lose (something) in translation
idiom
: to fail to have the same meaning or effectiveness when it is translated into another language
Something must have gotten lost in translation because the joke isn't funny in English.
Cite this Entry
“Lose (something) in translation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lose%20%28something%29%20in%20translation. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.
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