Questo sconosciuto

[*Snow*]

Hi there
I'd like to know how I can translate the phrase "questo sconosciuto" into English. If I'm not wrong we use it ironically when we want to explain something new to somebody. I'll give you an example of something which is considered difficult both in English and Italian: "I condizionali, questi sconosciuti". My attempt would be "Conditionals, the unknown". Does it make any sense?

Thanks

 

[King Crimson]

I'm afraid not (but wait for others). Perhaps Conditional (mood), the perfect stranger.

 

[*Snow*]

I'm afraid not (but wait for others). Perhaps Conditional (mood), the perfect stranger.

Another set phrase has just dawned on me : "Ironia, questa sconosciuta"

 

[rrose17]

I'm thinking "the great unknown" which is a common expression, but I'm not getting "Ironia" how is that related to "sconosciuta"?

 

[*Snow*]

I'm thinking "the great unknown" which is a common expression, but I'm not getting "Ironia" how is that related to "sconosciuta"?

That's quite a common set phrase used when you want to say that somebody doesn't get irony ( and that's sarchasm ).

 

[rrose17]

Not everyone appreciates sarcasm, to be sure, like my wife, for example. Not sure about set idioms that might say what you're looking for, usually they're more about the speaker than the obtuseness of the listener. But then there's Oscar Wilde who was very famous for his ironic wit. One of his quotations is "Irony is wasted on the stupid." But this wouldn't work with your original "I condizionali".

 

[tsoapm]

I don’t think there’s a snappy equivalent in English. Maybe you could do something with ‘mystery’.

The great mystery of conditionals.

Or for the irony thing:

That was that ‘irony’ thing you may have heard about.

 

[rrose17]

The great mystery of conditionals.
That was that ‘irony’ thing you may have heard about.

Both are great! Made me think of "The final frontier", from Star Trek fame. "Conditionals: the final frontier" Could almost work for irony too.

 

[tsoapm]

Thanks.

 

[Tellure]

The great mystery of conditionals.

Or for the irony thing:

That was that ‘irony’ thing you may have heard about.

D'accordo con rrose! Ottime traduzioni, nonché molto divertenti!!

Edit:
Tempo fa avevo bisogno di tradurre lo stesso concetto e aprii la seguente discussione:
Grammatica, questa sconosciuta

 

[Archilochus]

Can you put it in a sentence, or better, a short dialog for us?

 

[You little ripper!]

I think I would use 'elusive' in this situation. 'Enigmatic' (similar to Mark's 'mystery') might even work.

Ah, the elusive conditional!
Ah, the elusive irony!
Ah, the elusive grammar!

 

[johngiovanni]

In the context of the OP, perhaps "Conditionals - could we but understand them" - though that may be straying into transcreation, always a danger with titles.

 

[tsoapm]

There’s 'lesser spotted', from taxonomy (i.e. smaller and with spots) but also used in a figurative sense (seen infrequently).

Lesser-Spotted Rare, beautiful and interesting furniture
It's criminal how little our lesser-spotted police officers actually do
http://www.amazon.com/Lesser-Spotted-Britain-Dominic-Greyer/dp/1909396788

 

[*Snow*]

Oh God! Thank you very much for your help ! Really, I'm spoilt for choice !!!!!!!!