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Stman Posted 16 years ago
Vocabulary

On the contrary

Hello,

There is an expression in French: "au contraire" which translates to "on the contrary". This is what I get by using automated translation engines - like Google's one.

The translation says it in English. However I feel uneasy with this translation. It is a "word-by-word" translation I do not encounter in the spoken English.

Has someone a more popular, spoken_language way to say this?

Thanks,
Stephan.
  

Top answer

Hi stman, and welcome to English Forums. I share your general sense of suspicion about translations, but in this case, you got a good one. com/on+the+contrary

— BarbaraPA

  • Hi stman, and welcome to English Forums.
  • I share your general sense of suspicion about translations, but in this case, you got a good one.
  • com/on+the+contrary
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9 Answers
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Hi stman, and welcome to English Forums. I share your general sense of suspicion about translations, but in this case, you got a good one. Depending on how it's used, you may want "to the contrary." See this: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/on+the+contrary
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Thanks GG.

Very nice link too! - I missed to notice it works with expressions too. Thanks!
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stman I missed to notice it works with expressions too.
Just a "by the way".

I missed neglected to notice it works with expressions too.

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This is active learning !!! Thanks.

Now we are here please explain me:

missed vs. neglected

My intention was to say something like: "I passed by without noticing..." or " I didn't know it was doing it, also".

Neglected sounds for me more like a voluntary thing - mean "I knew it was there, just I didn't use it."

What is the good way to say it.
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I missed you while you were gone.

I missed the bus, so I had to walk.

I missed that part of your explanation.

I neglected to tell you I was going to leave.
stmanNeglected sounds for me more like a voluntary thing - mean "I knew it was there, just I didn't use it."

What is the good way to say it.

I failed to make us
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After reading all the answers and thinking at it I guess I should have said:

I was not aware it could work also with expressions.

What do you think?
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AnonymousI was not aware it could work also with expressions.
If you change "could work also" to "could also work" you'd be perfect!
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stmanThis is active learning !!! Thanks.

This is one of the nicest compliments we've had in a long time. And, you're welcome!
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stmanThanks GG.

Very nice link too! - I missed to notice it works with expressions too. Thanks!

Hi!

I think that you wanted to say "I failed to notice it works with expressions too", but you went for a wrong word - "missed", which isn't normally used in such structures.

Generally, you miss something, for examp
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