poi torni con la mano sotto il tavolo

English translation: then you can go back to twiddling your thumbs/what you were doing before

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:poi torni con la mano sotto il tavolo
English translation:then you can go back to twiddling your thumbs/what you were doing before
Entered by: Lisa Jane

00:14 Aug 23, 2018
Italian to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / In An Email
Italian term or phrase: poi torni con la mano sotto il tavolo
Contesto (the writer of the email was talking about how waste disposal on ships is a top priority):

Dai che tra poco facciamo sta cosa e poi torni con la mano sotto il tavolo...

Molte Grazie,

Barbara
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 04:17
then you can go back to twiddling your thumbs/what you were doing before
Explanation:
Many possible interpretations depending on the confidentiality between the speakers but I think it means to be idle. Go back to twiddling your thumbs could be one way of saying that in English.

It may also be inferring that after the audit you may go back to doing things as you used to do, that is, without following the regulations to the letter. This sounds likely.

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Note added at 14 hrs (2018-08-23 14:42:04 GMT)
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Well, this is when having all the context is key! I think in that case it could be translated literally with get back to putting your hand under the table...if the allusion is sexual.
Selected response from:

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 09:17
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3then you can go back to twiddling your thumbs/what you were doing before
Lisa Jane


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
then you can go back to twiddling your thumbs/what you were doing before


Explanation:
Many possible interpretations depending on the confidentiality between the speakers but I think it means to be idle. Go back to twiddling your thumbs could be one way of saying that in English.

It may also be inferring that after the audit you may go back to doing things as you used to do, that is, without following the regulations to the letter. This sounds likely.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 14 hrs (2018-08-23 14:42:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Well, this is when having all the context is key! I think in that case it could be translated literally with get back to putting your hand under the table...if the allusion is sexual.

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 09:17
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 496
Notes to answerer
Asker: Many thanks. It would probably be something more along the lines of twiddling your thumbs since before he was joking to the guy about staying at an Asian bordello during his business trip!

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