22:02:51 GMT)
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Meaning the MC's words and the winner's attitude contradict one another, or at least don't seem to match.
Although according to the IEO's website, the 2022 olympiad was held online, so how well a winner's humility or otherwise can be gauged is uncertain.
Le Petit Robert 2011 & CNRTL: Donner le change à qqn lui faire prendre une chose pour un autre.
OED: belie 1. (of an appearance) Fail to give a true impression of (something). 2. Fail to fulfil or justify (a claim or expectation).
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Note added at 2 hrs (2022-08-27 22:02:51 GMT)
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Meaning the MC's words and the winner's attitude contradict one another, or at least don't seem to match.
Example sentence:
[...] belying the humility with which he accepted an award one might forget is first and foremost for individual achievement.
Reference:
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jennifer Levey
3 hrs
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Ta.
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| agree |
cchat
7 hrs
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Ta.
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| agree |
ph-b (X)
15 hrs
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Ta.
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| agree |
Samuël Buysschaert
16 hrs
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Ta.
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| agree |
Michele Fauble
18 hrs
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Ta.
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Mpoma
: Completely wrong. "belie" means to give a false representation. You have inferred and interpolated things here which are simply not present. The meaning is actually fairly simple, and neutral, with no particular implied criticism.
23 hrs
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I may well have misunderstood the FR use in this case. However, "belie" doesn't always imply intent but rather the fact of one thing being at odds with another.
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| agree |
Yvonne Gallagher
: "belie" is OK but I prefer "the MC's words and the winner's attitude contradict one another, or at least don't seem to match"
2 days 13 hrs
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Ta. To be honest, the FR isn't clear to me in this case.
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+2
1 day 1 hr
to contrast
That's all it means.
It's a rather fancy expression, but there is absolutely no implication of criticism. "Belie" is completely wrong, because that refers to one person concealing their own feelings, which is simply not the situation here: one person cannot "belie" the feelings of another.
"Donner le change" in this expression comes from hunting, and translates, etymologically, as "to give the slip". Look it up in TLFi if you don't believe me.
So ultimately it's a rather ignorant and illiterate use of the expression, but sadly that is not atypical of many journalists, of all languages presumably.
It's a rather fancy expression, but there is absolutely no implication of criticism. "Belie" is completely wrong, because that refers to one person concealing their own feelings, which is simply not the situation here: one person cannot "belie" the feelings of another.
"Donner le change" in this expression comes from hunting, and translates, etymologically, as "to give the slip". Look it up in TLFi if you don't believe me.
So ultimately it's a rather ignorant and illiterate use of the expression, but sadly that is not atypical of many journalists, of all languages presumably.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Leigh Ann Benlian
: I agree. This is just a journalistic addition, meaning no more than "in comparison to" or "to contrast"
16 hrs
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Thanks
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| agree |
MatthewLaSon
: Yes. The writer is misusing the French expression, even though he or she is French, most likely. The real meaning is "switch something out with something else in hopes of deceiving". You already know, but I felt like saying it. Please take good care.
22 days
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1 day 12 hrs
Nathalie Beaudelot
Ireland
Ireland
Native in French
Works in field
Ireland
Tourism, food industry, pharmaceutical
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to French
Reacting to
She’s simply replying to him, reacting, bouncing back to acknowledge his performance.
+1
1 day 6 hrs
Francois Boye
United States
United States
Native in French
United States
An economic geek with social skills
Native in: French
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
47
To match the same humility displayed when he...
In this case, donner le change means being up to a challenge or competition. There is a comparison between how humble the congratulatory is and how humble the recipient of a title is.
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Note added at 1 day 18 hrs (2022-08-29 14:43:49 GMT)
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Erratum: congratulator instead of congatulatory
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Note added at 1 day 18 hrs (2022-08-29 14:43:49 GMT)
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Erratum: congratulator instead of congatulatory
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
MatthewLaSon
: Does it mean "reciprocated with the same humility" , dear François? Bonne Soirée!
22 days
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Discussion