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  3. Idioms / Maxims / Sayings

walk a fine line

Italian translation: camminare sul filo del rasoio/tirare troppo la corda

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:walk a fine line
Italian translation:camminare sul filo del rasoio/tirare troppo la corda
Entered by: Valeria Faber

06:46 Jul 17, 2008
English to Italian translations [PRO]
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
English term or phrase: walk a fine line
the client manufacturer’s price negotiator is walking a fine line in pressuring the supplier to cut costs further.

Ce l'ho sulla punta della lingua ma non mi viene. In italiano abbiamo un detto equivalente. praticamente il negoziatore del prezzo rischia grosso e tenta fino all'ultimo, fino al massimo...
help!

thank you!
Mara Ballarini
Australia
Local time: 03:32
cammina sul filo del rasoio
Explanation:
.

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Note added at 16 min (2008-07-17 07:02:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

oppure **sta tirando troppo la corda** che forse è più appropriato visto il contesto, però vedi tu
Selected response from:

Valeria Faber
Italy
Local time: 19:32
Grading comment
grazie mille a tutti! erano proprio le due espressioni che avevo inmente, ma non mi veniva cammina in una e corda nell'altra, i pezzettini che mi mancavano..
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +11cammina sul filo del rasoio
Valeria Faber
4sapersi destreggiare molto attentamente
Gilda Manara
3entrare in un campo minato
oliviero


  

Answers


15 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +11
cammina sul filo del rasoio


Explanation:
.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 min (2008-07-17 07:02:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

oppure **sta tirando troppo la corda** che forse è più appropriato visto il contesto, però vedi tu

Valeria Faber
Italy
Local time: 19:32
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 16
Grading comment
grazie mille a tutti! erano proprio le due espressioni che avevo inmente, ma non mi veniva cammina in una e corda nell'altra, i pezzettini che mi mancavano..

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Rossella Mainardis
15 mins
  -> grazie Rossella
agree  AdamiAkaPataflo: belle entrambe, bella! :-)
19 mins
  -> grazissime bella" :-)
agree  Olga Buongiorno
20 mins
  -> grazie Olga
agree  Connie De Vincentiis
22 mins
  -> grazie Connie
agree  Vanessa Di Franco: camminare sul filo del rasoio è la prima cosa che ho pensato anch'io
47 mins
  -> grazie Vanessa
agree  L9trad (X): *sta tirando troppo la corda* mi sembra più adatto
50 mins
  -> grazie Livia
agree  Rosella Zoccheddu: opterei per la corda, ma concordo con entrambe.
57 mins
  -> grazie Rosella
agree  James (Jim) Davis: "Sul filo del rasoio" Yes, if he pressures too much the supplier will find another buyer.
1 hr
  -> Thanks Jim
agree  Gianni Pastore: la cordaaaaa!! :)
1 hr
  -> va beneeeee!! grazie Gianni! :-)
agree  Pompeo Lattanzi
1 hr
  -> grazie Pompeo
agree  BdiL: La corda, la corda!! If the negotiator fails let him have the strappado! ;-) Maurizio
2 hrs
  -> :-) grazie Maurizio
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
sapersi destreggiare molto attentamente


Language variant: camminare con i piedi di piombo, stare attento a non fare passi falsi

Explanation:
giusto qualche altra alternativa...

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Note added at 3 hrs (2008-07-17 09:59:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

http://www.phrases.org.uk/bulletin_board/23/messages/147.htm...

It means to steer a risky and difficult course between two policies... to be so near the edge of one that you risk falling into another less desirable one.



http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=3339

Generally, "walk a fine line" means to handle a situation with great delicacy and care, with not a lot of room to maneuver (figuratively speaking). Usually the stakes are considered to be high. Often it's understood as trying to balance two extremes.


http://www.usingenglish.com/reference/idioms/walk a fine lin...
Meaning:
If you have to walk a fine line, you have to be very careful not to annoy or anger people or groups that are competing. ('Walk a thin line' is an alternative.)


Gilda Manara
Italy
Local time: 19:32
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  BdiL: Lo! This is exactly the opposite!! :-( Maurizio
1 hr
  -> non ho capito bene perché dovrebbe essere l'opposto - o forse mi sono spiegata male io, intendevo dire, come alternativa, che una persona che "alks the fine line" deve essere ben attenta a destraggiarsi... o mi sbaglio? :-)
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1 day 8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
entrare in un campo minato


Explanation:
in realtà anche io pensavo a "tirare la corda". come alternativa c'è "entra in un campo minato".

oliviero
Italy
Local time: 19:32
Native speaker of: Italian
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