English translation of "montare dei brocchi" - "neither you nor I have ever liked backing the wrong horses"

How does Conges work?

Actions

Who has most Conges points?

Click here ...

Conges terminology question

<<Previous question

All questions

Next question>>

159 months ago

Barbara Cochran (a guest user) asked this question:

Language pair:	Italian > English
Subject:	Other
Level of diffculty:	Easy / medium
Word or term in question:	montare dei brocchi
Context:	Mi vedeva non ancora sulla via della laurea, sempre più dedito a prendere la vita alla...
Keywords:	...leggera, e con il difetto di attaccare, per il gusto di farlo, coloro il quali sarebbero stati in grado di aiutarmi, oppure, peggio ancora, di gravamente danneggiarmi. "Non mi dice nulla attaccare i deboli così come né tu né io abbiamo mai provato gusto a montare dei brocchi," era la mia risposta alla quale mio padre fingeva di adirarsi, ma di cui non era scontento...A son who has just told a powerful banker (the father is an important bank manager) that he wnats to do something else with his life.

Important This question has already been answered and rated. Therefore, no new answers can be given.

Complete list of answers and comments

158 months ago

Amanda Haste PhD, DipTrans(IoLET), MCIL, CL wrote:

to flog a dead horse/to back a losing horse

My comment:

...if you want to keep the equine reference in the idiom....
If not, it could just as easily be 'following the wrong path' or 'going down a dead end' or 'being on a hiding to nothing'.

158 months ago

Amanda Haste PhD, DipTrans(IoLET), MCIL, CL wrote:

to ride decrepit horses.

My comment:

Or, obviously depending ont he verb before the phrase:
"... neither you nor me enjoyed riding decrepit horses."

159 months ago

giulianoscarpa wrote:

neither you nor I have ever liked backing the wrong horses

The asker rated this answer best

159 months ago

giulianoscarpa wrote:

to ride jades/nags

My comment:

montare=cavalcare
brocco=cavallo che non vale niente, ronzino inutile

Non è una metafora abituale in italiano, quindi direi che puoi tradurla letteralmente perché l'immagine funziona bene anche in inglese.

The 30 latest Conges questions

HV-AC-Ersatzlast in Schirmbox
German > English

Sep. 30, 01:34

ADT, ad
French > English

April 13, 07:08

Note clavier
French > English