translate (something) to (something)
translate (something) to (something)
1. To render some piece of speech or writing into a different language. The phrase "from something" can be used before or after "to something" to specify the original language. I was hired to translate the company's technical documents to Russian. You can learn a lot of idioms and slang by translating song lyrics from English to French. We've been trying to translate these texts to English from Ancient Greek.
2. To render or express some piece of speech or writing in different, usually simpler or clearer words. The book tries to translate some of the more complex theory and jargon to more straightforward English, but it loses a lot of the nuance and depth in the process. You'll have to translate these shorthand notes to longhand for me.
3. To render or express some piece of writing, music, film, etc., in a different artistic medium. As good as the graphic novel is, I just don't think it can be translated to a cohesive, meaningful film. He is attempting to translate his most famous play to opera.
4. To render, convert, transform, or express something from one form or state into another. I can come up with really interesting story ideas, but I always have trouble translating them to writing. She was considered one of the brightest up-and-coming athletes, but so far she hasn't been able to translate her potential to meaningful success.
See also: translate
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.
- all right
- a/the feel of (something)
- (I) wouldn't (do something) if I were you
- a straw will show which way the wind blows
- a horse of another
- a horse of another color
- a horse of another colour
- a crack at (someone or something)
- (you) wanna make something of it?
- all for the best