Jun 21, 2004 07:22
19 yrs ago
3 viewers *
English term
Germany
I talk Turkey... and so will you!
Native in: Turkish 
Works in: English to Turkish, Turkish to English, German to Turkish, and 1 more.
an English expression
English
Art/Literary
Linguistics
proverbs, expressions
Dear colleagues,
First, sorry for I couldn't be very specific in the title.
I need an English expression that denotes a never-ending controversy or story, that keeps ever unfolding with new episodes, mysteries, problems added, etc., as in soap operas, for instance. I need this for the translation of a Turkish phrase which literally is, to help you get the image, "a snake story". I'm not sure, but it might be because it's hard to spot the end/tail of a snake especially when it's moving. Is there any phrase, proverbial expression etc. in English that I can use to describe such a situation?
Many thanks in advance.
First, sorry for I couldn't be very specific in the title.
I need an English expression that denotes a never-ending controversy or story, that keeps ever unfolding with new episodes, mysteries, problems added, etc., as in soap operas, for instance. I need this for the translation of a Turkish phrase which literally is, to help you get the image, "a snake story". I'm not sure, but it might be because it's hard to spot the end/tail of a snake especially when it's moving. Is there any phrase, proverbial expression etc. in English that I can use to describe such a situation?
Many thanks in advance.
Responses
| 3 +8 | continuing saga |
tazdog (X)
|
| 4 +1 | brouhaha or soap opera |
Casey Butterfield
|
| 3 +1 | a neverending story |
Mikhail Kropotov
|
| 4 | Serial |
Ramesh Madhavan
|
| 4 | novel |
Clauwolf
|
| 3 | twisting and turning |
jerrie
|
| 3 | with no end in sight |
RHELLER
|
Responses
+8
15 mins
Selected
continuing saga
I'm not sure if this is what you want, but it's what popped into my mind when I read your description. It doesn't, of course, transmit the snake idea, but it would work for a soap opera.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
: Yes indeed, or in certain contexts, even 'ongoing saga' could work too...
26 mins
|
|
yes, or ongoing melodrama, which also came to mind
|
|
| agree |
Vicky Papaprodromou
36 mins
|
| agree |
cmwilliams (X)
: continuing saga was also the first thing that popped into my mind
1 hr
|
| agree |
MJ Barber
: I would say ongoing saga - the endless political 'tribunals' in Ireland spring to mind
1 hr
|
| agree |
Craft.Content
1 hr
|
| agree |
awilliams
: ongoing saga
2 hrs
|
| agree |
nlingua
12 hrs
|
| agree |
Alfa Trans (X)
9 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you for your interest. All answers were great, but I guess "saga" is the best fit in my context, which is also political. And I chose to make it "ongoing saga" relying on the comments of Dusty and MJ Barber.
My thanks to everyone who contributed their answers and comments."
+1
19 mins
Casey Butterfield
United States
United States
Native in English
&
English
United States
Fulbright Scholar in Translation
Native in: English
Works in: Spanish to English, Catalan to English, German to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
8
brouhaha or soap opera
A brouhaha is often used for a big controversy, usually a real news event (a certain episode of a television series that is talked about by many, for example, but not the show itself; another example would be the brouhaha over Clinton's memoirs which have just been released).
You can also simply use soap opera; in U.S. English (perhaps UK also, I don't know) it denotes exactly what you describe in your question. I used "neverending soap opera" in my Google search to get references for real events, and not television shows:
Get Tiffany - User Opinions - Reviews and free downloads at ...
... It's like a neverending soap opera. If you like drama, than break out the popcorn and get ready for da freak show! ZoMbooLio, 04-Jan-2004 04:02:54 PM. ...
download.com.com/3302-7541_ 4-10253831.html?pn=1&fb=1
FanStop.com - The MLBfans News Page -
... hockey. Still, it is an exciting time. Wondering if the Spurs can repeat, and following the neverending soap opera of the Lakers. Will ...
www.fanstop.com/fanclub/mlbfans/article.asp?id=43987
HTH! I will post any more expressions that occur to me.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2004-06-21 07:44:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
By the way, there are 292 Google results, so you can check out the usage yourself also.
You can also simply use soap opera; in U.S. English (perhaps UK also, I don't know) it denotes exactly what you describe in your question. I used "neverending soap opera" in my Google search to get references for real events, and not television shows:
Get Tiffany - User Opinions - Reviews and free downloads at ...
... It's like a neverending soap opera. If you like drama, than break out the popcorn and get ready for da freak show! ZoMbooLio, 04-Jan-2004 04:02:54 PM. ...
download.com.com/3302-7541_ 4-10253831.html?pn=1&fb=1
FanStop.com - The MLBfans News Page -
... hockey. Still, it is an exciting time. Wondering if the Spurs can repeat, and following the neverending soap opera of the Lakers. Will ...
www.fanstop.com/fanclub/mlbfans/article.asp?id=43987
HTH! I will post any more expressions that occur to me.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 mins (2004-06-21 07:44:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
By the way, there are 292 Google results, so you can check out the usage yourself also.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Michel A.
: "neverending soap opera" sounds great in the context
1 hr
|
|
Thanks Michel! I think so too :)
|
38 mins
twisting and turning
twisting and turning plot line
story that continues to develop as it plots and characters unfurl/unfold
continuous melodrama
cliffhanger (more the end of each episode to keep you hooked for the next one)
The link might give you some ideas - backgrounder to 'soap operas'
hth
story that continues to develop as it plots and characters unfurl/unfold
continuous melodrama
cliffhanger (more the end of each episode to keep you hooked for the next one)
The link might give you some ideas - backgrounder to 'soap operas'
hth
+1
2 hrs
Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Germany
Germany
US-educated, precise & thorough
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
32
a neverending story
This in itself is a set phrase, I believe.
Sorry, these links aren't quite literary, but perhaps they will help.
"Don't be afraid, Bastian. We're all part of a neverending story." - "We are? Even if we die?"
www.8ung.at/huckleberry/html/nes2.htm
This is Expository Magazine's Graffiti Wall. It's basically a neverending story, started by one person, added to by others, changing and morphing and growing...
scripts.cgispy.com/story/story.cgi?user=Tinaah
We are all creators, we are all myth-makers. Be part of this neverending story that renews our collective spirit and reconnects us to this time and place...
www.ithacafestival.org/about/story.htm
Sorry, these links aren't quite literary, but perhaps they will help.
"Don't be afraid, Bastian. We're all part of a neverending story." - "We are? Even if we die?"
www.8ung.at/huckleberry/html/nes2.htm
This is Expository Magazine's Graffiti Wall. It's basically a neverending story, started by one person, added to by others, changing and morphing and growing...
scripts.cgispy.com/story/story.cgi?user=Tinaah
We are all creators, we are all myth-makers. Be part of this neverending story that renews our collective spirit and reconnects us to this time and place...
www.ithacafestival.org/about/story.htm
2 hrs
Ramesh Madhavan
Native in English
&
English
Like Helping
Native in: English 
, Tamil
Works in: English, Tamil to English, Hindi to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
7
Serial
They use this term for never-ending soaps on TV.
7 hrs
with no end in sight
goes on and on
with no end in sight
Mickey Z.: A Reality Show with No End in Sight
... April 6, 2004. Oil, Power and Empire. A Reality Show with No End
in Sight. By MICKEY Z. Oil, Power & Empire Iraq and the US Global ...
www.counterpunch.org/mickey04062004.html
with no end in sight
Mickey Z.: A Reality Show with No End in Sight
... April 6, 2004. Oil, Power and Empire. A Reality Show with No End
in Sight. By MICKEY Z. Oil, Power & Empire Iraq and the US Global ...
www.counterpunch.org/mickey04062004.html
8 hrs
novel
:)
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs 47 mins (2004-06-21 16:10:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
From Heritage:
nov·el1 (n¼v“…l) n. 1. A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs 47 mins (2004-06-21 16:10:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
From Heritage:
nov·el1 (n¼v“…l) n. 1. A fictional prose narrative of considerable length, typically having a plot that is unfolded by the actions, speech, and thoughts of the characters.
Discussion