Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
Avec des si, on mettrait Paris en bouteille
English translation:
If ifs and ands were pots and pans
- The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2015-04-07 14:54:08 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Apr 3, 2015 20:07
9 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term
United States
Consistent, passionate, quality service!
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 1 more.
Avec des si, on mettrait Paris en bouteille
French to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Une élève m'a demandé comment traduire cette phrase, pourtant je ne sais pas ce qu'elle veut dire. Pourrait-on m'aider à le savoir?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+3
12 mins
Francois Boye
United States
United States
Native in French
United States
An economic geek with social skills
Native in: French 
Works in: English to French, French to English, Spanish to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Selected
If ifs and ands were pots and pans
See below the whole, non-truncated expression
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/If ifs and ands were pot...
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Note added at 13 mins (2015-04-03 20:20:46 GMT)
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The whole expression is: If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands.
http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/If ifs and ands were pot...
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Note added at 13 mins (2015-04-03 20:20:46 GMT)
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The whole expression is: If ifs and ands were pots and pans, there'd be no work for tinkers' hands.
Note from asker:
| Merci pour votre aide en trouvant un expression en anglais équivalente de la phrase française. Votre aide était indispensable. Je vous remercie. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jennifer White
: also OK - asker's choice. Lots of help on the www.
2 mins
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Thanks, Jennifer!
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| agree |
Victoria Britten
: I grew up with "If ifs and ands were pots and pans," and if we went the whole hog (pardon the pun!) we ended with"...pigs might fly!"
1 hr
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Thanks, Victoria!
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| agree |
B D Finch
1 day 20 mins
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Thanks, Barbara!
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Merci!"
+3
10 mins
Ghyslaine LE NAGARD
New Caledonia
New Caledonia
Native in French
&
English
New Caledonia
Professional, reliable and confidential
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France) , English (Variants: US, British)
Works in: English to French, French to English, English, and 1 more.
If wishes were horses, beggars would ride
Cette expression sert a exprimer qu'avec des hypotheses tout est possible
Note from asker:
| Merci pour votre aide en trouvant une réponse à ma question, même si je ne connais pas du tout les phrases qu'on m'a données. Votre aide était indispensable. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jennifer White
: http://en.bab.la/dictionary/french-english/avec-des-si-on-me... easily found.
3 mins
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| agree |
Daryo
1 hr
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| neutral |
Victoria Britten
: I've never heard that! Is it American?
1 hr
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| neutral |
Jean-Claude Gouin
: @ Victoria ... No, it's Chinese ...
2 hrs
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| agree |
BrigitteHilgner
: A common expression in the UK.
10 hrs
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| neutral |
B D Finch
: It's of 17th century Scottish origin: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/if wishes were horses... Note that your explanation fits the French, but not the suggested translation.//Meaning hasn't "changed". Think they misunderstood the FR and you the EN.
1 day 16 mins
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Yes that's it's origin but we all know that expression change meaning over time and that's how I've heard it used in the UK as have the others
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+1
3 hrs
AllegroTrans
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Works in field
United Kingdom
Sensible solutions
Native in: English (Variant: Wessexois)
Works in: French to English, English, English to French
Related KudoZ points
:
8
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas
if ifs and buts were candy and nuts...? | Yahoo Answers
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid...
21 Jan 2007 - "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas” was a proverb of Don Meredith, former SMU and Dallas Cowboys .
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Note added at 3 hrs (2015-04-03 23:51:54 GMT)
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another version:
Strangers with Candy - Wikiquote
en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Strangers_with_Candy
Strangers with Candy (1999-2000) was an American sitcom that aired thirty .... Jellineck: If wishes and buts were clusters of nuts, we'd all have a bowl of granola!
Opening Credits - Season 1 - Season 2 - Season 3
https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid...
21 Jan 2007 - "If ifs and buts were candy and nuts, we'd all have a merry Christmas” was a proverb of Don Meredith, former SMU and Dallas Cowboys .
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Note added at 3 hrs (2015-04-03 23:51:54 GMT)
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another version:
Strangers with Candy - Wikiquote
en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Strangers_with_Candy
Strangers with Candy (1999-2000) was an American sitcom that aired thirty .... Jellineck: If wishes and buts were clusters of nuts, we'd all have a bowl of granola!
Opening Credits - Season 1 - Season 2 - Season 3
Reference comments
2 hrs
Reference:
www
Peer comments on this reference comment:
| agree |
Jennifer White
: exactly.....
11 hrs
|
| agree |
katsy
13 hrs
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Discussion