This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
Superviseur, Outillage et Gabarit
lits agréés

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

"On y va comme si on en revenait".

English translation:

we go about it half-heartedly, as if retracing our steps

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2020-07-21 22:55:28 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Jul 18, 2020 07:02
3 yrs ago
56 viewers *
French term

"On y va comme si on en revenait".

French to English Other Psychology Making changes to our lives
Hello

In this translation, there are 4 phases we go through when trying to make major changes in our lives (lifestyle, philosophy, approach)

Phase 2 is:

***On y va comme si on en revenait.***Le cœur n’y est plus. Il vaut mieux ne pas rester coincé en phase 2 car c’est dur pour nous et notre entourage. Dans cette phase, il faut se ressourcer, réfléchir à ses valeurs (voir chapitre sur les 6 valeurs).

So I get the drift, (we drag our feet, half-heartedly) but is there an English phrase that is closer to the French?

Thanks
Proposed translations (English)
4 we go about it half-heartedly, as if retracing our steps
5 One approaches it as if returning from it/ we go there as if coming back from it
4 +1 we do it without conviction
3 +1 "it is the same old grind"
3 "We go there as if we were returning."
3 We have) lost momentum
3 ***We approach it as if we already know the result*** disinterested
3 Going through the motions

Discussion

Elizabeth Tamblin Jul 19, 2020:
"We approach it as if already retreating from/rejecting it."
SafeTex (asker) Jul 18, 2020:
@ all Thanks everyone for chipping in with ideas.
I had to delivery this job at midday so I went with the "dragging our feet" thing but I'll choose one answer that I like if only so that the question is not lost.
Thanks again
philgoddard Jul 18, 2020:
One important point Other languages often use "we" where English would use "you". I think the latter would be more appropriate in this self-help context.
Yvonne Gallagher Jul 18, 2020:
@ Asker agree with Tony's interpretation and suggested wording
Verginia Ophof Jul 18, 2020:
........ come back home to yourself/ go back to your heart and reclaim it
Gloria Palubjakova Jul 18, 2020:
***On y va comme si on en revenait.***Le cœur n’y est plus.
***We approach it as if we already know the result*** disinterested.
Barbara Cochran, MFA Jul 18, 2020:
"as if we have suffered a (psychological) setback"(temporary)/lost our motivation"
ormiston Jul 18, 2020:
Clearly literal does not work As per suggestions below. I like dragging feet, something to show dispirited Ness. My link below explains the state of mind wellness gurus like to delve into
Suzie Withers Jul 18, 2020:
Contemplation phase In most of the change models out there, the source text seems to tie up with the "Contemplation" phase of change - one where there is ambivalence, conflict and procrastination. One of the models I found used a quote "I want to change, but then I don't", which seems to express a similar idea, albeit not as poetic sounding as the source

https://www.smartrecoverysd.org/wp-content/uploads/Recommend...
Tony M Jul 18, 2020:
@ Asker I think 'go for it' introduces another unwelcome, and arguably contradictory metaphor here; I think you suggest would work if you started it: "We go about things as if...", where 'things' is more general than the rather specific (even if not specified!) 'it'.
Thomas Miles Jul 18, 2020:
Half-hearted metaphor ... The French has attempted a metaphor that leaves the reader guessing. Is it meant to imply the feeling we have when returning from a holiday?! I see no reason why a more blatant metaphor to resolve this uncertainty would not improve the text.
SafeTex (asker) Jul 18, 2020:
@ Tony and all A very interesting interpretation.
Based partly on this, I now have

"“We go for it but dragging our feet”.

I have to decide soon as the job is for delivery today around midday.
Tony M Jul 18, 2020:
@ Asker I think a too-literal translation will not convey the right sense, unless it is first interpreted correctly!
Unlike everyone else, I see the 'y aller' as not being to some specific place, but rather, in the more general sense of 'go to it' or more naturally 'go about things' — cf. FR expressions like 'y aller comme un fou'
NOW it makes more sense, in the context of motivation: "you set about things / attack new things (etc.) as if you were tired /bored from already having done them'" etc.
From this point of understanding the S/T, we can then move forward to try and find a good way of expressing it in EN — and in this interpretation, I don't think literal can really work, without inserting the ugly 'things'
SafeTex (asker) Jul 18, 2020:
@ all I have to admit that there is a strong case for a literal translation, especially as

1 The French was in "" which I forgot to mention
2 The Literal translation is understandable to English people me thinks.

I wonder what others think?

SafeTex
SafeTex (asker) Jul 18, 2020:
@ ormistion and all thanks for your input

Presently, I have:

“We drag our feet as if we don’t want to go down this road”.

as I'm trying to keep the idea of "(spiritual) journey" which is aller/revenir in the French
ormiston Jul 18, 2020:
Seems to be a trendy topic! How to Feel Inspired When You’ve Lost Motivation
Hulbert Lee
Hulbert writes about motivation, doing whatever he can to help put people in a position to create a better life for themselves
ormiston Jul 18, 2020:
All that springs to mind at the moment is To run out of steam (a rather prosaic metaphor though!)

"To lose one's energy, motivation, or enthusiasm to continue doing something.

Proposed translations

10 hrs
Selected

we go about it half-heartedly, as if retracing our steps

with acknowledgement to Tony M for 1st part

but "On y va comme si on en revenait" I think equates to retracing steps or

going back over the same old ground

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 days (2020-07-22 12:03:16 GMT) Post-grading
--------------------------------------------------

glad to help. I like some of other answers but they are mostly dealing with "Le cœur n’y est plus" not with "comme si on en revenait" which is your question
Something went wrong...
2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks"
1 hr

"We go there as if we were returning."

The use of a simile presents a comparison between the process of going somewhere and returning or coming back from somewhere.
Example sentence:

On y va comme si on revenait. Le coeur n'y est plus. Il vaut mieux ne pas rester coincé en phase deux car c'est dur pour nous et notre entourage. Dans cette phase, il faut se ressourcer, réfléchir à ses valeurs.

We go there as if we were returning. The heart is no longer there. It's better to not remain stuck in the second phase since it's hard for ourselves and those nearby us. In this phase we need to rejuvenate, consider our values.

Peer comment(s):
neutral Tony M : Far too literal, and does not convey in EN the real sense required here. There are other flaws in your proposed translation too.
13 mins
Something went wrong...
1 hr

One approaches it as if returning from it/ we go there as if coming back from it

Formal/less formal
Peer comment(s):
neutral ormiston : What is this 'it' ?!
1 hr
'en'
neutral B D Finch : A slavishly literal translation that fails to express the meaning.
10 days
Something went wrong...
2 hrs

We have) lost momentum

My stab at it, to reflect the idea of a 'parcours' and waning motivation!
Something went wrong...
5 hrs
French term (edited): \\\"On y va comme si on en revenait\\\".

***We approach it as if we already know the result*** disinterested

***On y va comme si on en revenait.***Le cœur n’y est plus.
***We approach it as if we already know the result*** disinterested


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2020-07-18 12:12:49 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

disinterested/uninterested
Something went wrong...
+1
5 hrs

"it is the same old grind"

You may want to consider an option along these lines.
Peer comment(s):
agree Yolanda Broad
3 hrs
agree Cyril Tollari
1 day 22 hrs
disagree Yvonne Gallagher : "Grind" means same boring job or daily routine so not a match for this context. It should be "(going back over) same old GROUND"
2 days 21 hrs
Something went wrong...
+1
6 hrs

we do it without conviction

just another suggestion
Peer comment(s):
agree Romina Peralta
2 hrs
Thanks, Romina!
Something went wrong...
1 day 5 hrs

Going through the motions

Initially I thought it could be "dragging your feet" as well, but in this context, coming before "your heart's no longer in it" and the rest of the writer's advice, I'd suggest "going through the motions", which is along the lines of "it is the same old grind" and "we do it without conviction".
Note from asker:
I really like this one. Shame I have already sent the job.
Something went wrong...
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search