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Τι μπλέξιμο πραγματικό, μύλος η υπόθεση!

English translation: What a mess, a total muddle!

13:11 Jul 23, 2012
Greek to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / line in a novel
Greek term or phrase: Τι μπλέξιμο πραγματικό, μύλος η υπόθεση!
In a novel, a character comments on a situation. What a mess, fine, but what about the mill? I can't find any such idom listed anywhere.

No dialect, language British English, target audience English-speaking.

Thanks
J A Lawrence
Greece
Local time: 19:35
English translation:What a mess, a total muddle!
Explanation:
You'd use μύλος when everything seems to have gone wrong. It is similar to clusterfuck, but the latter would have been too strong, I think.
Selected response from:

Nick Lingris
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:35
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2What a mess, a total muddle!
Nick Lingris
4what a real mix-up, a total mess
transphy


  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
What a mess, a total muddle!


Explanation:
You'd use μύλος when everything seems to have gone wrong. It is similar to clusterfuck, but the latter would have been too strong, I think.

Nick Lingris
United Kingdom
Local time: 17:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GreekGreek
PRO pts in category: 128

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Philip Lees: I would say "clusterfuck" is more American. Alternatives: cockup, ballsup, or the military snafu.
47 mins
  -> Yes, the thing is to avoid words with sexual connotations when μύλος can be used even by nuns. :)
neutral  transphy: Following the trend suggested above, notwithstanding 'nuns', the most emphatic AND most common is, 'fcuk-up', with a refined spelling!!!! Say that to English people and they will understand what you mean. However, it is so common it has lost it's punch
4 hrs
  -> Don't worry. J A is native in English and I'm sure she handle the problem of register.
agree  Assimina Vavoula
6 days
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45 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
what a real mix-up, a total mess


Explanation:
another powerful version

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Note added at 5 hrs (2012-07-23 18:53:40 GMT)
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Also. A rearrangement of Nick's is WHAT A MUDDLE. IT'S A TOTAL MESS.

transphy
Local time: 17:35
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in GreekGreek
PRO pts in category: 8
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