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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

لا يهش ولا ينش

English translation: toothless

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Arabic term or phrase:لا يهش ولا ينش
English translation:toothless
Entered by: Nisah Sajawal

17:33 Mar 11, 2023
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Arabic term or phrase: لا يهش ولا ينش
Hi all,
I'm wondering if you can help me to translate this idiomatically into US English. It appears in a few isolated sentences in a project I am working on:
-لم يكن ذا موقف واضح، فقد كان لا يهش ولا ينش.
- إنه مسلوب الإرادة لا يهش ولا ينش
- يظهر أمام الموظفين في صورة خيال المآتة، مجرد مدير موجود، لا يهش ولا ينش
- كثيرًا ما يكون المكتئب شخصًا صامتًا ساكنًا لا يهش ولا ينش ولا يحس الإنسان بوجوده.
- كانت زوجته تتشاجر معه طيلة الوقت لأنه كان سلبيًا لا يهش ولا ينش

I'm thinking to translate it as 'spineless' or weak-willed', but I would appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you in advance for your help :)
Nisah Sajawal
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:19
toothless
Explanation:
This is the closest equivalent in English to describe a person, organization, or things like laws, etc., as having no effect, useless, or similar meaning.
Selected response from:

hamdy megahed
Egypt
Local time: 17:19
Grading comment
Thank you for your suggestion and examples. Much appreciated!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +1toothless
hamdy megahed
4 +1powerless or lacking in influence in a given situation
Islam Sakr
5does not have a say in anything
Mowafak Mohamed
4neither here nor there
TargamaT team
3namby pamby | wishy-washy
Saleh Dardeer


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
powerless or lacking in influence in a given situation


Explanation:
-

Islam Sakr
Egypt
Local time: 17:19
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ArabicArabic
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks for your contribution :)


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sajad Neisi
5 hrs
  -> thank you so much
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
neither here nor there


Explanation:
معناها الفصيح لا في العير ولا في النفير
أي غير موجود هنا ولا هناك

https://forum.wordreference.com/threads/لا-يهش-ولا-ينش-ولا-ي...

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Note added at 10 mins (2023-03-11 17:43:31 GMT)
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https://www.arabdict.com/en/english-arabic/لا في العير ولا ف...

TargamaT team
France
Local time: 16:19
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 12
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks for your suggestion, this is a very good option.

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14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
does not have a say in anything


Explanation:
...

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Note added at 16 mins (2023-03-11 17:49:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Example:
he does not have a say in anything that happens
https://edubirdie.com/examples/all-of-us-are-as-free-as-trum...

Mowafak Mohamed
Egypt
Local time: 17:19
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 24
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks for your contribution.

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
toothless


Explanation:
This is the closest equivalent in English to describe a person, organization, or things like laws, etc., as having no effect, useless, or similar meaning.

Example sentence(s):
  • Toothless opposition
  • https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20221217-tunisians-to-vote-on-toothless-parliament-in-poll-shunned-by-opposition

    https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/toothless
    https://www.almaany.com/ar/dict/ar-en/toothless-opposition/
hamdy megahed
Egypt
Local time: 17:19
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thank you for your suggestion and examples. Much appreciated!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hamdy Moussa
54 mins
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
namby pamby | wishy-washy


Explanation:
Seeking equivalence in meaning, words and rhyme; I'd go for namby pamby or wishy-washy


https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wishy-washy

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/namby-pamby



Saleh Dardeer
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 59
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks for your suggestion, definitely one to keep in mind!

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