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  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. Arabic to English
  3. Government / Politics

حبر على ورق

English translation: ink on paper

09:27 Jan 14, 2005
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Government / Politics
Arabic term or phrase: حبر على ورق
الإتفاقية كانت مجرد حبر على ورق
Saleh Ayyub
New Zealand
Local time: 15:12
English translation:ink on paper
Explanation:
Same as in Arabic.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2005-01-14 09:35:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

see the side bar (Real Audio) on this BBC report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1099095.stm


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2005-01-14 09:37:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and here (in paragraph 4) http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2004/3125iraq_firsthand.htm...
and last paragraph here http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/482/ec2.htm
Selected response from:

Sam Berner
Australia
Local time: 13:12
Grading comment
What do you think of the expression inl spilled on paper. Does it give the required meaning. Thanks Sam.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3ink on paper
Sam Berner
5 +2not worth the paper it 's written on
Alaa Zeineldine
4 +1Did not take effect
Iman Khaireddine
4null and void
Awad Balaish
3empty words
Rania KH


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
حبر على ورق
ink on paper


Explanation:
Same as in Arabic.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 7 mins (2005-01-14 09:35:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

see the side bar (Real Audio) on this BBC report
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/1099095.stm


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 mins (2005-01-14 09:37:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

and here (in paragraph 4) http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2004/3125iraq_firsthand.htm...
and last paragraph here http://weekly.ahram.org.eg/2000/482/ec2.htm

Sam Berner
Australia
Local time: 13:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
Grading comment
What do you think of the expression inl spilled on paper. Does it give the required meaning. Thanks Sam.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Dr. Wathib Jabouri: Gives the same meaning in English
24 mins
agree  AhmedAMS
31 mins
agree  A Nabil Bouitieh
2 hrs
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34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
حبر على ورق
Did not take effect


Explanation:
مجرد حبر على ورق = لم تدخل حيز التنفيذ
Unless you need a literal translation

Iman Khaireddine
United Kingdom
Local time: 04:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 75

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mazyoun
19 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +2
حبر على ورق
not worth the paper it 's written on


Explanation:
This would be the corresponding idiom in English:

"the agreement was not worth the paper it was written on"

You can also replace exchange written with printed.





Alaa Zeineldine
Egypt
Local time: 06:12
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 28

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Sam Berner: Actually, this is even better than "ink spilled on paper" - read my comment above. Sorry Alaa, I didn't see this until now.
17 hrs
  -> No problem. The important thing is to give the asker the right choices.
agree  ashraf999
21 hrs
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
حبر على ورق
empty words


Explanation:
just a suggestion!

Rania KH
Local time: 22:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

20 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
حبر على ورق
null and void


Explanation:
AS the talk is about an agreement, I belive this is the best term to be described of, there is a need for a legal term that is sufficient to express the valiodity and pledges of the agreement.
Trnslting this Arabic term depends on the document. if , for instance, some body sent you a message offering his support or showing sympathy, but you dont trust him, what will say "it is ink on paper"

Awad Balaish
Saudi Arabia
Local time: 06:12
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 38
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