Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Hebrew term or phrase:
הדבר בנפשו
English translation:
Close to one's heart
Added to glossary by
Smantha
Aug 22, 2010 23:40
13 yrs ago
Hebrew term
הדבר בנפשו
Hebrew to English
Other
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
מי שהדבר בנפשו, מתבקשר להכנס לאתר של "תנו לחיות לחיות", או לקישור זה
I am looking for an English equivalent.
Thank you in advance.
I am looking for an English equivalent.
Thank you in advance.
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 | Close to one's heart |
Lingopro
|
| 4 | for whom it is a matter of life and death |
Textpertise
|
| 3 | it is very important/essential to him/ it is the most precious thing |
irisgr
|
Change log
Mar 26, 2011 17:22: Smantha Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
2 days 20 hrs
Selected
Close to one's heart
If something such as a subject or project is close to your heart or near to your heart, it is very important to you and you are very interested in it and concerned about it.
Note from asker:
| I like your suggestion! It's idiomatic and close to the original (soul - > heart) |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thank you all! I wish I could select more than one answer. "
14 mins
it is very important/essential to him/ it is the most precious thing
see the link
Note from asker:
| Thank you! I like "the most precious thing". |
7 hrs
Textpertise
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
Highest WWA rating in Europe for NL-EN
Native in: English 
Works in: Dutch to English, Hebrew to English
for whom it is a matter of life and death
Some other suggestions:
It is extremely important to him/her. His/her life depends on it.
The point being that this is an extreme expression of something being important to a person.
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Note added at 3 days10 hrs (2010-08-26 10:23:39 GMT) Post-grading
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Smantha - what about "is passionate about it"?
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Note added at 3 days10 hrs (2010-08-26 10:24:30 GMT) Post-grading
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Whoops - you've finalised it in the meantime.
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Note added at 3 days10 hrs (2010-08-26 10:28:01 GMT) Post-grading
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I would point out, however, for the record, that "life" is just as much a translation of נפש as "soul" is.
It is extremely important to him/her. His/her life depends on it.
The point being that this is an extreme expression of something being important to a person.
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Note added at 3 days10 hrs (2010-08-26 10:23:39 GMT) Post-grading
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Smantha - what about "is passionate about it"?
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Note added at 3 days10 hrs (2010-08-26 10:24:30 GMT) Post-grading
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Whoops - you've finalised it in the meantime.
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Note added at 3 days10 hrs (2010-08-26 10:28:01 GMT) Post-grading
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I would point out, however, for the record, that "life" is just as much a translation of נפש as "soul" is.
Note from asker:
| Thank you. This suggestion is also idiomatic, but less close to the oroiginal "soul" word. |
| Oh, that one is delicious!!! As I said, I wish there was a way I could choose more than one answer |
| Yes, it is, but when you say "a matter of life and death" or "his/her life depends on it" it could also mean a state of emergency, something life threatening, whereas הדבר בנפשו perhaps is more of a passion for something (perhaps, even, a life-long passion :). Thus I liked a lot your last suggestion. |
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