Glossary entry

Greek term or phrase:

Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό

English translation:

every obstacle is an opportunity

Added to glossary by Ioanna Daskalopoulou
Jun 28, 2012 21:52
11 yrs ago
2 viewers *
Greek term

Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό

Greek to English Other Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Υπάρχει κάτι αντίστοιχο στα Αγγλικά?

Discussion

Ioanna Daskalopoulou (asker) Jul 5, 2012:
Thank you all for your suggestions!! Have a good day!
Nick Lingris Jul 1, 2012:
Δεν είμαι σίγουρος ότι θα ήταν το «Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό» και η πιο ταιριαστή ελληνική έκφραση για το παράδειγμα που δίνεις, transphy. Και στα αγγλικά θα έλεγα It was all for the best (after all) ή κάτι πιο θρησκευτικό αν ήμουν θρησκευόμενος. Αλλά μη στεναχωριέσαι αν υπάρχει και κάποια διαφωνία. Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό...
transphy Jul 1, 2012:
Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό:; ANALYSIS.
I would like to put the record right here, as I think I have been unjustifiably criticized, οπως 'Με εκπλήσσει πάντως η ευκολία με την οποία μοιράζετε τα disagree σας!'
I will give an extreme scenario;
' I was caught in traffic and I missed my flight to xx. Just as well, for the aeroplane crashed and nobody survived'
Here we had an obstacle<εμποδιο>, οτι αργησα και το οποιο μου
εκανε καλο. Εδω λεγω ' Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό'. Αν ετσι ειναι που λεμε αυτη τη φραση, τοτε ΔΕΝ μπορω να πω, ουτε στα Ελληνικα, μα ουτε και στα Αγγλικα οτι 'one door closes, another one opens' neither can we say, 'every cloud has a silver lining' as this expression, to my knowledge, is used when something bad occurs to make somebody unhappy BUT then something else happens to change that initial unhappiness to happiness. There is no <εμπόδιο> here, as in the case of the 'aeroplane', There is a subtle difference between this latter case and my example.
Every expression given has its very fine difference and MY CONTENTION IS, 'Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό' is that some obstacle was there να μου γινη καλο μετα, or, even give me a better opportunity, as Nick said. JUST AS WELL.......

Proposed translations

+2
14 mins
Selected

every obstacle is an opportunity

it’s an ill wind that blows nobody any good
every cloud has a silver lining
what does not kill you makes you stronger
Peer comment(s):

agree Nadia-Anastasia Fahmi : Bonjour! Υπάρχει και το "blessing in disguise", ανάλογα με το συγκείμενο.
7 hrs
agree Assimina Vavoula
16 hrs
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Ευχαριστώ πολύ. Καλημέρα!"
9 hrs

every cloud has a silver lining

People sometimes say that every cloud has a silver lining to comfort somebody who's having problems. They mean that it is always possible to get something positive out of a situation, no matter how unpleasant, difficult or even painful it might seem.
Peer comment(s):

agree Angeliki Kotsidou (X)
50 mins
disagree transphy : Again, this is a very common saying. However, it is used in a case where something bad happened BUT, not long after, something else which was good came across to compensate for the bad one.
1 hr
that is one way to interpret this idiom. It is not the only one as can be seen by the definition above. I am surprised you disagree that this is applicable to the term, but I suppose to each his own.
neutral Andras Mohay (X) : = ουδέν κακόν αμιγές καλού, βλέπε Proz
3 hrs
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-1
10 hrs

when a door closes....

When a door closes a window opens

ή when a door closes another one opens

ή when a door closes a gate opens
Peer comment(s):

disagree transphy : Same as the more complete, ' when a door closes an other one opens'
45 mins
??? Με εκπλήσσει πάντως η ευκολία με την οποία μοιράζετε τα disagree σας!
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11 hrs

...just as well

I had no time to examine the transaction. Just as well, as it was a scam.

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Note added at 12 hrs (2012-06-29 09:56:47 GMT)
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ALSO

It is not unusual for English people to say 'EVERY OBSTACLE FOR THE GOOD'. However, simple as they are, in their conversation especially, they would just say, 'JUST AS WELL'.
BOTH ARE CORRECT, and both convey the equivalent meaning of 'Κάθε εμπόδιο για καλό'
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15 hrs

every barrier is an oportunity

Κάθε εμπόδιο που εμφανίζεται είναι μια ευκαιρία για κάτι άλλο.
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-1
10 hrs

When one door closes another one opens

Εξαρτάται από τα συμφραζόμενα

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Note added at 20 hrs (2012-06-29 18:18:47 GMT)
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As I said above....it depends on the context and since there was no context given, I would only be assuming what the ASKED is?!
If the expression is used in isolation then Nick's suggestion is a better suit. However if the phrase is using within a literary text then this could also work.

The expressions is NOT used only when one opportunity is lost and, almost at the same time, AN OTHER one presents itself.

It is used to give hope...which is close to the meaning of the Greek saying.
Peer comment(s):

disagree transphy : This is an expression, very often used, BUT only when one opportunity is lost and, almost at the same time, AN OTHER one presents itself. I don't think it represents the 'ASKED'
44 mins
I totally disagree with this part: "BUT only when one opportunity is lost and, almost at the same time, AN OTHER one presents itself. " It is used to say that something good may come your way despite something negative that might have happened.
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Reference comments

10 mins
Reference:

!

Note from asker:
Πολύ καλό! Ευχαριστώ πολύ.
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