This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Education / Pedagogy

pousser à l’infini

English translation: have no bounds

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:pousser à l’infini
English translation:have no bounds
Entered by: Agustina Burdman Luciano

16:57 Feb 18, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Education / Pedagogy
French term or phrase: pousser à l’infini
I am translating an activity for girls, to learn about self-perception. They have to draw a tree, each part represents something, and then, when they get to the roots, they say they represent their dreams, what they wish to be, and then:

Les racines peuvent pousser à l’infini, tout comme les souhaits de la personne

Thanks for your help!
Agustina Burdman Luciano
Canada
Local time: 10:28
have no bounds
Explanation:
There is no limit to dreams. :-)
Selected response from:

Marco Solinas
Local time: 07:28
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +5never stop growing
cc in nyc
3 +4have no bounds
Marco Solinas
4(capable of) infinite growth
B D Finch
4grow ad infinitum
polyglot45
3Our desires can expand, like the eternal roots of a tree
MatthewLaSon


  

Answers


2 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
have no bounds


Explanation:
There is no limit to dreams. :-)

Marco Solinas
Local time: 07:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 31
Notes to answerer
Asker: That actually sounds pretty good! thanks!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof: YES !! boundless !
16 mins
agree  Helen Shiner: Or even, 'know no bounds or limits', 'boundless' is also good
1 hr
agree  Yvonne Gallagher
2 hrs
agree  rkillings: No tree grows to the sky, but the roots beneath are boundless. Yes, that sort of works.:-)
16 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Our desires can expand, like the eternal roots of a tree


Explanation:
Hello,

My try...

When you follow your desires, you might find that your desires expand. Yo u could satisfy one desire and find that another one comes to mind—and another ...
www.fallingawake.com/book/fa/024.pdf


I hope this helps.

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 10:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 85
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your suggestion!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(capable of) infinite growth


Explanation:
I note that others seem to have understood "infini" in a temporal context. As this is a drawing (and as neither trees nor people live for ever) I see it more as spatial.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 16:28
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 121
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for your help!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
grow ad infinitum


Explanation:
is what the French says

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 8
Notes to answerer
Asker: thank you very much!

Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +5
never stop growing


Explanation:
Or "grow forever"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs (2011-02-18 19:17:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

BTW, I think "forever" connotes both time and space, at least to many American ears – as in "On a clear day, you can see forever."
http://www.broadwaymusicalhome.com/shows/clear.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nz5DLO8fclA
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vn2i9Vnyas

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2011-02-18 20:38:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

BTW, I like "grow forever" (or "grow for ever" which the BE folks seem to prefer) more and more.

cc in nyc
Local time: 10:28
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 46
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks! :)

Asker: Thanks for your ideas!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: Perfect!
5 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Carol Gullidge: I like "grow for ever" (on condition that it's 3 words!) (but 'forever growing' = 2 wds!)
20 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Marta Scott: I like grow forever/for ever too
31 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Evans (X): slight preference for grow for ever (over forever), a pond argument I'm sure
41 mins
  -> Thank you!
agree  Barbara Carrara
13 hrs
  -> Thank you!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search