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sta di fatto

English translation: the fact is

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:sta di fatto
English translation:the fact is
Entered by: Daniel Gold

02:39 Aug 13, 2014
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Automotive / Cars & Trucks / book on company history
Italian term or phrase: sta di fatto
This is from a book on the history of a manufacturer of auto components in Italy. Here's the context:

(after the company's owner successfully tried out an everyday engine system on a race car) Neanche lui riesce a crederci, sta di fatto che si sparge rapidamente la voce della sua bravura.

The only translation I could come up with is, "Not even he could believe it. The fact of the matter was that word of his prowess spread quickly". Naturally, it doesn't sound good, but I can't effectively translate the expression in question. Any takers?

thanks
Daniel Gold
Israel
Local time: 15:47
the fact is
Explanation:

I don't see anything wrong with translating the idiom directly...it's used like this to give emphasis. The tense used will depend on the tense and tone of the whole text.

my version:
he could/can hardly believe it himself, the fact was/is, word of his prowess spread/spreads fast
Selected response from:

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 14:47
Grading comment
Credo che l'espressione vada tradotta, come hai suggerito. GRZ
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1the speed with which
James (Jim) Davis
4 +1the fact is
Lisa Jane
4Even though he could not believe it himself, [....]
Tom in London
3the truth is / what happened was
Shera Lyn Parpia


  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
the truth is / what happened was


Explanation:
Or just leave it out.


Shera Lyn Parpia
Italy
Local time: 14:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 39
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5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Even though he could not believe it himself, [....]


Explanation:
= "Neanche lui riesce a crederci, sta di fatto che..."

i.e. reconstruct the phrase and leave it out, as Shera said.

Tom in London
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:47
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 124
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the speed with which


Explanation:
Even he could believe the speed with which news spread

James (Jim) Davis
Seychelles
Local time: 16:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 203
Notes to answerer
Asker: The previous phrase was, "L'auto, un bolide da 4700cc e 330 cavalli perde si e no 3 Km/h di velocità di punta." (after conversion to LPG). I linked the next sentence with this one and didn't see the connection between the two clauses. Thanks for pointing it out.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: Could not believe.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Phil yes of course "could not believe"
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
the fact is


Explanation:

I don't see anything wrong with translating the idiom directly...it's used like this to give emphasis. The tense used will depend on the tense and tone of the whole text.

my version:
he could/can hardly believe it himself, the fact was/is, word of his prowess spread/spreads fast

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 14:47
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Credo che l'espressione vada tradotta, come hai suggerito. GRZ

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Inter-Tra: the fact of the matter is - see also Ragazzini
2 days 1 hr
  -> Thanks!
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