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Gamboler Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Today's or any other day's

I am translating a short dialogue and I'm not sure if my try is correct.

My try:

- I'll be here before half an hour.
- Ha! Half an hour? Today's or any other day's?

I would like to know if "today's or any other day's" is acceptable as an ironic answer meaning 'Today's half an hour or some other day's half an hour' Does it make sense to you, or is it better to replace it by some other expression? Could it be "We'll see what day's half an hour is."

I
  

Top answer

- I'll be here before half an hour. <<< No. I'll be here in less than half an hour.

— Clive

  • - I'll be here before half an hour.
  • <<< No.
  • I'll be here in less than half an hour.
  • 'Here' refers to the place where you are speaking.
  • If you mean another place, say 'there'.
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8 Answers
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- I'll be here before half an hour. <<< No. I'll be here in less than half an hour.
'Here' refers to the place where you are speaking. If you mean another place, say 'there'.

- Ha! Half an hour? Today's or any other day's?

I would like to know if "today's or any other day's" is acceptable
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Ok, Clive, thanks.

1. We must use 'here' not 'there' (the same place where they are speaking).
2. I would like to find another expression more literal tan 'your idea of half an hour...'

Think that it's the translation of a dialogue from a movie, and I need to preserve the irony of the answer. Did you understand what the idea is? I think the man tried to m
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1. We must use 'here' not 'there' (the same place where they are speaking).
Do you mean that the speaker will go away, and then return in half an hour?
Or do you mean that he will stay for half an hour and then leave?

2. I would like to find another expression more literal tan 'your idea of h
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Of course, Clive, the speaker will go away and then, he will return in half an hour (or, at least, that's what he says).

I don't see the irony of the original if we just write 'Do you mean today or tomorrow?' Can't we include the 'half an hour' part here?
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I think that would be an odd thing to say, and not easy to understand. Try again, if you want to.
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"Today's half hour" isn't natural. The retort is fairly clever though. Perhaps something like this:

A: "I'll be there in half an hour.
B: How long will I have to wait for the particular half hour you're talking about?
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My new try:

Ha! How many minutes has your half-an-hour? , or

Ha! How many days or weeks has your half-an-hour?
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I suppose you could say those tings, but they don't seem very amusing or ironic to me. Just rather awkward.

Clive
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