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pré carré

English translation: to be territorial about (it) / one's exclusive province

20:47 Dec 5, 2008
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc.
French term or phrase: pré carré
How would you say "préserver son pré carré" in English ?
mireille65
France
Local time: 08:36
English translation:to be territorial about (it) / one's exclusive province
Explanation:
to reflect the colloqualism of "considérer comme son pré carré"

Less informal and more generic: one's exclusive province (for "son pré carré")
Selected response from:

Francis Marche
France
Local time: 08:36
Grading comment
2 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +9domain, territory, corner, patch, preserve
John Peterson
3 +1guard one's bailiwick
jmleger
3to be territorial about (it) / one's exclusive province
Francis Marche


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


17 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +9
domain, territory, corner, patch, preserve


Explanation:
Can't really give a definitive answer without more context, but "defend one's patch/corner" , "keep (something) the preserve of" are among many possibilities.

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Note added at 25 mins (2008-12-05 21:12:33 GMT)
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Maintain one's corner/protect against all comers (the last one being at the far end of the definitional spectrum) - a couple of other suggestions.

John Peterson
Local time: 07:36
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 19

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Maria-Betania Ferreira: All suggestions are ok!
26 mins
  -> thanks
agree  Euqinimod (X)
30 mins
  -> thanks
agree  writeaway: backed by standard Fr-En dicos
10 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  :::::::::: (X)
10 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  Tony M
11 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  Sarah Walls
12 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  Aude Sylvain
14 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  Cervin
1 day 19 hrs
  -> thanks
agree  rdg
3 days 3 hrs
  -> thanks
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
to be territorial about (it) / one's exclusive province


Explanation:
to reflect the colloqualism of "considérer comme son pré carré"

Less informal and more generic: one's exclusive province (for "son pré carré")

Francis Marche
France
Local time: 08:36
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 2

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  rdg: Territorial, yes - but 'ones exclusive province' is not a common English phrase.
2 days 15 hrs
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
guard one's bailiwick


Explanation:
par exemple

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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2008-12-07 01:08:07 GMT)
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bail⋅i⋅wick   [bey-luh-wik] Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. the district within which a bailie or bailiff has jurisdiction.
2. a person's area of skill, knowledge, authority, or work: to confine suggestions to one's own bailiwick.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME, equiv. to baili- bailie + wick wick 3

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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2008-12-07 01:13:21 GMT)
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You could say for instance "Englishness (or Britishism for that matter) is my bailiwick"

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Note added at 1 day19 hrs (2008-12-07 16:46:03 GMT)
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I do not wish to belabor the point, but "bailiwick" is really not an outlandish expression even on this side of the pond. How else would I know it, since i I am not student of Guernsey's bailiwick history. Indeed, it has the same quaint flavor as "pré carré", which is not a term you often hear in everyday conversation in France may I add. Of course, I bow to any decision on the topic: we are all trying to help.

jmleger
Local time: 01:36
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 9

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  SGavidia (X): While all three responses are technically correct, guarding one's bailiwick is a recognized English idiomatic expression.
20 hrs
neutral  Jacqui Audouy: Well, it may be, but in fifty six years of Englishness I have neither heard it nor read it EVER!!
22 hrs
  -> bail⋅i⋅wick   [bey-luh-wik] Show IPA Pronunciation
neutral  Cervin: Neither have I-sorry ! (60 years of Britishness)
1 day 15 hrs
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