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In lugnet.off-topic.debate, David Koudys writes:
> In lugnet.off-topic.debate, Dave Schuler writes:
> > In lugnet.off-topic.debate, David Koudys writes:
> >
> > > But we even have a french phrase to
> > > describe such things 'je ne sais quoi' - it has a certain factor which is
> > > *inexplainable*.
> >
> > I'm sorry to keep harping on this point, but it is really central to your
> > approach to the entire debate. I believe the literal translation is "I
> > don't know what" (thanks, Dr. Evil!) which is *fundamentally* different from
> > "it cannot possibly be explained."
Actually, the french expression *has* that idiomatic meaning associated with
it. The literal translation is correct, but in some contexts - such as this
one - the other meaning will apply.
> And to think I grew up in a bi-lingual country (english/french)! Thanks!
>
> It's like the dutch saying (and the spelling will be completely wring here...)
>
> 'Ich Vait het neet'
>
> which means I know it not...
>
> Somebody throw me a frikkin' booone here! I've been frozen for 30 years!
J'ai jeté l'os, maintenant c'est à toi de te débruiller... :-)
Pedro
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Message is in Reply To:
 | | Re: slight
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| (...) And to think I grew up in a bi-lingual country (english/french)! Thanks! It's like the dutch saying (and the spelling will be completely wring here...) 'Ich Vait het neet' which means I know it not... Somebody throw me a frikkin' booone here! (...) (24 years ago, 16-Jul-02, to lugnet.off-topic.debate)
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