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English translation: we go about it half-heartedly, as if retracing our steps
GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:
"On y va comme si on en revenait".
English translation:
we go about it half-heartedly, as if retracing our steps
07:02 Jul 18, 2020
The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2020-07-21 22:55:28 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
French to English translations [PRO] Psychology / Making changes to our lives
French term or phrase:"On y va comme si on en revenait".
Hello
In this translation, there are 4 phases we go through when trying to make major changes in our lives (lifestyle, philosophy, approach)
Phase 2 is:
***On y va comme si on en revenait.***Le cœur n’y est plus. Il vaut mieux ne pas rester coincé en phase 2 car c’est dur pour nous et notre entourage. Dans cette phase, il faut se ressourcer, réfléchir à ses valeurs (voir chapitre sur les 6 valeurs).
So I get the drift, (we drag our feet, half-heartedly) but is there an English phrase that is closer to the French?
Explanation: with acknowledgement to Tony M for 1st part
but "On y va comme si on en revenait" I think equates to retracing steps or
going back over the same old ground
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 4 days (2020-07-22 12:03:16 GMT) Post-grading --------------------------------------------------
glad to help. I like some of other answers but they are mostly dealing with "Le cœur n’y est plus" not with "comme si on en revenait" which is your question
Thanks everyone for chipping in with ideas. I had to delivery this job at midday so I went with the "dragging our feet" thing but I'll choose one answer that I like if only so that the question is not lost. Thanks again
As per suggestions below. I like dragging feet, something to show dispirited Ness. My link below explains the state of mind wellness gurus like to delve into
In most of the change models out there, the source text seems to tie up with the "Contemplation" phase of change - one where there is ambivalence, conflict and procrastination. One of the models I found used a quote "I want to change, but then I don't", which seems to express a similar idea, albeit not as poetic sounding as the source
I think 'go for it' introduces another unwelcome, and arguably contradictory metaphor here; I think you suggest would work if you started it: "We go about things as if...", where 'things' is more general than the rather specific (even if not specified!) 'it'.
The French has attempted a metaphor that leaves the reader guessing. Is it meant to imply the feeling we have when returning from a holiday?! I see no reason why a more blatant metaphor to resolve this uncertainty would not improve the text.
I think a too-literal translation will not convey the right sense, unless it is first interpreted correctly! Unlike everyone else, I see the 'y aller' as not being to some specific place, but rather, in the more general sense of 'go to it' or more naturally 'go about things' — cf. FR expressions like 'y aller comme un fou' NOW it makes more sense, in the context of motivation: "you set about things / attack new things (etc.) as if you were tired /bored from already having done them'" etc. From this point of understanding the S/T, we can then move forward to try and find a good way of expressing it in EN — and in this interpretation, I don't think literal can really work, without inserting the ugly 'things'
How to Feel Inspired When You’ve Lost Motivation Hulbert Lee Hulbert writes about motivation, doing whatever he can to help put people in a position to create a better life for themselves
To run out of steam (a rather prosaic metaphor though!)
"To lose one's energy, motivation, or enthusiasm to continue doing something.
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Answers
1 hr confidence:
"We go there as if we were returning."
Explanation: The use of a simile presents a comparison between the process of going somewhere and returning or coming back from somewhere.
Example sentence(s):
On y va comme si on revenait. Le coeur n'y est plus. Il vaut mieux ne pas rester coincé en phase deux car c'est dur pour nous et notre entourage. Dans cette phase, il faut se ressourcer, réfléchir à ses valeurs.
We go there as if we were returning. The heart is no longer there. It's better to not remain stuck in the second phase since it's hard for ourselves and those nearby us. In this phase we need to rejuvenate, consider our values.
Lisa Rosengard United Kingdom Local time: 01:59 Native speaker of: English