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お茶をにごしなさい some double meaning?

English translation: beat around the bush

02:48 May 29, 2008
Japanese to English translations [PRO]
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
Japanese term or phrase: お茶をにごしなさい some double meaning?
Nigosu means to make the waters turbid or muddy...Would that mean to over-steep the tea? But, in this context, it seems to have a different meaning from the obvious. Is it some funny/cynical colloquial saying? Thank you!
Joyce A
Thailand
Local time: 10:45
English translation:beat around the bush
Explanation:
"いい加減にその場をごまかしたり、一時しのぎに取り繕うことを言います。"
My other dictionary says いいかげんに言ったりしたりしてその場をごまかす。「冗談を言って・す」

Beat around the bush, be evasive, to fudge....


Selected response from:

Harvey Beasley
Local time: 12:45
Grading comment
Looks like this is the favored answer. Thank you, Harvey!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3beat around the bush
Harvey Beasley
5 +1Just give them an evasive answer. OR pussyfooting
humbird
3 +2give a vague answer/fudge on/answer in diplomatic terms(in noncommittal terms)
cinefil
3to temporize, make shift
peter arnout


  

Answers


5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
beat around the bush


Explanation:
"いい加減にその場をごまかしたり、一時しのぎに取り繕うことを言います。"
My other dictionary says いいかげんに言ったりしたりしてその場をごまかす。「冗談を言って・す」

Beat around the bush, be evasive, to fudge....





    Reference: http://gogen-allguide.com/o/otyawonigosu.html
    Reference: http://www.janis.or.jp/users/utena/112.htm
Harvey Beasley
Local time: 12:45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Looks like this is the favored answer. Thank you, Harvey!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Kanako Fujiwara: I agree However, the original Japanese does not soud right. Should it be 「お茶を濁しておきなさい」？　　A language surely changes!
43 mins
  -> Thanks, I'm not sure if the original Japanese is off though!
agree  Will Matter
2 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  KathyT: Simple, understood anywhere, and not outdated (cf. 'pussyfooting')
7 hrs
  -> Thanks!
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42 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Just give them an evasive answer. OR pussyfooting


Explanation:
My understanding is same as Harvey. But I would like to go one step further.
This means "give your counterpart non-commital answer. "

Eijiro's definition to my latte answer is interesting:
http://eow.alc.co.jp/pussyfoot/UTF-8/

So the guy (gal) can well be sitting on the fence.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 44 mins (2008-05-29 03:32:41 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Yes, it is age-old cliche.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 48 mins (2008-05-29 03:37:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Typo -- not "latte", it is "latter" of course.

humbird
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Will Matter: Also OK.
1 hr
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54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
give a vague answer/fudge on/answer in diplomatic terms(in noncommittal terms)


Explanation:
alternatives

cinefil
Japan
Local time: 12:45
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in JapaneseJapanese
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Will Matter: Give a vague, non-committal answer.
1 hr
  -> Thanks a lot, Will.
agree  Aogara: "give a vague answer" feels appropriate.
7 hrs
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to temporize, make shift


Explanation:
お茶をにごsu: = to temporize, make shift

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 11 hrs (2008-05-29 13:51:25 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'to stay on the same spot', to LET the tea get turbid...

peter arnout
Belgium
Local time: 05:45
Works in field
Native speaker of: Dutch
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