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  3. General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters

non lo dico tanto per dire

English translation: I\'m not just saying it.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase: non lo dico tanto per dire
English translation:I\'m not just saying it.
Entered by: Lara Barnett

10:11 Oct 28, 2017
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Character-based narrative
Italian term or phrase: non lo dico tanto per dire
This is the conscience speaking of a character in a novel, who claims that his author originally gave his self to a theatrical career, leaving the character's presence in a future novel at risk. i.e. the author has just proved successful in his improvisation class and is starting to head towards the world of showbiz, rather than continue novel writing.

I cannot see how exactly I could word this here, though I get the tone and gist of it.

Purtroppo fu un successo. Non c’era più niente da fare. E quando dico che la mia stessa esistenza era in pericolo, non lo dico tanto per dire. Rischiavo sul serio di spegnermi lentamente, come una fiammella a cui viene a mancare l’ossigeno.
Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 06:45
I'm not just saying that.
Explanation:
He is not just saying it, means it, his existence really was under threat.

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Note added at 13 mins (2017-10-28 10:25:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or you could put:

When I say my existence was in danger, I really mean it.
Selected response from:

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 07:45
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4I'm not just saying that.
Lisa Jane
4I am not saying it just for the sake of saying it.
cc15texas (X)
3it's not an overstatement
Daniel Frisano


  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
I'm not just saying that.


Explanation:
He is not just saying it, means it, his existence really was under threat.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2017-10-28 10:25:13 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Or you could put:

When I say my existence was in danger, I really mean it.

Lisa Jane
Italy
Local time: 07:45
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 496

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daniel Frisano
1 hr
  -> Thanks!
agree  philgoddard
7 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Michele Fauble
7 hrs
  -> Thanks!
agree  Rachel Musselle
1 day 10 hrs
  -> Thanks!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
I am not saying it just for the sake of saying it.


Explanation:
colloquial expression when someone wants to emphasize a point

cc15texas (X)
United States
Local time: 00:45
Meets criteria
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian, Native in EnglishEnglish
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
it's not an overstatement


Explanation:
I am not exaggerating, I really mean that. Lisa Jane's option looks OK too.

Daniel Frisano
Italy
Local time: 07:45
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 16
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



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