Glossary entry

Arabic term or phrase:

تأتي الرياح بما لا تشتهى السفن

English translation:

life is not always fair\Life Has Its Ups and Downs

Added to glossary by Abdelmonem Samir
Aug 7, 2006 19:21
17 yrs ago
17 viewers *
Arabic term

تأتي الرياح بما لا تشتهى السفن

Arabic to English Art/Literary Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
ببمعنى أن الحياة لا تساعدنا دائما على تحقيق أهدافنا

Proposed translations

7 mins
Selected

life is not always fair

Regards

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Note added at 16 mins (2006-08-07 19:38:33 GMT)
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Check this one, I made it up:

"Sometimes , Santa doesn't bring you what you ask for"

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Note added at 19 mins (2006-08-07 19:41:18 GMT)
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Also, "Life Has Its Ups and Downs"

Best of luck!
Peer comment(s):

neutral John Colangelo : Sorry but I disagree. ومع أني لا أوافق على جوابك فلن أضع بإذن الله إشارة حمراء لأني لسْتُ معصوما عن الخطأ
15 mins
I respect your point of view.
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2 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, but still a bit too far from the meaning"
23 mins

please find answer below

This is the literal translation of the idiom: Winds do not blow as the vessels wish.

You can also say:
Man does not attain all his heart's desires
Peer comment(s):

neutral John Colangelo : I just wanted to send you a note. هل الأمثلة هناك ترجمات حرفية أم لها أصل في الأدب العربي؟
5 mins
Depends..! some do have literal translation others have equivalent idioms!
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+2
21 mins

You can´t always get what you want ...

This is the title of a famous song from the Rolling Stones. There might be a more literary expression. But we do use this in English.

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Note added at 24 mins (2006-08-07 19:46:42 GMT) Post-grading
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http://www.lyricsdomain.com/18/rolling_stones/you_cant_alway...
Peer comment(s):

agree Zeinab Asfour : Don't know why the asker was in a hurry though!قلبي؟؟؟
6 mins
شكرا يا قلبي،،، هههههه،،،أمزح معكِ
agree eltorgomania : That sounds better.
10 hrs
تسلم سامي
neutral CHAOUKY : "The wind does not always carry your sail in the right direction!" It is literal, but carries the meaning!
2559 days
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