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Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

que l\'étincelle jaillisse

English translation:

make sparks fly

Added to glossary by Mark Nathan
Jan 19, 2019 15:59
5 yrs ago
French term

que l'étincelle jaillisse

French to English Marketing Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. Management training
More about the matchmaker:

« Il doit synthétiser plein de choses différentes pour trouver son public : une innovation technologique avec un usage social et un bénéfice environnemental, par exemple.
» Le mot anglais matchmaker a deux significations, « entremetteur » et
« fabricant d’allumettes » : en somme, il faut savoir allumer la mèche au bon moment pour que l’étincelle jaillisse.

I am having trouble getting this matchmaker analogy straight in my head! A matchmaker doesn't light matches!

"You have to make a spark at the right moment for the fuse to catch"?

But what how is this related to the matchmaker idea?
Proposed translations (English)
3 +7 make the sparks fly/ spark something off
5 -1 The spark breaks out
Change log

Jan 21, 2019 00:07: Yolanda Broad changed "Term asked" from "que l\\\'étincelle jaillisse" to "que l\'étincelle jaillisse "

Discussion

Tony M Jan 23, 2019:
@ Lara I think that's a different metaphor, really: here, they are talking about taking action at exactly the right moment', while 'strike while the iron's hot' is really more about 'making the most of an opportunity when it arises'.
Lara Barnett Jan 22, 2019:
Matchmaker idea "Strike while the iron is hot" maybe? (metaphorically speaking anyway, I am aware a match is not made of iron!).
Tony M Jan 19, 2019:
@ Asker I think that's what they call « tiré par les cheveux » !
philgoddard Jan 19, 2019:
I would rewrite this, because (a) you don't need to explain the meaning of the word to English speakers, and (b) as you say, matchmakers don't light matches. It's awkward writing that needs to be improved.

Proposed translations

+7
16 mins
French term (edited): que l\'étincelle jaillisse
Selected

make the sparks fly/ spark something off

Spark off :To cause something to happen or begin; to set something into motion.
Peer comment(s):
agree SafeTex : The second one. Not the first one which is negative in English (cause an argument)
3 mins
Thank you SafeTex ! did not mean to make sparks fly :)
agree philgoddard : Make the sparks fly also means to ignite passion.
14 mins
Thank you philgoddard !
agree Nicole Acher : good choice
1 hr
Thank you Nicole !
agree Jessica Noyes
2 hrs
Thank you Jessica !
agree James A. Walsh : I think "make the sparks fly" would be my choice - it's "sexy" in management speak!
6 hrs
Thank you James ! yes, sexy...and start some fireworks :)
agree Yvonne Gallagher
8 hrs
Thank you Yvonne !
agree Sophie Cherel
1 day 16 hrs
Thank you Sophie !
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks everyone!"
-1
2 hrs
French term (edited): que l\'étincelle jaillisse

The spark breaks out

The french verb "jaillir" means begins strongly, or also break out, in english
Example sentence:

Que l'étincelle du combat jaillisse

That he spark of the battle has broken out

Peer comment(s):
disagree Tony M : To start with wrong syntax: it is 'pour que...', so would need to be 'for the.. to..' in EN; but also, while a fire may break out, we don't really use that verb with 'spark'; and finally, this just wouldn't sound natural or idiomatic in EN in this context
46 mins
Something went wrong...
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