Glossary entry

Arabic term or phrase:

لا يهش ولا ينش

English translation:

toothless

Added to glossary by Nisah Sajawal
Mar 11, 2023 17:33
1 yr ago
25 viewers *
Arabic term

لا يهش ولا ينش

Arabic to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
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 :)
Change log

Mar 11, 2023 18:38: Murad AWAD changed "Field" from "Other" to "Art/Literary"

Proposed translations

+1
2 hrs
Selected

toothless

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:

Toothless opposition

https://www.rfi.fr/en/international-news/20221217-tunisians-to-vote-on-toothless-parliament-in-poll-shunned-by-opposition

Peer comment(s):

agree Hamdy Moussa
54 mins
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you for your suggestion and examples. Much appreciated!"
+1
8 mins

powerless or lacking in influence in a given situation

-
Note from asker:
Many thanks for your contribution :)
Peer comment(s):

agree Sajad Neisi
5 hrs
thank you so much
Something went wrong...
8 mins

neither here nor there

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...
Note from asker:
Many thanks for your suggestion, this is a very good option.
Something went wrong...
14 mins

does not have a say in anything

...

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Note added at 16 mins (2023-03-11 17:49:52 GMT)
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Example:
he does not have a say in anything that happens
https://edubirdie.com/examples/all-of-us-are-as-free-as-trum...
Note from asker:
Many thanks for your contribution.
Something went wrong...
19 hrs

namby pamby | wishy-washy

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

Note from asker:
Many thanks for your suggestion, definitely one to keep in mind!
Something went wrong...
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