au hasard

12:09 Apr 8, 2013
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere

French to English translations [PRO]
Marketing - Tourism & Travel / Article on Jerusalem
French term or phrase: au hasard
I am finding it difficult to find a suitable word/term for this expression in the context. The paragraph is highlighting religious mix and old history of Jerusalem. The context reads:

"...laissez-vous porter, au hasard, dans les quatre quartiers - juif, musulman, chrétien et arménien - en empruntant l'une des huit portes."

Options I have found such as "at random" or "aimlessly" all sound a bit negative - or would "randomly" be OK here?
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:30


Summary of answers provided
3 +4as you wander in Jerusalem
Ada Jones
4 +1choosing at random
kashew
4as the whim takes you
Josephine Cassar
4let yourself wander
Christine Clay
3let your wanderings take/carry you
Victoria Britten


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
choosing at random


Explanation:
*

kashew
France
Local time: 20:30
Meets criteria
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof: randomly or at random
2 days 4 hrs
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12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
as you wander in Jerusalem


Explanation:
I don't think a literal translation would do. wandering is a sort of aimless so I think that catches the meaning of hasard.

Ada Jones
Switzerland
Local time: 20:30
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in RomanianRomanian

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Miranda Joubioux (X): I have often used 'wander' to deal with this kind of sentence
1 hr
  -> thank you

agree  Emma Paulay: I can echo Miranda's comment
1 hr
  -> thank you

agree  Nico Staes
1 hr
  -> thank you

agree  Nikki Scott-Despaigne: "wander around" rather than "wander in"
4 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
let your wanderings take/carry you


Explanation:
To pick up on the idea behind "laissez-vous"

Victoria Britten
France
Local time: 20:30
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
as the whim takes you


Explanation:
Another possibility

Josephine Cassar
Malta
Local time: 20:30
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in MalteseMaltese
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2 days 5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
let yourself wander


Explanation:
I think this captures the spirit of the phrase "laissez-vous porter, au hazard"

Christine Clay
United States
Local time: 14:30
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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