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English translation: continue to dream about the unachievable

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:A ver navios
English translation:continue to dream about the unachievable
Entered by: Livea

15:39 Nov 4, 2007
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Portuguese term or phrase: A ver navios
When somebody can't get what was expecting for. I found "loking out for boats" on the web. Is that correct?
Thanks very much
Livea
Local time: 01:51
continue to dream about the unachievable
Explanation:
I last saw this term in a Veja article (not recent) regarding the hopelessness of obtaining tickets to a certain concert, but I am sure the term is used mainly in Portugal.

In my opinion, left "on the sidelines" and "left high and dry" are the best of the other alternatives.

I'm dismayed that "looking out for boats" was considered as a potential translation.

I suspect that the source of this phrase is related to "waiting for my ship to come in...."
Selected response from:

Donna Sandin
United States
Local time: 00:51
Grading comment
Thanks Donna,
My perception told me it was not right, but I really found that in a glossary. As it was the only translation I found, I decided to post it here and found many better options as yours.
Livea
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +2to be left twiddling one's thumbs
lexical
4 +1to look at mirages
Michael Powers (PhD)
4 +1to be left sucking one´s thumb
Elvira Alves Barry
5To miss the boat
suesimons
5leave someone in the lurch
Marcelo Gonçalves
4let down/left with nothing
Marlene Curtis
4continue to dream about the unachievable
Donna Sandin
4to be left hanging
Amy Duncan (X)


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


26 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
let down/left with nothing


Explanation:
...

Marlene Curtis
United States
Local time: 00:51
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 70
Notes to answerer
Asker:

Asker: Obrigada. Escolhi let down para minha tradução. Livea

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31 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to look at mirages


Explanation:
look at something as if it really were something else

"look at mirages" when someone in the desert is convinced he sees water:


Observatorio da Imprensa - Materias - 18/12/2002
- [ Translate this page ]
Principalmente no campo do Judiciário, não se pode publicar algo desprovido de definição. ... E nós consumidores ficamos aqui a ver navios como verdadeiros ...
observatorio.ultimosegundo.ig.com.br/caixa/cp181220025.htm - 11k - Cached - Similar pages - Note this

Mike :)

Michael Powers (PhD)
United States
Local time: 00:51
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28
Notes to answerer
Asker: Obrigada Mike.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Paula Mangia Garcia Terra: Perfect!!
38 mins
  -> Thank you, Paula - Mike :)
neutral  lexical: I think you have missed the point of this idiom, perhaps because you have not lived in Portugal.
3 hrs
  -> You are right - I have never had the opportunity of living in Portugal, although I would like to. - Mike :)
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32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
to be left twiddling one's thumbs


Explanation:
It certainly isn't "looking out for boats" in English. Common sayings that carry the same sense as "ficar a ver navios" include:
- to be left high and dry
- to be left on the sidelines
- to be left twiddling one's thumbs
- to be left hanging out to dry

No doubt others will camoe up with other equivalents

lexical
Spain
Local time: 06:51
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for so many contributions! Livea


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  rhandler
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Ralph.
agree  Humberto Ribas
5 hrs
  -> thanks Humberto
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55 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
to be left sucking one´s thumb


Explanation:
http://natura.di.uminho.pt/~jj/pln/calao/dicionario.pdf

Elvira Alves Barry
Local time: 05:51
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Notes to answerer
Asker: Obrigada!!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  rhandler: Excelente link!
1 hr
  -> Thanks, rhandler
neutral  lexical: I agree with Ralph, it's a lovely link, but I have never heard "to be left sucking one's thumb" as an English expression. It's just a transliteration from PT.
2 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
continue to dream about the unachievable


Explanation:
I last saw this term in a Veja article (not recent) regarding the hopelessness of obtaining tickets to a certain concert, but I am sure the term is used mainly in Portugal.

In my opinion, left "on the sidelines" and "left high and dry" are the best of the other alternatives.

I'm dismayed that "looking out for boats" was considered as a potential translation.

I suspect that the source of this phrase is related to "waiting for my ship to come in...."

Donna Sandin
United States
Local time: 00:51
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
Thanks Donna,
My perception told me it was not right, but I really found that in a glossary. As it was the only translation I found, I decided to post it here and found many better options as yours.
Livea
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
To miss the boat


Explanation:
Ficar a ver navios - to miss the boat, to arrive too late for something.

suesimons
Local time: 05:51
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4
Notes to answerer
Asker: This is a very good option, but not in the context of my text. I realized that in portuguese this expression is text-independent, but not when you translate the text into English. Funny!

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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
to be left hanging


Explanation:
A little tricky without more context, but I think this could be it.

Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 01:51
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44
Notes to answerer
Asker: This would also fit in my text very well. Thank you! Livea

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2 days 4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
leave someone in the lurch


Explanation:
leave someone in the lurch
to leave someone at a time when they need you to stay and help them. I hope they can find someone to replace me at work. I don't want to leave them in the lurch.


    Reference: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/leave+in+the+lurch
Marcelo Gonçalves
Brazil
Local time: 01:51
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 12
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