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Sauve qui peut

English translation: The devil take the hindmost

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:Sauve qui peut
English translation:The devil take the hindmost
Entered by: B D Finch

16:59 May 15, 2014
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Sauve qui peut
French term or phrase: Sauve qui peut
I know this is usually translated "every man for himself" but I am not sure how to distinguish it from the first phrase the author uses, which he apparently means in a more positive sense.
Plus on évolue, plus les mœurs se relâchent. Jadis, l’entraide mutuelle se manifestait çà et là. Au fil du temps, « *Chacun pour soi* et Dieu pour tous » est devenu « *Sauve qui peut* ».
This is from an ebook of random thoughts and there is no more context for this.
Joan Berglund
United States
Local time: 15:54
The devil take the hindmost
Explanation:
This sets itself off against the God reference in the first part.

"An imprecation that everyone should look after their own interests, leaving those who cannot cope to whatever fate befalls them"
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/devil_take_the_hindmost
Selected response from:

B D Finch
France
Local time: 21:54
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +7The devil take the hindmost
B D Finch
4Run for your life!
tralamode
3fend for oneself
tanglsus
3Abandon ship
CKSTraductions
2Look(ing) out for No. 1
Tony M


Discussion entries: 13





  

Answers


10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Run for your life!


Explanation:
What about this as a possibility?


    Reference: http://www.wordreference.com/fren/sauve-qui-peut
tralamode
United States
Local time: 15:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: English

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: But that is fairly literal, and only really works in certain specific circumstances — could well be too restrictive for the rather more figurative implication here, I'd have thought.
10 mins
  -> I see what you mean! I like Nikki's idea of extending the first expression
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7 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
Sauve qui peu
Look(ing) out for No. 1


Explanation:
On the basis of the doubt I expressed in my earlier discussion post, I can't help thinking this is really what it means here.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 18 minutes (2014-05-15 17:18:27 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or perhaps "I'm alright Jack!"

Tony M
France
Local time: 21:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 128
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25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
fend for oneself


Explanation:
meaning you are on your own.

tanglsus
United States
Local time: 15:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese
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54 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +7
The devil take the hindmost


Explanation:
This sets itself off against the God reference in the first part.

"An imprecation that everyone should look after their own interests, leaving those who cannot cope to whatever fate befalls them"
http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/devil_take_the_hindmost

B D Finch
France
Local time: 21:54
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 43
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DLyons: Fits well into the rout scenario and contrasts with the Dieu.
22 mins
  -> Thanks Donal
agree  Alison Kapor (X)
31 mins
  -> Thanks Alison
agree  Martyn Greenan
41 mins
  -> Thanks Martyn
agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: Or "to hell with everyone else"?!;-)
1 hr
  -> Thanks Nikki. Indeed! Though I think my suggestion retains the idea of running away as fast as one can.
agree  katsy
2 hrs
  -> Thanks katsy
agree  Verginia Ophof
5 hrs
  -> Thanks Verginia
agree  Jim Tucker (X): or w/o "The"
1 day 18 hrs
  -> Thanks Jim. Yes, the song omits "the".
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6 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Abandon ship


Explanation:
Fairly common translation of "sauve qui peut" which could fit in with the other ideas expressed

Example sentence(s):
  • you identify your best personnel and keep them from abandoning ship
  • When you run into an obstacle or a series of them, you then have a choice: Do I abandon ship or do I continue forward to my destination?

    Reference: http://www.conductive-world.info/2010/08/bandon-ship.html
CKSTraductions
France
Local time: 21:54
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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