Glossary entry (derived from question below)
English term or phrase:
Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do
Arabic translation:
لا تزيد الطين بلة
Added to glossary by
halani
Apr 26, 2009 08:08
15 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do
English to Arabic
Other
Folklore
I need something short and simple please :)
Proposed translations
(Arabic)
| 5 | لا تزيد الطين بلة |
halani
|
| 5 | لاتعالج الخطأ بخطأ ولكن صححه |
Fouad Hassaan
|
| 5 | الضرر لا يقابل بضرر إلا إذا تكرر |
MD Taher
|
| 3 +1 | لا يمكن إصلاح الخطأ بخطأ آخر ولكن يمكن إصلاح التوجه بتوجه آخر |
Mohamed Ghazal
|
Change log
Apr 27, 2009 14:17: halani changed "Edited KOG entry" from "<a href="/profile/561599">Amira El-Wattar's</a> old entry - "Two wrongs don't make a right but three lefts do"" to ""لا تزيد الطين بلة""
Proposed translations
48 mins
Selected
لا تزيد الطين بلة
أو لا تعالج الخطأ بخطأ أكبر منه
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "This was the answer that fitted the situation the most since it is short and to the point with a general description of the meaning.
Thanks a lot for all your help :))"
+1
6 hrs
Mohamed Ghazal
United Arab Emirates
United Arab Emirates
Native in Arabic
United Arab Emirates
It's not just a job...
Native in: Arabic (Variant: Egyptian) 
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
لا يمكن إصلاح الخطأ بخطأ آخر ولكن يمكن إصلاح التوجه بتوجه آخر
17 hrs
لاتعالج الخطأ بخطأ ولكن صححه
This is a proverb and you have to select the most appropriate Arabic proverb that reflects the meaning.
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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2009-04-27 12:09:52 GMT)
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Hi Amira,
Since this is in a movie, I think we need to know the situation where it was said.
I think as slang, this means, a proverb that translated in my answer, this for the first part, but the second part means, as I guess only, that
3 انعطافات لليمين تجعله تتجه يسارًا
Please check and think deeper in the situation, I think you will got it.
Thanks
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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2009-04-27 12:41:12 GMT)
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لقد اختلط علي الأمر
أنا محتار، أرجو التوضيح
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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2009-04-27 12:09:52 GMT)
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Hi Amira,
Since this is in a movie, I think we need to know the situation where it was said.
I think as slang, this means, a proverb that translated in my answer, this for the first part, but the second part means, as I guess only, that
3 انعطافات لليمين تجعله تتجه يسارًا
Please check and think deeper in the situation, I think you will got it.
Thanks
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Note added at 1 day4 hrs (2009-04-27 12:41:12 GMT)
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لقد اختلط علي الأمر
أنا محتار، أرجو التوضيح
1 day 4 hrs
الضرر لا يقابل بضرر إلا إذا تكرر
said to emphasize that it not acceptable to do something bad to someone just because they did something bad to you first
Discussion
the two opposites of "right" are "left" and "wrong". Two wrongs don't make a right, but three lefts do.
I think it means, موقف محير or لقد اختلط علي الأمر
http://www.taberski.net/Writing/Three.html
Since this is in a movie, I think we need to know the situation where it was said.
I think as slang, this means, a proverb that translated in my answer, this for the first part, but the second part means, as I guess only, that
3 انعطافات لليمين تجعله تتجه يسارًا
Please check and think deeper in the situation, I think you will got it.
Thanks
May be that لا يمكن إصلاح خطأ بآخر؟
Still, I think it may be untranslatable as it is, while retaining the play on the word "right"! At the end of the day, it IS just a silly saying, because there's no real connection between the well-known saying "two wrongs don't make a right" and the added statement "three lefts do.