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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

ce qui est pris n'est plus à prendre

English translation: grab it while the going's good

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:ce qui est pris n'est plus à prendre
English translation:grab it while the going's good
Entered by: kashew

22:15 Mar 6, 2013
French to English translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
French term or phrase: ce qui est pris n'est plus à prendre
I've done some research and found "What's done is done" and "It ain't over till it's over" and even "get it while the gettin's good" but I'd like to be as accurate as possible in rendering the true meaning here.

The company owner is writing here:

Quant au Centralien, directeur général devenu directeur du développement à la Société mère, il tirait son salaire :
- Ce qui est pris n’est plus à prendre!
Aimait-il à répéter, bien assis dans son fauteuil présidentiel, les reins calés par son petit coussin marron qu’il avait installé.
NancyLynn
Canada
Local time: 09:56
grab it while the going's good
Explanation:
*
Selected response from:

kashew
France
Local time: 15:56
Grading comment
I think this is the general idea. Thank you everyone for your input.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3grab it while the going's good
kashew
3 +1a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush
Claire Mercier
4 -1what is taken is taken
Daryo
3once you've got it they can't take it off you
katsy


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
grab it while the going's good


Explanation:
*

kashew
France
Local time: 15:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
Grading comment
I think this is the general idea. Thank you everyone for your input.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Claire Mercier
5 mins
  -> Thanks.
agree  Yolanda Broad
1 hr
  -> Thanks
neutral  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: This phrase gives a positive slant, suggesting that there may be more. The original is closed.
1 hr
agree  Wendy Streitparth
10 hrs
  -> Thanks
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush


Explanation:
f you want to use an English proverb, I think this one is the closest you can get.
The meaning is slightly different because it implies you might be able to get more money if you wait, but it nevertheless conveys the idea that it's best to grab it while you can!

Claire Mercier
Local time: 15:56
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Trudy Peters: I like that
10 hrs
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10 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): -1
what is taken is taken


Explanation:
"ce qui est pris n'est plus à prendre"
=>
"ce qui est pris" + "n'est plus à prendre"
=>
"what is taken" + is "no longer available" (for you to keep chasing/others to take instead of you)="taken"
=
"what is taken is taken"

As in:
"Les petites mad'maselles ah ah tention
...
Faut pas chercher à comprendre,
C'qui est pris n'est plus à prendre,
...

Les petites mad'maselles très important,
...
Faut pas chercher à comprendre,
Faut prendre et pas s'laisser prendre,
..."
[http://musique.ados.fr/Gilbert-Becaud/Les-Petites-Mad-masell...]

" Basket-ball
Vincent Collet : « Ce qui est pris n’est plus à prendre » "
[http://www.lalsace.fr/sport/2012/11/07/vincent-collet-ce-qui...]

" What is taken is taken and it's been a few victories between Gabon, Bessèges, Tour Med and the Haut Var. A big hats off to all my teammates. "
[http://colnagoconbrio.wordpress.com/page/16/]


"Well, what is taken is taken, unless you get paid before year end there's no other way to fix it "
[http://www.finlandforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=68838&start=...]


Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:56
Native speaker of: Native in SerbianSerbian, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  GILLES MEUNIER: c'est calqué
21 hrs
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19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
once you've got it they can't take it off you


Explanation:
or "once you've got it they can't take it back"
Trying to react to Nikki's (valid IMO) remarks about finality.

katsy
Local time: 15:56
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 15
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