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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

Ne pas faire l'affaire

English translation: to not fit the bill/to turn out to be unsuitable

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Ne pas faire l'affaire
English translation:to not fit the bill/to turn out to be unsuitable
Entered by: Black & White

15:06 Dec 30, 2006
French to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / General
French term or phrase: Ne pas faire l'affaire
In an interview with a woman living in France (Algerian parents, born and brought up in France, lived 6 years in Tahiti, is Muslim):

"Je pense que la France devrait s’y intéresser, faire comme au Canada qui fait l’immigration contrôlée, c’est parfait ça. Vous faites vos preuves, vous êtes gardé, **vous ne faites pas l’affaire**, ben… "

The only thing that seems to fit is, "you don't cause any trouble/you do as you're told", but I'm not at all sure that's what she means here.
(Please note that the opinion expressed here is the interviewee's and not my own!).
Thanks in advance for any suggestions!
Black & White
Local time: 14:06
do not fit in/do not fit the bill YOU TURN OUT TO BE UNSUITABLE
Explanation:
you prove your worth, they keep you - you don't fit in/fit the bill, they (kick you out...)

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Note added at 15 mins (2006-12-30 15:21:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

faire l'affaire - to be suitable
match expectations
live up to requirements
Selected response from:

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 15:06
Grading comment
Thanks for this wonderful idiomatic translation and to all those who agreed with it!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5 +13do not fit in/do not fit the bill YOU TURN OUT TO BE UNSUITABLE
CMJ_Trans (X)
4 +2If you don't meet the requirements
PB Trans
3Don't make the grade
B D Finch
4 -2don't cause a scene/sensation
Alanna Wilson-Duff


Discussion entries: 4





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -2
don't cause a scene/sensation


Explanation:
I agree with you and think it's about keeping quiet and not causing a stir or making a fuss

Alanna Wilson-Duff
Local time: 23:06
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Claire Cox: Yes, don't make a fuss was what came to my mind too
1 min
disagree  CMJ_Trans (X): sorry this is not the meaning at all - see below
9 mins
disagree  Cetacea: CMJ_Trans is absolutely right.
19 mins
disagree  ACOZ (X): CMJ_Trans is right
9 hrs
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14 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +13
do not fit in/do not fit the bill YOU TURN OUT TO BE UNSUITABLE


Explanation:
you prove your worth, they keep you - you don't fit in/fit the bill, they (kick you out...)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 15 mins (2006-12-30 15:21:16 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

faire l'affaire - to be suitable
match expectations
live up to requirements

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 15:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 67
Grading comment
Thanks for this wonderful idiomatic translation and to all those who agreed with it!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  suezen
3 mins
agree  Juan Jacob: Voilà, voilà.
6 mins
agree  PB Trans: yes, that's it although I don't think it refers to being kicked out. Eligibility is determined before the person leaves his/her country (points system).
6 mins
agree  RHELLER: this would also be my understanding
6 mins
agree  Cetacea: with "do not fit the bill".
6 mins
agree  danièle davout: with "do not fit the bill"
1 hr
agree  NancyLynn
1 hr
agree  Raymonde Gagnier: exactement
2 hrs
agree  cjohnstone
2 hrs
agree  Carolyn Brice: fit the bill
4 hrs
agree  blavatsky: I guess it is all about being mindful of how you 'let them down' or 'dismiss them'
5 hrs
agree  Ian Davies: fit the bill
7 hrs
agree  Stephanie Sullivan: do not fit the bill
17 hrs
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37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Don't make the grade


Explanation:
Another way of putting it.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 15:06
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 28
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
If you don't meet the requirements


Explanation:
Another option...

Refers to meeting the requirements of controlled immigration (the points system, as explained in the comment box above).

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 5 hrs (2006-12-30 20:17:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

There are other immigration classes, apart from the points system for skilled workers. There is business class (for managers and business owners who can invest substantially in Canada), family class (for citizens and permanent residents of Canada who want to sponsor a close family member) and refugees. Each of these classes will have eligibility requirements in order to process the applications for immigration.

See this link for more information on requirements:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/faq/immigrating-1.html

PB Trans
Local time: 14:06
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  suezen: I see what you're getting at here.
39 mins
  -> thanks
agree  ACOZ (X): Yes, Australia has the same system. "If you meet the requirements, you stay; if you don't, you're out".
4 hrs
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