Passage de flambeau

15:01 Apr 6, 2011

This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

French to English translations [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / family

French term or phrase: Passage de flambeau

This is a heading a chapter of a book about dealing with being a grandparent for the first time, particularly related to how your relationship changes with your own children when they have their own, and generally about the psychological changes you go through as a grandparent.
I know it is literally to hand over the torch, but can anyone think of a better translation than "Handing over the torch" for this context? I thought of "Handing over the reins" but I'm not quite sure that I have grasped the concept in French properly.

Eleanor P KudoZ activity Questions: 64 (1 open) (17 closed without grading) Answers: 12 United Kingdom
Local time: 01:14

Summary of answers provided

4 +2

Handing on the flame

B D Finch

handing over the baton

Gabrielle Leyden

passing on the torch

Emma Paulay

hand over the responsibility / responsibilities

Estelle Demontrond-Box

taking a back seat

Joanne Nebbia

Discussion entries: 4

Answers

13 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

Handing on the flame

Explanation:
handing over the torch

I don't really understand why you don't want to use this expression in English. This really does seem to sum up the situation where the parental role is handed over from the generation of the new grandparent to their children's generation and so the role and associated behaviours and functions continue but are fulfilled by different people. if you have to change it, then "handing on the flame" is an alternative.

"... and in the workers who have dedicated themselves to the pursuit of science a band of torch-bearers, handing on the flame of knowledge through the ages. ..."
www.nature.com/nature/journal/v141/n3561/abs/141184c0.html
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"... speaks of the end of an era and handing on the torch to the next generation. .... Other unaccompanied material includes a terrific version of the Child ..."
www.folktalk.co.uk/reviewarch.htm

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Note added at 14 mins (2011-04-06 15:16:49 GMT)
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Handing on is more positive than handing over.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 02:14
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 78

9 mins confidence:

hand over the responsibility / responsibilities

Explanation:
Could it be what it means here? The responsibillity of being a parent?

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Note added at 10 mins (2011-04-06 15:12:53 GMT)
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Or maybe "passing on knowledge" which is what I would have understood as in passing on your knowledge of being a parent...

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Note added at 24 mins (2011-04-06 15:26:02 GMT)
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Should have said "handing over the responsibility"...

Estelle Demontrond-Box
Australia
Local time: 10:14
Works in field
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 8

8 mins confidence:

taking a back seat

Explanation:
I think there are probably several ways to describe this - but letting someone else drive is certainly what you have to do when you have grandchildren!

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Note added at 28 mins (2011-04-06 15:30:21 GMT)
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This site discusses the main issues involved in becoming a grandparent - the author also uses "back seat" to describe what I think your chapter is about http://www.proudgrandparents.co.uk/boundaries-grandparent.ht...

Joanne Nebbia
Local time: 02:14
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English

1 hr confidence:

handing over the baton

Explanation:
This is the equivalent expression in English. Derived from relay racing, obviously. I believe the French expression refers to the Olympic flame in relay racing, too.

Gabrielle Leyden
Belgium
Local time: 02:14
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 11

3 hrs confidence:

passing on the torch

Explanation:
I don't see any reason not to use the same expression in English. It has exactly the same meaning: giving way to the next generation.

Reference: http://www.genome.gov/10005979
Reference: http://sports.espn.go.com/new-york/mlb/columns/story?columni...

Emma Paulay
France
Local time: 02:14
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20

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