تیسیر الأرزاق

English translation: depending on what's available at the time

10:04 Oct 24, 2021
Arabic to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings / Syria
Arabic term or phrase: تیسیر الأرزاق
Hi everyone,

I am translating a Syrian short story about three poor brothers. I know what this term means, but am not entirely happy with the translation I currently have: "depending on what God grants him".

یعرف محمود أنه من فلسطین. وأنه الآن نازحٌ إلى المجهول من مخیم الیرموك لا من فلسطین.
عمره عشر سنین، والشحاذة رذیلته المؤقتة. یلوذ إلیها حین لا یعثر على درجٍ یشطفه. یتناوب بین المهنتین حسب تیسیر الأرزاق.

My translation: "... alternating between the two jobs depending on what God grants him."

Alternative suggestions most welcome! Thank you in advance

Anam
A Zafar
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:40
English translation:depending on what's available at the time
Explanation:
Another possibility.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2021-10-24 19:06:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: depending on whatever happens to be available at the time
Selected response from:

Arabic & More
Jordan
Grading comment
"happens to be" is good - I think I will use that! Thanks :)
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1depending on what's available at the time
Arabic & More
4at hand
Saeed Najmi
4Profit
ABDESSAMAD BINAOUI
4as breadwinning facilitates
hassan zekry
3means of subsistence available
Ayman Massoud


  

Answers


50 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
at hand


Explanation:
depending on whichever is/comes at hand.
I believe the phrase refers to either way is available for him to survive rather than God's grant.

Saeed Najmi
Morocco
Local time: 01:40
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Profit


Explanation:
He alternates between jobs depending on profit.

ABDESSAMAD BINAOUI
Morocco
Local time: 01:40
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ArabicArabic, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
as breadwinning facilitates


Explanation:
where breadwinning becomes available

hassan zekry
Local time: 03:40
Native speaker of: Native in ArabicArabic
PRO pts in category: 21
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
means of subsistence available


Explanation:
as either means of subsistence is available

Ayman Massoud
Egypt
Local time: 03:40
Native speaker of: Arabic
PRO pts in category: 8
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
depending on what's available at the time


Explanation:
Another possibility.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 9 hrs (2021-10-24 19:06:40 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or: depending on whatever happens to be available at the time

Arabic & More
Jordan
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
"happens to be" is good - I think I will use that! Thanks :)

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alaa Eldine Khalil
1 day 19 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search