This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Apr 8, 2013 12:09
11 yrs ago
French term
United Kingdom
www.lingocraft.co.uk
Native in: English (Variants: Irish, Singaporean, UK, South African, British, Scottish) 
Works in: French to English, Italian to English, Romanian to English, and 2 more.
au hasard
French to English
Marketing
Tourism & Travel
Article on Jerusalem
I am finding it difficult to find a suitable word/term for this expression in the context. The paragraph is highlighting religious mix and old history of Jerusalem. The context reads:
"...laissez-vous porter, au hasard, dans les quatre quartiers - juif, musulman, chrétien et arménien - en empruntant l'une des huit portes."
Options I have found such as "at random" or "aimlessly" all sound a bit negative - or would "randomly" be OK here?
"...laissez-vous porter, au hasard, dans les quatre quartiers - juif, musulman, chrétien et arménien - en empruntant l'une des huit portes."
Options I have found such as "at random" or "aimlessly" all sound a bit negative - or would "randomly" be OK here?
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
3 mins
+4
12 mins
as you wander in Jerusalem
I don't think a literal translation would do. wandering is a sort of aimless so I think that catches the meaning of hasard.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Miranda Joubioux (X)
: I have often used 'wander' to deal with this kind of sentence
1 hr
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thank you
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Emma Paulay
: I can echo Miranda's comment
1 hr
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thank you
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Nico Staes
1 hr
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thank you
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Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: "wander around" rather than "wander in"
4 hrs
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1 hr
Victoria Britten
France
France
Native in English
France
Tracking the right turn of phrase
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: French to English, English, French
let your wanderings take/carry you
To pick up on the idea behind "laissez-vous"
4 hrs
Josephine Cassar
Malta
Malta
Native in English
Malta
12 yrs. experience translating EU stuff
Native in: English (Variants: UK, British) 
, Maltese
Works in: English to Maltese, Italian to Maltese, French to Maltese, and 3 more.
as the whim takes you
Another possibility
2 days 5 hrs
Christine Clay
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
J.D., Legal Translations, French>English
Native in: English (Variant: US)
Works in: French to English
let yourself wander
I think this captures the spirit of the phrase "laissez-vous porter, au hazard"
Discussion