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it was just an illusion

English translation: the reality was different

02:09 Mar 28, 2012
English language (monolingual) [Non-PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
English term or phrase: it was just an illusion
Talk about music for the soul. There was no greater symphony than the sound that filled the outdoors on May 7, 1945-the day the war in Europe ended. I was at the hospital. As if on cue but quite spontaneously, the bells in the churches throughout Switzerland began to ring. All at the same time, making the air resonate with the jubilant chimes of victory and, most of all, peace. Helped by several hospital workers, I took patient after patient, including those too weak to get out of bed, up to the roof, where they could join in the celebration.

It was a moment everyone from the old and weak to the newborn shared in equally. Some stood, others sat. Still others were in wheelchairs or lying on stretchers, some suffering intense pain. But right then it did not matter. We were stitched together by love and hope, the essence of human existence, and it was, to my mind, quite beautiful and unforgettable. Unfortunately, it was just an illusion.
Shirley Fan
Local time: 03:03
Selected answer:the reality was different
Explanation:
The impression that everyone had was false. The true situation was different.
Selected response from:

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 16:03
Grading comment
thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +6the reality was different
Martin Riordan
5(the previous situation) was not really as it seemed.
Susanne DeVore
5it didn't represent the real state of affairs at all and was nothing but a false belief
David Hollywood
4It was only a momentary, fleeting feeling of elation
eski


  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
the reality was different


Explanation:
The impression that everyone had was false. The true situation was different.

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 16:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 275
Grading comment
thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  NancyLynn: it was all a lie
1 hr
  -> Thanks, NancyLynn!
agree  Sheila Wilson
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Sheila!
agree  Jenni Lukac (X)
4 hrs
  -> Thank you, Jenni!
agree  Jack Doughty
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Jack!
agree  B D Finch
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, BD!
agree  Suzan Hamer
8 hrs
  -> Thanks, Suzan!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
(the previous situation) was not really as it seemed.


Explanation:
According to http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illusion, "illusion" can be a misleading image, so if something "was just an illusion" it means that it was a lie, a falsehood. Usually the thing that was just an illusion is desirable, so there is some connotation of sadness/negative feeling if it was "just an illusion."


    Reference: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/illusion
Susanne DeVore
United States
Local time: 09:03
Native speaker of: English
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3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
it didn't represent the real state of affairs at all and was nothing but a false belief


Explanation:
:)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2012-03-28 06:17:53 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

although people would have liked to think otherwise

David Hollywood
Local time: 16:03
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 116
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13 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
It was only a momentary, fleeting feeling of elation


Explanation:
It was only a momentary, fleeting feeling of elation

eski
Mexico
Local time: 13:03
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish
PRO pts in category: 8
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