Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Arabic term or phrase:
أمر من العلقم
English translation:
more bitter than colocynth
Added to glossary by
Liliane Hatem
Nov 13, 2011 20:39
12 yrs ago
Arabic term
Arabic-Spanish and English-Spanish
Native in: Spanish
Works in: Arabic to Spanish, English to Spanish, Spanish to English
أمر من العلقم
Arabic to English
Social Sciences
Poetry & Literature
I believe that this is an Arabic proverb, but I couldn't figure out its meaning. Thank you so much in advance.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +5 | more bitter than colocynth |
Liliane Hatem
|
| 5 | More bitter than gall/bile |
Roula Salam
|
| 4 | has an extremely bitter taste |
Youssef Ahmed
|
Change log
Nov 18, 2011 19:35: Liliane Hatem Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+5
8 mins
Liliane Hatem
Lebanon
Lebanon
Native in Arabic
&
English
Works in field
Lebanon
Fast and reliable
Native in: English 
, Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, Arabic to French, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
28
Selected
more bitter than colocynth
Knowledge. (Page 3)
bewley.virtualave.net/knowledge.html
Their tongues are sweeter than honey, but their hearts are more bitter than colocynth. They act deceitfully against Me and scorn Me. I will confront them with ...
OF THE VIRTUE OF CONTINENCE
www.muslimphilosophy.com/hazm/dove/chp29.html
3 Mar 2004 – How then shall it be with a man whose breast enfolds a passion ... who has swallowed the draughts of patience more bitter than colocynth, and ...
bewley.virtualave.net/knowledge.html
Their tongues are sweeter than honey, but their hearts are more bitter than colocynth. They act deceitfully against Me and scorn Me. I will confront them with ...
OF THE VIRTUE OF CONTINENCE
www.muslimphilosophy.com/hazm/dove/chp29.html
3 Mar 2004 – How then shall it be with a man whose breast enfolds a passion ... who has swallowed the draughts of patience more bitter than colocynth, and ...
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
TargamaT team
19 mins
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Thanks TargamaT:)
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| agree |
Anis Farhat
: Good shot. Meaning extremely bitter
45 mins
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Thanks Anishappy:)
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| agree |
Lamis Maalouf
: Right.
46 mins
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Thanks Lamis:)
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| agree |
dimamarcel
2 hrs
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Thanks dimamarcel:)
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| agree |
Morano El-Kholy
14 hrs
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Thanks Morano:)
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you very much."
14 mins
has an extremely bitter taste
.
Note from asker:
| Thank you very much, Yousef. |
15 days
More bitter than gall/bile
In English, gall/bile is used in similes or metaphors as the expression of abject bitterness. Rather than translate the literary meaning (colocynth) which would render the expression awkward in English, gall/bile is more familiar to native speakers and renders the meaning more smoothly
Discussion
Lillian's translation is perfect. The following 2 proverbs are the more commonly known - outside the Arabic speaking world - and biblical equivalents:
"More bitter than death" and "More bitter than bile"