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Glossary entry

español term or phrase:

el tiempo apremia - phrase

inglés translation:

the clock is ticking

Added to glossary by Gloria Rivera
Apr 19, 2010 00:52
14 yrs ago
6 viewers *
español term

el tiempo apremia - phrase

español al inglés Ciencias sociales General / Conversación / Saludos / Cartas
This is the last phrase of a document I'm editing. The source says - El tiempo apremia

The translation has put is as - Time is of the essence.

I think is should be - Time is running out.

I welcome other interpretations.
Proposed translations (inglés)
4 +3 the clock is ticking
4 +2 It is time to act
4 +1 the time is short
4 +1 tempus fugit/ time is of the essence/ let's get going
4 We're pushed for time / Time's running out
4 Time is pressing
4 Time is fast running out.
Change log

Apr 24, 2010 20:22: Gloria Rivera changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/77598">Kimberlee Thorne's</a> old entry - "el tiempo apremia - phrase"" to ""the clock is ticking""

Discussion

Ruth Ramsey Apr 19, 2010:
I think "time is of the essence" is fine. It's a bit more formal than some of the other suggestions.
Jenni Lukac (X) Apr 19, 2010:
I'd go for "time is of the essence", based on the profile of the person in question.
Carol Gullidge Apr 19, 2010:
why? do you "want something different"? I think it's rather good, and, as Phil says, "if it ain't broke..."
Having said that, there are plenty of good alternatives offered here. However, as this is presumably a revision of someone else's work, I would hesitate to wield the red pen over much, making cosmetic changes just for the sake of it.
polyglot45 Apr 19, 2010:
perhaps There's no time to waste
Esther Hermida Apr 19, 2010:
Time is of the essence is the first thing that came into my mind and it's just soooo right.
claudia16 (X) Apr 19, 2010:
I think "time is of the essence" is exactly right in this conext, changing it would be a style decision
James A. Walsh Apr 19, 2010:
@ Leonardo: I agree with Phil Your suggestion of 'Time lasts only once' is not appropriate for this text. In my view, this is synonymous with 'you only live once', which is just not appropriate here...
philgoddard Apr 19, 2010:
No, that's not good English.
Leonardo Lamarche Apr 19, 2010:
Kimberlee, Time (singular)
Leonardo Lamarche Apr 19, 2010:
Kimberlee, If you want to be a little poetic: Times lasts only once
Kimberlee Thorne (asker) Apr 19, 2010:
the whole paragraph - for context! The CNI director, Félix Sanz Roldan, already complained last October about the "amazing flippancy" of cell phone usage. "Not in conversations, but in SMS, in the traffic we give to information we should not be giving", warned the head of secret services in his first public appearance. He also said that he wished that 50% of the sensitive information would be protected soon. Perhaps that is why Solana notified him and the rest of the commission members that monthly follow-up meetings will be held regarding the work. Time is of the essence/Time is running out/The clock is ticking/Time is short.

This is also my working text, so I'm
David Hollywood Apr 19, 2010:
but give us the context lol
David Hollywood Apr 19, 2010:
agrree with Phil :)
Kimberlee Thorne (asker) Apr 19, 2010:
Phil is right! I am looking for other options. I want something different...
philgoddard Apr 19, 2010:
There's nothing wrong with the translation as it stands - I think your version is just personal preference. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Proposed translations

+3
47 minutos
Selected

the clock is ticking

Hi,
This is how I would translate. More than a literal translation, it is an equivalent.
Cheers,
Gloria
Note from asker:
Thank you for helping me out with this phrase that fits my text perfectly.
Peer comment(s):
agree ines perrone : basado en el contexto, me parece que esta opción es la mejor (hay una idea de deadline implícita en el contexto...)
1 hora
Gracias Inés. A veces, hay que recurrir a los famosos "equivalentes" que nos salvan de apuros! Saludos :)
agree Bubo Coroman (X) : I agree that the existing translation is totally accurate and adequate, but I like this one too as it's the most evocative of the alternatives suggested
4 horas
Thanks Deborah! I think it´s a good equivalent :)
agree baligh
6 horas
Thanks Baligh :)
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
2 minutos

the time is short

Mi sugerencia.
Peer comment(s):
agree Henry Hinds : Just "time is short", no "the".
1 minuto
Muchas gracias Henry. Totally agree with your indication.
agree Carolina Brito : si, asi --time is short
19 minutos
Muchas gracias britos.
disagree James A. Walsh : Not appropriate for this text (see discussion entry)
1 hora
Something went wrong...
+2
6 minutos
español term (edited): el tiempo apremia

It is time to act

Another option. Depending on how your text flows, etc...."Time is running out" is also fine, in my view.

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Note added at 7 mins (2010-04-19 00:59:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: "The time is now" (possibly exclaimed)
Peer comment(s):
agree Robert Forstag : Or: "We need to act quickly."
13 minutos
Thanks, Bob; I like the joint responsibility focus of 'we'.
agree Isamar : Both of these give the sense of urgency which seems needed here.
6 horas
Cheers, Isamar.
Something went wrong...
37 minutos

We're pushed for time / Time's running out

I think it depends a great deal on the "tone" of the document. If it's a formal one, it would be one thing, but if this is some type of memorandum, e-mail, etc., I'd use one of these terms.
Something went wrong...
+1
1 minuto

tempus fugit/ time is of the essence/ let's get going

:)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 min (2010-04-19 00:53:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

not a minute to lose

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 mins (2010-04-19 00:55:14 GMT)
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the clock is ticking

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2010-04-19 00:58:55 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

no time to lose

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 55 mins (2010-04-19 01:47:08 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

time is pressing
Peer comment(s):
agree Carol Gullidge : no need to change the original, despite the plethora of good alternatives. Go easy on the red pen is what I say!
8 horas
Something went wrong...
1 hora

Time is pressing

Another option.
Something went wrong...
11 horas

Time is fast running out.

Another possibility.
Something went wrong...
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