Newsgroup: it.cultura.linguistica.inglese
Titolo: Not before time

QUOTE
Germany at first refused even to discuss any document on proliferation that
made mention of the use of force. France, however, despite its opposition
over Iraq, takes weapons proliferation much more seriously. It leaned on
Germany hard.
*Not before time*. If Europeans want to be listened to on the big issues,
argues Charles Grant of the Centre for European Reform in London, they need
a more constructive and coherent approach.
UNQUOTE
Source: The Economist, "Europe spies a threat", 19.06.2003
(Full article on 
http://www.geocities.com/xakero/not_before_time.pdf
)
From the context I gather that "Not before time" means something like "none
too soon" or "it was time to do so" or "about time too!", but  am I right? I
could not find it in any dictionary.
---
Xakero

 am I right? I could not find it in any dictionary.
Dearest Xakero,
About time too that one ventured - I say not to read for such one does
daily, but 'pen' some words if only to put a hush to the rumours that would
have it that one is elsewhere and away from the Real. This is not the case.
You are correct in your surmising and Not before time it none too soon,
about time, etc.
Wishing all well,
One remains, as always etc, ecc,
Bambi
dtb

 Wishing all well,
And all the best to you, Your Majesty!
---
Xakero

 about time, etc.
Quando scrivi mi sento un deficiente. Qualcuno mi traduce come l'altra
volta?
Ciao, FB

 dtb
Davvero una gioia rileggerti.
Ciao,
Dario.
ITA

 volta?
Ci provo:
Carissimo Xakero,
Sarebbe anche ora che il sottoscritto si azzardasse - non dico a leggere
perché lo faccio sempre, ma a buttar giù anche solo per mettere fine alle
chiacchiere che mi vorrebbero in tutt'altro posto che qui. Non è questo il
caso.
La tua intuizione è corretta è "Not before time" è (is?) "none too soon",
"about time", ecc.
Ma perché: "to put a hush to the rumours *that would have it* that one is
elsewhere and away from the Real" ?
Ciao, FB

 ma a buttar giů
... qualche parola
Ciao, FB

 Ciao, FB
ciao

 Davvero una gioia rileggerti.
Già. Mi sono sempre augurato che un giorno Bambi scrivesse libri. Li
comprerei sicuramente.
-- 
Giovanni Bajo

About time [snip]
Welcome back, Your Majesty.
saluti,
Peltio
che ne approfitta per salutare anche HRH Arianna (long time no see) e il
redivivo Dario (ITA).

comprerei sicuramente.
Non dirlo a me. Sono anni che mi ha promesso i diritti di traduzione
in esclusiva (mica si vorrà negare la gioia di leggerla a chi non
capisce l'inglese, eh?)
Fondly yours, Highness
-- 
Isa
Work like you don't need money,
Love like you've never been hurt,
And dance like no one's watching
http://web.tiscali.it/alfabeto_auschwitz/index.htm

sorta di pun??
As HRH's Official Interpreter and Translator I can certainly vouch for
HRH's punning ability and gusto; otoh, in my capacity I hope I am
allowed to add that spelling is not HRH's forte. For someone in her
position and of her standing it is only fair that she should avail
herself of Official I's, T's and Proofreaders. Why toil at something
Herself when She can easily have someone else do it?
'till we meet again, humbly yours


 Herself when She can easily have someone else do it?
My previous post was indeed a styleless piece of nitpicking. Sorry
about that.
alir

about that.
Nobody thinks there's anything you should feel sorry about, surely not
I, least of all HRH Bambi. Take my word for it.
Cheer up,


 in esclusiva
Sigh, sigh
:-(
-- 
Ciao,
Envious Annie (pulling the longest face ever)

 Did someone request my services?
Beh, al di là della traduzione un po' così, ci ho preso stavolta! Secondo te
chi potrei leggere per ritrovare uno stile simile?
Ciao, FB

chi potrei leggere per ritrovare uno stile simile?
Uh, che domandona. Ivy Compton-Burnett, forse? ...o googlare tutti i
vecchi post di Bambi, magari :-)
'nite 'nite


 vecchi post di Bambi, magari :-)
Non sono così fanatico!
Ciao, FB

 I, least of all HRH Bambi. Take my word for it.
A weight off my mind. :-)
alir