lost in translation

Meaning

This expression describes a situation where the original meaning, nuance, or humor of a word or phrase is missed or changed when translated into another language. It can also refer more broadly to ideas that are misunderstood when communicated between different groups or cultures.

Examples

• The joke was hilarious in Spanish, but the humor got lost in translation.

  The joke was hilarious in Spanish, but the humor got lost in translation.

• I tried to explain our company's philosophy, but I think some details got lost in translation.

  I tried to explain our company's philosophy, but I think some details got lost in translation.

• When traveling abroad, you have to accept that some of your polite gestures might get lost in translation.

  When traveling abroad, you have to accept that some of your polite gestures might get lost in translation.

• The poetry is beautiful, but a lot of its emotional depth is lost in translation.

  The poetry is beautiful, but a lot of its emotional depth is lost in translation.

• We had a huge misunderstanding yesterday, but it was just a classic case of being lost in translation.

  We had a huge misunderstanding yesterday, but it was just a classic case of being lost in translation.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ The meaning was missed in the translation.

  ✓ The meaning was lost in translation.

  The idiom is a fixed phrase: 'lost in translation', usually without 'the' before translation.

• ✗ His words got lost by translation.

  ✓ His words got lost in translation.

  The correct preposition to use in this standard idiom is 'in', not 'by' or 'through'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• It was a funny idiom in French, but the punchline got ___ when they put it in English.

  💡 Failed to be converted accurately into another language.

  Show answer

  lost in translation

• Don't take his email too seriously; I think his friendly tone just got ___.

  💡 Missed or misunderstood during communication.

  Show answer

  lost in translation