ce ne sont pas des chars!

English translation: it's no joke!

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:ce ne sont pas des chars!
English translation:it's no joke!
Entered by: Sandra C.

17:27 Oct 4, 2005
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / bilingual teen novel/ UK English
French term or phrase: ce ne sont pas des chars!
ok, this is more on the slang side.
it's a teenager talking. He says that after relating his somewhat fantastic story. He means, of course, that he's not lying, he's not telling lies.

the audience being likewise teenage students, would "it's no bull" be too much? Is it even used in the UK? What about the word "flam": would it work here - "it's no flam" ?

a little help again, please? merci!
Sandra C.
France
Local time: 09:10
no joke!
Explanation:
or no kidding...

Not too sure what American would say.

No bull is not English English.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2005-10-04 17:32:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Never heard of flam either in English or French. Is this Canadian French?
Selected response from:

Richard Hedger
Switzerland
Local time: 09:10
Grading comment
c'est bien, merci!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7no joke!
Richard Hedger
4 +4It's the truth, man!
NancyLynn
4 +2i'm not kidding (you)
Georges Tocco
3 +2straight up!
Rachel Ward
4I'm serious!
samanthadill
3 +1For real!
Paige Stanton (X)


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
no joke!


Explanation:
or no kidding...

Not too sure what American would say.

No bull is not English English.


--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 mins (2005-10-04 17:32:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Never heard of flam either in English or French. Is this Canadian French?

Richard Hedger
Switzerland
Local time: 09:10
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8
Grading comment
c'est bien, merci!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  NancyLynn: I too would forget about flam
4 mins
  -> thanks!

agree  hirselina
12 mins
  -> thanks!

agree  sporran: definitely not flam !
20 mins
  -> thanks!

agree  Elizabeth Lyons
58 mins
  -> Thanks Elizabeth!

agree  ineveryl: To answer your question, an American would say the same (of course, most American teens these days might say "No sh*t, but that's a bit more vulgar).
4 hrs
  -> did we talk like that at that age? Cheers!

agree  JCEC
5 hrs
  -> thanks!

agree  Gina W
8 hrs
  -> cheers!

neutral  Raynald Adam (X): In (very) colloquial Canadian French, the expression "c'est pas un char" usually means "it's not worth much" or "it doesn't mean much". I have never seen or heard it in this plural form.
10 hrs
  -> interesting...of course "char" in this case means car, right.
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9 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
It's the truth, man!


Explanation:
Rather than give it the negative turn, you could use this positive spin.

I like No joke, too

NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 04:10
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Besmir (X): Yeah, man, like, you're not kidding! :-)
2 mins
  -> thanks!

agree  Pierre POUSSIN: Yes for "No joke!" > "Arrête ton char"!
3 mins
  -> and here I thought only Canadians used the word 'char'! ;-)

agree  sporran: I think I prefer your positive approach, nice !
16 mins
  -> thanks sporran

neutral  Charlie Bavington: Use of "man" over here largely restricted to chavs, or 'ironic' usage, in my experience. Given that, I'd suggest it's best avoided in educational material.// Not all chavs are teenagers and, mercifully, not all teenagers are chavs. Good idea making it +ve
1 hr
  -> but I thought it was a teenager talking...

agree  Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X): this is educational material???
3 hrs
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46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
straight up!


Explanation:
A more current British term (so I understand...) although that would make it date faster...

Rachel Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  suezen
25 mins
  -> Thanks!

agree  Charlie Bavington: a dashed top-hole wizard suggestion. Although as you say, it may date over time.... :-)
44 mins
  -> :O)

neutral  Josephine79: LOL, Charlie!!
18 hrs
  -> Well, I did say it would date!
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54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
i'm not kidding (you)


Explanation:
the you is optinal in this case

Georges Tocco
Italy
Local time: 09:10
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Jane Lamb-Ruiz (X)
2 hrs

agree  JCEC
4 hrs
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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
I'm serious!


Explanation:
Don't know about usage in the UK, but sounds like what a teen would say to a skeptical audience, if that matches the case. Very common, very slang when said at the end of an incredible tale. Just another idea..... :)

Don't like flam, and "it's no bull" doesn't sound idomatic enough.
Also like "no kidding" or "no joke" as previously suggested.

samanthadill
United States
Local time: 03:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
For real!


Explanation:
Another option...

Paige Stanton (X)
Local time: 09:10
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  JCEC
1 hr
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