Ti sfido a dimostrarmi che ho torto

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Veevee

New Member
Italy Italian
Hello everybody!
I need help to translate this in English: "Ti sfido a dimostrarmi che ho torto".
Could this work: "I challenge you to show me I'm wrong"? Is it too "italish" :)?
Thanks a lot.
 
  • Fossifoco

    Senior Member
    Italy Italian
    Ciao,

    io direi I defy you to prove me wrong, ma aspettiamo l'opinione dei nativi.

    They may prove me wrong:D...
     

    pam6203

    Member
    italy italian
    No need to use ponderous words such as defy or challenge or the like.
    Simply:
    Prove me wrong, if you can.

    Pam6203
     

    Einstein

    Senior Member
    UK, English
    No need to use ponderous words such as defy or challenge or the like.
    Simply:
    Prove me wrong, if you can.

    Pam6203
    Prove me wrong if you can is a possible alternative, but defy is not really so ponderous and could be used in any discussion of a certain level of seriousness.
     

    pam6203

    Member
    italy italian
    Thanks for your limited approval of my suggestion.
    However the italian sentence is only used in unrefined discussions concerning low level matters.
    For this reason the word "defy" is too serious.

    By
    Pam6203
     

    Fossifoco

    Senior Member
    Italy Italian
    Thanks for your limited approval of my suggestion.
    However the italian sentence is only used in unrefined discussions concerning low level matters.
    For this reason the word "defy" is too serious.

    By
    Pam6203
    In my opinion this sentence is not necessarily used only in "unrefined discussions concerning low level matters". :confused:

    Here's a quotation from Oxford Paravia: "lo sfido a dimostrarmi il contrario I defy him to demonstrate the contrary",

    and a quotation from Garzanti: "-qlcu. a fare, dire qlco., to dare (o to defy o to challenge) s.o. to do, to say sthg.; ti sfido a fare questo lavoro in un'ora, I defy you to do this work in one hour; e ti sfido a dimostrarmi il contrario! and I defy you to prove the contrary!".

    I think these constructions might fit our case.
     

    pam6203

    Member
    italy italian
    The quotations from Paravia and Garzanti are not at all a proof that the sentence is used in serious questions. Actually those quotes make my viewpoint stronger.
    I hope you will understand why, or should I add details?

    In my opinion this discussion does not concern a serious matter
    Ti sfido a dimostrarmi il contrario.
    If you can not, then it is correct that our discussion is not serious
    If you can, then I win because you give me proof that I am right on a serious matter.

    By
    Pam

    I would like to improve my english. Please do not hesitate to point out mistakes.
    Thanks
     

    Saoul

    Senior Member
    Italian
    Pam, mi spiace ma non sono per niente d'accordo con te.

    La frase "ti sfido a dimostrarmi che ho torto" non è necessariamente da riferire a "discussioni poco ricercate" o simili.

    Da cosa evinci tutto ciò?

    "Dante nacque nel 1265 a Firenze! Questo è un dato di fatto! La sfido a dimostrarmi che ho torto!"

    Non so, forse c'è veramente bisogno che specifichi meglio.
     

    Saoul

    Senior Member
    Italian
    Pam non è niente di grave, ma in linguistica, come in tanti altri campi nella vita, funziona che se la mia tesi è supportata da Garzanti e De Mauro e tu non sei d'accordo, devi farmi vedere una fonte altrettanto o maggiormente autorevole che sostenga la tua tesi.
     

    giovannino

    Senior Member
    Italian, Neapolitan
    Fossifoco's translation (I defy you to prove me wrong) was not only confirmed by Einstein but also gets many hits on Google. However I'm a bit sceptical about the translations provided in dictionaries, especially Oxford Paravia's I defy you to demonstrate the contrary (not a single hit on Google). Of course it's perfectly correct. But is it something a native speaker would actually say?
     

    brian

    Senior Member
    AmE (New Orleans)
    I defy you to demonstrate the contrary
    ...
    Of course it's perfectly correct. But is it something a native speaker would actually say?
    Never! :) Not me, at least.

    Anyway, "defy" is not really a "serious" word. It's used in every day speech, especially in the following contexts:

    1) to defy orders
    2) to defy gravity
    3) to defy attacks
    4) to defy someone to do something.

    etc. etc.--probably lots more that I can't think of now.

    From American Heritage Dictionary:

    3.to challenge (a person) to do something deemed impossible: They defied him to dive off the bridge.
     

    You little ripper!

    Senior Member
    Australian English
    The word defy may be used quite commonly in everyday speech but I wouldn't use it in this situation. I defy you to prove me wrong sounds pompous to me; I would only use it in written English. I'd be more likely to say Prove me wrong! Show me the facts!
     

    underhouse

    Senior Member
    Italian
    How would the phrase sound with "to brave"?

    I brave you to prove me wrong!

    I think it is less formal than "to defy", is it?
     

    brian

    Senior Member
    AmE (New Orleans)
    It doesn't really sound pompous to me, but there certainly are other ways. I also like:

    Just try and prove me wrong!
     

    toninoNino

    New Member
    English - united status
    It doesn't really sound pompous to me, but there certainly are other ways. I also like:

    Just try and prove me wrong!
    Hello everybody!
    I need help to translate this in English: "Ti sfido a dimostrarmi che ho torto".
    Could this work: "I challenge you to show me I'm wrong"? Is it too "italish" :)?
    Thanks a lot.
    The colloquial expression is 'I dare you to show me I'm wrong'
     

    Einstein

    Senior Member
    UK, English
    The colloquial expression is 'I dare you to show me I'm wrong'
    This is different. If I dare you to do something I'm suggesting you don't have the courage. Here we're talking about ability to do something. If you can't prove that 2+2=5, it's not a question of courage, it's simply impossible.
     

    rrose17

    Senior Member
    Canada, English
    My 2 cents is that defy does sound just a little out of place here. Not terribly out of place but out of place all the same. I'd go with "I challenge you to prove me wrong."
     
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