Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
bien travailler
English translation:
We have a lot of work to do / We have a lot of work on our plates !!!
Added to glossary by
Maria Constant (X)
May 14, 2006 07:32
18 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term
United States
Literature & Scholarship
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: French to English, English, German to English
bien travailler
French to English
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
"Nous allons bien travailler!"
--In this context, two characters of a book are collaborating on music research, and the woman has shared some poems that she has found with the man she is working with.
I am guessing that this means, "We have good work to do," but I'm not sure... or, "we have our work set out for us"?
"bien" has always confused me a little... because the translation as "well," or the adverbial form of "bon," doesn't always work. Seems like sometimes it can mean "really"... but not here, either.
--In this context, two characters of a book are collaborating on music research, and the woman has shared some poems that she has found with the man she is working with.
I am guessing that this means, "We have good work to do," but I'm not sure... or, "we have our work set out for us"?
"bien" has always confused me a little... because the translation as "well," or the adverbial form of "bon," doesn't always work. Seems like sometimes it can mean "really"... but not here, either.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +1 | We have a lot of work to do / We have a lot of work on our plate !!! |
Maria Constant (X)
|
| 5 +6 | do well |
algtranslator
|
| 3 +2 | this is looking good! |
sarahl (X)
|
| 4 | We're going to work well together |
Diane de Cicco
|
| 3 | we are really going to work! |
pomiglia
|
| 2 | sexual innuendo?? |
Bourth (X)
|
| 2 | we have plenty of work waiting for us |
iol
|
Change log
May 14, 2006 08:47: writeaway changed "Field" from "Art/Literary" to "Other" , "Field (specific)" from "Poetry & Literature" to "General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters"
Proposed translations
+1
8 mins
Selected
We have a lot of work to do / We have a lot of work on our plate !!!
The way I see it is that
either the man is saying "looking at all the work we have to do we are not going to be idle"
or perhaps he is saying "I think we are going to be productive / produce good work" in the sense that "we are a good team".
But for this one I reckon that he would have used "ensemble" at the end.
So that's why my preference goes for the former.
Hope this helps.
Incidentally Tegan, what time is it in the USA ?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2006-05-14 07:42:29 GMT)
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Sorry the expression is "we have a lot of work on our plateS"
(Forgot the "s")
either the man is saying "looking at all the work we have to do we are not going to be idle"
or perhaps he is saying "I think we are going to be productive / produce good work" in the sense that "we are a good team".
But for this one I reckon that he would have used "ensemble" at the end.
So that's why my preference goes for the former.
Hope this helps.
Incidentally Tegan, what time is it in the USA ?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2006-05-14 07:42:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Sorry the expression is "we have a lot of work on our plateS"
(Forgot the "s")
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Ingeborg Gowans (X)
: this seems to fit best (bien travailler indicating the volume of work
13 hrs
|
|
Thanks Ingeborg.
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+6
5 mins
algtranslator
United States
United States
Native in French
Works in field
United States
" Competence & Experience talk "
Native in: Arabic 
, French
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic, French to English, and 12 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
do well
" We will do well!"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
cocotier
: we are going to make a good job (to do a good job, thanks reubenius !)
5 mins
|
|
Yes! Thanks Cocotier
|
|
| agree |
bobedwin
10 mins
|
| agree |
Pierre POUSSIN
: Yes...to Cocotier!
10 mins
|
| agree |
reubenius
: Agree with Cocotier, but 'We're going to do a good job'
35 mins
|
| agree |
ntaylor (X)
18 hrs
|
| agree |
Gina W
5 days
|
+2
18 mins
this is looking good!
my take
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
French Foodie
20 mins
|
|
thanks Mara
|
|
| agree |
Richard Benham
: Yeah this is probably a good stab.//Figure of speech, cobber.//I mean it "works well".
24 mins
|
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ouch!//sharp, cobber!
|
55 mins
Diane de Cicco
France
France
Native in French
&
English
France
Specialty: Biology, Chemistry, Medicine
Native in: English , French
Works in: English to French, French to English
We're going to work well together
I think they mean "Nous allons bien travailler (ensemble)"
1 hr
we are really going to work!
or we are really going to be working!
just suggestions
just suggestions
13 hrs
sexual innuendo??
I must first repeat that without greater context, a phrase such as this could mean anything under the sun.
As I say, out of context, and reinforced by the idea of a man and a woman sharing poetry (how romantic! ;-) ), my first reaction was that this was a suggestion of sexual activity to come, just as, when a couple have produced a child, they are often congratulated with a "Vous avez bien travaillé".
As I say, out of context, and reinforced by the idea of a man and a woman sharing poetry (how romantic! ;-) ), my first reaction was that this was a suggestion of sexual activity to come, just as, when a couple have produced a child, they are often congratulated with a "Vous avez bien travaillé".
13 hrs
we have plenty of work waiting for us
Just an idea
Discussion