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انا سابت مفاصلي

English translation: my knees gave

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Arabic term or phrase:انا سابت مفاصلي
English translation:my knees gave
Entered by: Karim Haddad

22:12 Apr 16, 2009
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama / Subtitling
Arabic term or phrase: انا سابت مفاصلي
I am subtitling a movie and there is a dialogue which seems to be very culture-specific .. the dialogue as follows:
- سيب يا عسكري
- أنا اللي سابت مفاصلي
Karim Haddad
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:03
my knees gave
Explanation:
- give it up, soldier!
- it's my knees that gave!

The literal translation is that his legs turned to jelly from being scared/startled.
This is just an attempt to keep the pun between سيب and سابت
Selected response from:

Mohamed Ghazal
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 10:03
Grading comment
Many Thanks
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3my knees gave
Mohamed Ghazal
4 +2I've gone all weak in the knees
Nesrin
5Got ants in my pants
Noha Kamal, PhD.
5shake in one's boots and quake in one's boots
Tamer Mekhimar
5my joints is shaking like a jelly/ I got a butterflies in my tummy
Abdelaziz El Sassy
5it is me who is tired of you
Mohammad Gornas
5I felt weak at the knees
halani
5I've spaghetti legs
Emad Doidar
5You scared me!
Hanan Sharabati
4My knees its gone
Taleb Ebrahim - Arabic - English - Turkish Professional Conference Interpreter-Translator
4my legs/limbs turned to jelly
Mona Helal
3To shake like a leaf
K. Ganly (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
Got ants in my pants


Explanation:
I've done dozens and dozens of such movies :-))

You could say: I can't. I got ants in my pants!

Good luck.

Noha Kamal, PhD.
Local time: 08:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Arabic

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Tamer Mekhimar: It means to be unable to sit still, for example because you are nervous or full of energy. I checked the link attached and the meaning is "nervousness and agitation". What I believe the meaning is about being afraid.
5 mins
  -> No, please refer to http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ants in pants
agree  Hani Hassaan
11 mins
  -> meci cheri
neutral  Mohamed Ghazal: Hi Noha. I am afraid Tamer is right
31 mins
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
shake in one's boots and quake in one's boots


Explanation:
quake/shake in your boots (humorous) to feel very afraid to feel very afraid.





    Reference: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/boot
Tamer Mekhimar
Egypt
Local time: 08:03
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
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11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
I've gone all weak in the knees


Explanation:
Another option

Nesrin
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:03
Native speaker of: Arabic
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Hani Hassaan
6 mins
agree  Sydeni
602 days
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35 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
my knees gave


Explanation:
- give it up, soldier!
- it's my knees that gave!

The literal translation is that his legs turned to jelly from being scared/startled.
This is just an attempt to keep the pun between سيب and سابت

Mohamed Ghazal
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 10:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Many Thanks

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  K. Ganly (X): this is a good attempt at using the alliteration in English. i like it. I would use "its my knees that have given up! " though.
28 mins
  -> Thanks
agree  Ghada Samir: Yes, "...That have given up!" Suitable to the dialogue!
1 hr
  -> Thanks
agree  Mohammad Gornas: agree to Katharine`s input it gives more sense to the entry
6 hrs
  -> Thanks
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31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
my joints is shaking like a jelly/ I got a butterflies in my tummy


Explanation:
expressing scariness
my joints is shaking like a jelly/ I got a butterflies in my tummy/ scared stiff

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 35 mins (2009-04-16 22:48:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

butterflies without (a)

Abdelaziz El Sassy
Egypt
Local time: 08:03
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
To shake like a leaf


Explanation:
Just another suggestion, often used in English to express fear...

"Im shaking like a leaf" = " Im scared out of my wits!"

K. Ganly (X)
United Kingdom
Local time: 07:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
My knees its gone


Explanation:
My knees its gone

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2009-04-16 23:33:17 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

My knees are killing me

Taleb Ebrahim - Arabic - English - Turkish Professional Conference Interpreter-Translator
Türkiye
Local time: 09:03
Native speaker of: Arabic
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
my legs/limbs turned to jelly


Explanation:
my legs/limbs turned to jelly

Mona Helal
Local time: 16:03
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
it is me who is tired of you


Explanation:
رايح جاي طول النهار جاري وراكي

Mohammad Gornas
Sudan
Local time: 08:03
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
I felt weak at the knees


Explanation:
I felt weak at the knees
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/knees

halani
United Arab Emirates
Local time: 10:03
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
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18 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
I've spaghetti legs


Explanation:
meaning that my legs became soft like cooked spaghetti

Emad Doidar
Egypt
Local time: 08:03
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
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1 day 5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
You scared me!


Explanation:
يقال للتعبير عن الخوف المفاجئ من شيء معين

Hanan Sharabati
Local time: 09:03
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