só se for

English translation: only if I wear my father's wedding suit

18:36 May 30, 2023
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Portuguese term or phrase: só se for
Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can help me understand this expression (full phrase is “…Só se for o fato de casamento do meu pai…”). The context is a fictional novel and the current chapter is describing the first day at a vocational college. The students are expected to dress formally, not necessarily in a suit or tie, but in something you might wear to a job interview. I've included the lines before and after the phrase for context.

"Para a maioria dos rapazes, a recomendação para usarem fato nos dias de Conferência, era algo que eles desconheciam.
“…Só se for o fato de casamento do meu pai…” pensava o caloiro franzino de cabelo em pé pelo excesso de gel, enquanto brilhava no rosto um sorriso sarcástico.
- … Estes dias são especiais … como futuros profissionais, devem ter outra apresentação diferente daquela que é o vosso dia - a - dia, em aulas… Reiterava a diretora, reforçando que a imagem era muito importante para atingir o sucesso."

Thank you!
Animus
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:08
English translation:only if I wear my father's wedding suit
Explanation:
My collab.
Selected response from:

Laureano Brito
Brazil
Local time: 10:08
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3only if I wear my father's wedding suit
Laureano Brito
4 +2unless
Simone Taylor
4 +1only if it's
Katarina Peters
5unless I wear my father's suit...?
Kristin Campainha
4Only with father's tuxedo, perhaps
ZT-Translations
4...Only if it is my father's wedding tuxedo...
Fernando Blikstein
4In that case, It'll have to be
Douglas Bissell
4Sure... why don't I just wear my dad's wedding tuxedo then...
Nina Carvalho
3I can only use the wedding suit of my father.
Clauwolf
3maybe the suit my father got married in...
Nick Taylor
3My dad's wedding suit will have to do then...
Ana Vozone


Discussion entries: 6





  

Answers


12 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
only if it's


Explanation:
...my father's wedding suit

Katarina Peters
Canada
Local time: 09:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in HungarianHungarian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 76

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  jack_speak
5 hrs
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8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
I can only use the wedding suit of my father.


Explanation:
:)

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 mins (2023-05-30 18:50:06 GMT)
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In fact he didn't have any suit and was thinking what could be done

Clauwolf
Local time: 10:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 23

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Oliver Simões: “Use” is inappropriate for this context. “Wear” is a better choice for pieces of garment!
1 day 13 hrs
  -> Yes, thanks Oliver
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5 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
unless


Explanation:
Unless I wear the...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2023-05-30 18:43:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

The idea here is ''unless'' in the sense of just having an idea, something just occurred to me.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 22 mins (2023-05-30 18:58:54 GMT)
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From Cambridge Dictionary: https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/unl...

In speaking, we use unless to introduce an extra thought or piece of information:

He didn’t even know about the crash – unless he’d heard about it on the radio.

A:
Oh look. Neil next door’s got a new car.

B:
Unless they’ve got a visitor.

Simone Taylor
United Kingdom
Local time: 14:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Paulo Melo
1 hr
  -> Thank you, Paulo!

agree  Mario Freitas:
3 hrs
  -> Cheers, Mario!

disagree  jack_speak: It doesn't fit in this context. Don't try to teach me English.
5 hrs
  -> Hi, Jack, it's an informal way of introducing an idea or suggestion, especially if it is in your mind to yourself, so it actually fits perfectly in this situation. Check out the example from the Cambridge Dictionary above.

agree  philgoddard: Yes it does.
11 hrs
  -> Thank you, Phil.
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25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
only if I wear my father's wedding suit


Explanation:
My collab.

Laureano Brito
Brazil
Local time: 10:08
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Cauê Eduardo
33 mins

agree  jack_speak
5 hrs

agree  Érika Lima
16 hrs
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25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
maybe the suit my father got married in...


Explanation:
maybe the suit my father got married in...

Nick Taylor
Local time: 14:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 98
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29 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
My dad's wedding suit will have to do then...


Explanation:
Menos literal.

Ana Vozone
Local time: 14:08
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 25
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37 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Only with father's tuxedo, perhaps


Explanation:
I think it may be natural to just say "father's" instead of "my father's", but both are acceptable. "Tuxedo" is also more common than wedding suit, so overall, I think something close to the suggestion above should sound a little more natural.

ZT-Translations
Brazil
Local time: 10:08
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
“…Só se for o fato de casamento do meu pai…”
...Only if it is my father's wedding tuxedo...


Explanation:
'Only if' é uma expressão bastante utilizada na língua inglesa.

Example sentence(s):
  • Only if it's for you to leave, otherwise I won't do it.
Fernando Blikstein
Brazil
Local time: 10:08
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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15 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
In that case, It'll have to be


Explanation:
Taking a logical step

Douglas Bissell
Portugal
Local time: 14:08
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 20
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6 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Sure... why don't I just wear my dad's wedding tuxedo then...


Explanation:
I believe the character's snarky smile is letting us know that he doesn't intend to wear any formal attire. So, for the reader to follow this line of reasoning, and because we are talking about a fictional novel, I would study the possibilities of a less literal translation, something like:

"Sure... why don't I just wear my dad's wedding tuxedo then..."

Nina Carvalho
Brazil
Local time: 10:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
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8 days   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
unless I wear my father's suit...?


Explanation:
This is the narrator reflecting on a new idea which comes into his mind---searching for solutions--and then he remembers, as a kind of hypothesis--what if I wear, or unless I wear my father's suit! He's reflecting on this as a choice.

Kristin Campainha
Portugal
Local time: 14:08
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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