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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

travailler de reculons

English translation:

There's never been a morning when I didn't feel like going to work

Added to glossary by Rimas Balsys
Sep 22, 2008 15:20
15 yrs ago
French term

travailler de reculons

French to English Art/Literary General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
I'm not familiar with this expression. A person is talking about being happy working for his employer. The whole sentence is: "Il n’y a pas un matin que je suis venu **travailler de reculons**". Any help would be appreciated :-)
Proposed translations (English)
3 +1 There's never been a morning when I didn't feel like going to work
3 +4 Not a morning goes by when I don't come to work with a skip in my step
4 +3 when I had to drag myself to work
4 +1 not one morning did I go to work grudgingly
4 hate going to work
3 +1 I don't remember having to push myself to go to work
4 Never have I had to force myself to go to work in the morning
3 ...{I haven't ] gone to work reluctantly, with reluctance

Proposed translations

+1
2 hrs
Selected

There's never been a morning when I didn't feel like going to work

Just how I'd say it myself.
Peer comment(s):
neutral jean-jacques alexandre : My mistake & sorry for any inconveniences; read the question too fast, have to say that it is rarely used under this form
14 hrs
No it's not!! It's a double negative.
agree John Peterson : I think the "disagree" is unwarranted here - it's clear that the person enjoys going to work - i.e. doesn't need to be pushed or coaxed
15 hrs
Thanks, John. Jean-Jacques remains silent on the issue ;-)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Given the very many people who replied to this helpfully I feel bad awarding points to just one person, but I prefer Vicky's wording (followed closely by several others though!). Many thanks to all as always."
2 mins

hate going to work

Not one morning did I hate going to work.

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Note added at 3 mins (2008-09-22 15:23:24 GMT)
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or dread going to work.
Something went wrong...
4 mins

...{I haven't ] gone to work reluctantly, with reluctance

#
www.habbo.fr/groups/25647/id/discussions/43538/id - 41k - Cached - Similar pages
#
::7èmes Rencontres Chorégraphiques de Carthage, Printemmps de la ...
- [ Translate this page ]
De dos, avançant à reculons, les corps, témoins et démentis de ce temps ... Their backs to the audience, advancing reluctantly, the dancers attest to and ...
r

i.e.

haven't dragged myself to work

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Note added at 5 mins (2008-09-22 15:25:40 GMT)
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[PDF]
Allan Sekula JOURNAL / DAILY MARDI
File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - View as HTML
He reluctantly agreed and we went on from there. There were other .... Il a accepté à reculons, et ça s’est enchaîné ensuite. ...
www.fidmarseille.org/pdf/110706.pdf - Similar pages

BTW

the expression seems to be

travailler A reculons..

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Note added at 6 mins (2008-09-22 15:26:42 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I hate waking up in the morning, to see myself drag myself ...
I hate waking up in the morning, to see myself drag myself to work for no reason. I'm not happy at work, and I'm not happy at home. I don't really have a ...
weblog.xanga.com/mikotoSC/598466969/item.html - 55k - Cached - Similar pages
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+1
12 mins

I don't remember having to push myself to go to work

:)
Peer comment(s):
neutral jean-jacques alexandre : My mistake & my apologies, read the question too fast. Sorry for any inconvenience
16 hrs
No problem. Thanks for the change. Bea
agree John Peterson : I think the "disagree" is unwarranted here - it's clear that the person enjoys going to work - i.e. doesn't need to be pushed or coaxed
18 hrs
Thank you very much both for comment and agree! Bea
Something went wrong...
+1
26 mins

not one morning did I go to work grudgingly

On dit "à reculons".
Peer comment(s):
agree kashew
44 mins
Something went wrong...
+4
3 mins

Not a morning goes by when I don't come to work with a skip in my step

One suggestion

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Note added at 9 mins (2008-09-22 15:29:41 GMT)
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or didn't

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Note added at 2 hrs (2008-09-22 17:30:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or spring in my step
Peer comment(s):
agree Yolanda Broad : Good reworking of the sentence.
18 mins
thanks
agree Emma Paulay : Suitably positive!
19 mins
thanks
agree Ingeborg Gowans (X) : a free translation, but elegantly said
33 mins
thanks
agree jean-jacques alexandre : You are 100% correct regarding my "disagrees" just corrected them
17 hrs
thanks - although I think the disagrees for two of the other answers are unfair - they are both saying the same thing as here - i.e. a positive attitude towards going to work
Something went wrong...
+3
3 hrs

when I had to drag myself to work

Nothing like a job you enjoy.
Peer comment(s):
agree Paul Cohen
14 hrs
agree liz askew : There has never been a morning when I had to drag myself to work. Yep
18 hrs
agree writeaway : this is the most natural sounding imo
3535 days
Something went wrong...
4 hrs

Never have I had to force myself to go to work in the morning

Hello,

My try...

It should read "à reculons", not "de reculons."

à reculons = reluctantly

I hope this helps.
Something went wrong...
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