We often experience the feeling of wanting someone or something that we cannot have. However, we may not know a proper term to use to express this feeling appropriately. Therefore, this article will be highlighting the best terms that help to describe this specific feeling or situation.
In this article, we will be highlight ten terms that express wanting something that you can’t have, their specific meanings and how we can use them in a sentence. The specific terms we will be looking at are:
- Unattainable
- Unobtainable
- Unrequited
- Longing
- Yearning
- A Pipe Dream
- Unreachable
- Unrealistic
- Inaccessible
- Unreciprocated
The preferred version that we will highlight is “unattainable”. This is because “unattainable” is a very strong way of expressing something that we do not believe that we will ever be able to successfully have or possess in our lifetime.
Unattainable
Cambridge Dictionary defines “unattainable” as not able to be achieved. Therefore, we generally find something that is “unattainable” as something that we will be able to get, even if we put forth a tremendous amount of effort. Occasionally, the “unattainable” can make us lose self-confidence.
When we find that something is “unattainable”, we often give up hope or our efforts of trying.
Here are some examples of how we can use this specific term:
- She is entirely unattainable, there is no point in me even trying to ask her out on a date.
- I think a perfect score on my geometry exam is very unattainable. An 80% is a much more realistic goal.
- That job is unattainable because I do not possess the proper qualifications at this time.
Unobtainable
Cambridge Dictionary defines “unobtainable” as not able to be obtained. This is often used in terms of something that we believe we will never possess or own. Therefore, we can often relate the “unobtainable” to something that we do not have the finances for.
“Unobtainable” describes something that we believe we cannot get, regardless of size or worth.
Some of the ways we can use this particular term are:
- I would love to own a mansion, but at this point in life, it is very unobtainable.
- That new sports car is a dream of mine, but I think it’ll always be unobtainable.
- It may be unobtainable now, however, it is something that you can always work towards in the future.
Unrequited
Cambridge Dictionary defines “unrequited” as if the love that you feel for someone is unrequited, it is not felt in the same way by the other person. Therefore, we will use the term “unrequited” when we are describing someone that we love, which doesn’t return the sentiment towards us.
Often, we consider an “unrequited” love to be a source of immense heartbreak. This may also be someone that we have a lot of feelings for, that we have never dated, but will also never have the opportunity to do so.
Here are a few examples that highlight this particular term:
- She felt the sting of unrequited love; one that would never be returned to her.
- He considered his feeling towards her to be unrequited in the sense that she may not know about them, but he was aware she would never feel the same.
- Her husband passed away years ago, but her feelings never dissipated and her love was unrequited.
Longing
Cambridge Dictionary defines “longing” as a feeling of wanting someone or something very much. Therefore, we can often characterize a “longing” as an immense desire that is not being fulfilled or that we believe may never be fulfilled.
Often, we also equate a “longing” for something or someone with a sense of sadness or loneliness, as our lives may not feel complete without it.
We will now go over a few examples showcasing the use of this term:
- He had a longing for the newest gaming system, but his parents would not buy it for him.
- She had a longing to travel the world, however, she wasn’t sure that would ever happen.
- When he gazed at her, his eyes were filled with longing and immense desire.
Yearning
Cambridge Dictionary defines “yearning” as a strong feeling of wishing for something, especially something that you cannot have or get easily. Therefore, we often have a “yearning” for something that we believe is very far out of our potential grasp.
“Yearning” is another term that is usually characterized by a feeling of loss or sadness. We are often quite mournful over something that we believe we can never attain.
Here are a few examples of how we can use this particular term:
- I live in a busy city centre, so I’ve always had a yearning to live in the country.
- She had a yearning to be with a married man, which left her feeling very depressed and lonely.
- He had a yearning to own a dog, but his father was allergic.
A Pipe Dream
Cambridge Dictionary defines “a pipe dream” as an idea or plan that is impossible or very unlikely to happen. Therefore, when someone is describing “a pipe dream” it is often something that we are well aware can’t happen or would take an incredible amount of effort to make happen.
“A pipe dream” is often something we think about, but are aware can’t actually occur. Occasionally, we will use “a pipe dream” as a way to fantasize about escaping reality.
Some ways in which we can use this term are:
- He wanted to become a million, which was definitely a pipe dream.
- Her plans are entirely unrealistic and will never amount to more than a pipe dream.
- The thought of owning a castle and becoming a princess in a faraway land is a pipe dream.
Unreachable
Cambridge Dictionary defines “unreachable” as if a place or thing is unreachable, it is not possible to get to it or to get hold of it. Similarly, we can consider a relationship to be “unreachable”, as in it is not something that we will ever have or can obtain.
When we consider something to be “unreachable”, we often have a sense of dread or instantly lose our drive to continue to strive towards it.
We will now go over a few examples that highlight the appropriate use of the term”
- The village had become unreachable during the spring downpours because of landslides.
- He was unreachable by phone for the last two days, causing us all immense worry.
- That job is unreachable for me at the moment, but I can perhaps work towards it in the future.
Unrealistic
Cambridge Dictionary defines “unrealistic” as having a wrong idea of what is likely to happen or of what you can really do, not based on facts. Therefore, something or someone that is “unrealistic” to us is often considered to be an inappropriate or flat-out wrong option.
Often, something that is “unrealistic” can cause immense disappointment, as this is not something that will generally work out in our favour.
To further showcase how we can use this term, here are a few examples:
- I think the sales forecasts are entirely unrealistic for the next quarter. I’m not sure what the CEO is thinking.
- That relationship is unrealistic man, she’s a famous celebrity! You need to move on!
- It’s not healthy to set unrealistic expectations for yourself, as you end up feeling like you’ve let yourself and everyone around you down.
Inaccessible
Cambridge Dictionary defines “inaccessible” as very difficult or impossible to travel to or out of reach. At the same time, we can also find the meaning of something to be “inaccessible”, depicting it as something that is difficult to understand or appreciate fully.
Therefore, when we consider something to be “inaccessible”, we generally consider it to be something we will never have, or can never make it to.
We will now go over the following examples, that highlight this term:
- It is considered to be one of the most inaccessible places in the entire world.
- Some of the houses on the hillside are inaccessible by car, causing the locals to walk home on a daily basis.
- The answer to why our relationship was very inaccessible to me, as my ex-partner did not want to speak with me anymore.
Unreciprocated
Cambridge Dictionary defines “reciprocated” as sharing the same feelings as someone else or behaving in the same way as someone else. Therefore, when we say that love or feelings are “unreciprocated” it means that someone doesn’t feel the same way or has made it clear they never will.
An “unreciprocated” love or feelings are considered to be tremendously painful, as we often feel no closure from a situation or are entirely hung up on something that we cannot change.
Lastly, we will go over a few examples that highlight how we can use this particular term:
- She felt the pain that only an unreciprocated love could cause. She has tried everything to properly convey her feelings to him, to no avail.
- He has never dealt with unreciprocated feelings from someone before and it was causing him stress and heartache, unlike anything he had ever experienced.
- The unreciprocated feelings in their marriage had caused an abundance of distrust and resentment, making her unaware if there was any point in mending the situation.
Martin holds a Master’s degree in Finance and International Business. He has six years of experience in professional communication with clients, executives, and colleagues. Furthermore, he has teaching experience from Aarhus University. Martin has been featured as an expert in communication and teaching on Forbes and Shopify. Read more about Martin here.
There are some one-word possibilities, none perfect.
«her skin was unsheathed to lure her unrequited’s eyes»
Unrequited by itself is pretty unambiguous, given that it is almost always used in conjunction with «love», but this isn’t – strictly speaking – particularly grammatical.
«her skin was unsheathed to lure her beloved’s eyes»
Beloved fits grammatically, but like flame in Wordster’s answer, it doesn’t rule out that the feeling may be reciprocated. The same goes for «her desired’s», although that word implies reciprocation a bit less strongly (desire/desired carries a sense that the object has not – at least yet – been obtained), but is somewhat awkward to say.
«her skin was unsheathed to lure her idol’s eyes»
Idol is pretty good in terms of non-reciprocation, but makes the person into an object of veneration, not merely love.
«her skin was unsheathed to lure her infatuation’s eyes»
Infatuation is even closer but still – somewhat like idol – may imply a certain sense of obsession that mightn’t be what you’re looking for (and somewhat obviously this goes double or more for «her obsession’s»).
«her skin was unsheathed to lure her inamorato’s eyes»
Inamorato is almost perfect (only establishes a one-way loving relationship, with no reciprocation implied), but is a really uncommon loan-word (from Italian, as it happens), and will make most readers pause to understand – or even look up – the word.
«her skin was unsheathed to lure her crush’s eyes»
Crush – I think – is the best option for this context, since (although it technically suffers from the same flaw as flame, beloved, desired, etc.) it is usually used in the sense that the object doesn’t reciprocate the feeling (or may even be unaware of it).
The one weakness with crush is that it doesn’t specifically imply an emotion as strong as mature love, but could be a more juvenile feeling, like what is usually called puppy-love.
Never have I ever is a game about getting to know people, mostly. The phrase never have I ever refers to something you never did in your entire life. It can’t be something you tried and didn’t do again, or something you disagree with.
Never have I ever can only mean that it is something you have never done in your entire life. By saying the phrase and telling others something you never did you get to know what other people also didn’t, or did, do in their lives.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Game
Never have I ever is a party game. In order to play the game, there need to be at least two players. There are commonly more than four players, but it can be played as a couple’s game.
The rules are simple. One person has to state something that they never did, and the rest have to react. These reactions depend on whether the other players have, or haven’t done the thing from the statement.
Never have I ever can be played as a simple party game with no special rules, as a drinking game, or a private game to learn more about another person.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Rules
How Do I Play Never Have I Ever?
Never have I ever is a simple game with simple rules. There are many varieties of the game, but the rules are never complex. You only have to choose what is the task people have to perform in case they lose the round.
Never have I even can be played as a drinking game, a game with tasks to perform, or a game with a level of punishment. In case someone loses the round they have to perform according to the rules you have set.
The game starts with the words “never have I ever,” and then the person says something they have never done.
Example:
- Never have I ever painted my hair green.
Anyone who is playing can lose the round if they have painted their hair green, and if they haven’t they win the round. Winning does not give you anything, you just advance to the new round. Losing means you have to do something according to the rules.
So, you win if you haven’t done what is said after “never have I ever,” and you lose if you have done it. The only other rule is the form of punishment for the people who lost.
If you play it as a drinking game, then the people who lost have to drink. If it’s played with tasks to perform, then the people who lost have to complete the tasks. You can make them run out on the balcony and scream something, or make them do handstands, push-ups, sit-up, just make sure it’s fun and they can actually do it.
If you have the ruleset as a form of punishment then you can ask the people who lost to do other kinds of things. Just don’t make it too extreme. The people who lost can take a shot of tequila, or hot sauce, they can perform dares, or just do something they might not really like. Remember, don’t make it too extreme, it’s still supposed to be a fun game.
Never have I ever is a game played in order to get to know people. Since people tell you somethings they did, you get to know parts of their lives. It’s a good ice-breaker at parties and gatherings.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Questions
There are so many questions you can ask in never have I ever. Anything you wish to know about the people playing. Or you can tell them something about yourself.
The questions can also be very general, and just fun. Anything in life can be a never have I ever question, so make sure you use anything you know.
Examples:
- Never have I ever seen snow.
- … been to the beach.
- … been to the mountains.
- … seen a snake.
- … seen a lion.
- … slept during class.
- … forgotten my books in school.
- … had surgery.
- … been sad about a breakup.
- … been to a live concert.
- … been in a fistfight.
- … seen a fight in a bar.
- … gone out without underwear.
- … imitated an accent after a few drinks.
- … told a random person I loved them.
- … forgotten my house keys.
- … had to walk barefoot because I lost my shoes.
- … ordered an Uber.
- … smoked.
- … bought cigarettes when I was underage.
- … lied to my parents about smoking.
- … cheated in poker.
- … gotten kicked out of a nightclub.
- … broken my high-heels.
- … torn my dress while going out.
- … torn my pants while squatting
- … done witchcraft.
- … insulted someone on the street.
Never Have I Ever Question
🎲 Never Have I Ever Game Online
It is possible to play never have I ever online as well. You can play it here: https://never-have-i-ever-online.com/, or on various apps. The goal with playing online is that the program forms the questions, and the people playing answer.
When playing live you can form questions in order to find out things about people, or to tell them about yourself. When playing online or with an app the questions are not personal, are they are random.
As with playing live, when playing online you have to set the rules about what to do when you lose. This can be done as a drinking game, a task to perform, or a slight form of punishment. Because the computer generates the questions the rules can be random as well.
Never have I ever apps:
- Never Have I Ever: Dirty
🎲 Never Have I Ever Generator
You can play never have I ever without having to ask the questions yourself. There are apps and websites that have generators to ask the questions for you. If you want the questions to be random, and not person, you can use this website: https://never-have-i-ever-online.com/
By playing with a generator you don’t have to make up the questions, they can be random, and you can just make up the rules for the people who lose the round. This way to play is less personal, and you might not learn s much about the people you are playing. The questions can be very random.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Questions for Kids
Never have I ever can be played by kids. The questions can be funny, or just childish. When kids play there should be no punishment or other rules, it should just be fun.
Examples:
- Never have I ever watched cartoons all day.
- … eaten cereal for dinner.
- … eaten a spoon of sugar when mom was out of the house.
- … gotten sick from eating candy.
- … made dirt cake.
- … been camping.
- … earned a scout badge.
- … gotten a high score in a video game.
- … ran so fast my dad couldn’t catch me.
- … forgotten to tie my shoelaces.
- … gotten hit in the head with a football.
- … had to play the tree in a school theater drama.
- … learned to play a new song on the piano.
- … had to sing at my sister’s birthday party.
- … pooped myself in public.
- … gotten cooties.
- … drank so much Coca-Cola I ran for forever.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Questions for Friends
Remember that one of the goals in never have I ever is to get to know people. So, form questions that tell the players about yourself, and you also get to learn about them.
Examples:
- Never have I ever been drunk.
- … stolen something from my parents.
- … driven a car.
- … worked at a McDonald’s.
- … played video games all day.
- … cheated on a test.
- … skipped class.
- … called in sick to work even though I was fine.
- … lied to my partner.
- … ordered food and said I cooked it.
- … not returned a book to the library for a year.
- … fired a gun.
- … used a knife.
- … been hunting.
- … been fishing.
- … gotten lost in a shopping mall.
- … gotten lost in the woods.
- … driven over the speed limit.
- … got caught by the police.
- … got a ticket or a fine.
- … been swimming in a river.
- … been swimming in a lake.
- … fallen in love at first sight.
- … broken something in a shop.
- … lost my wallet.
- … lost my passport.
- … traveled alone.
- … driven a motorcycle.
There are all kinds of questions you can ask the people playing in order to make new friends, and get to know each other. When playing with people you like just keep the questions light, and have fun.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Questions for Couples
- Never have I ever cheated on my partner.
- … lied to my partner about where I was.
- … gotten married.
- … gotten divorced.
- … thought about being with someone else while in a relationship.
- … told my friends I was in love.
- … forgotten my partner’s birthday.
- … forgotten our anniversary.
- …bought my partner a gift as an apology.
- … told a fake story about how we met.
- … made a couple’s social media account for me and my partner.
- … wanted to have kids.
- … lied to my partner’s parents.
- … forgotten to pick up the kids from school.
- … asked my friends for relationship advice.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Dirty Questions
A lot of time never have I ever can be dirty, and very descriptive. Asking such questions is meant to be obscene, and to draw attention. It can also make people laugh, or be disgusted. Both are possible.
Examples:
- Never have I ever had sex outside.
- … drank piss.
- … snorted vodka.
- … had an anal probe.
- … done mud wrestling.
- … eaten bugs.
- … thrown poop at another person.
- … thrown upon myself, or others.
- … played with a dead animal.
- … snorted a line of ants.
- … kept my tooth under the pillow, forgot about it until it rotted.
- … kept a jar of fingernails.
- … seen a preserved monkey head.
- … gotten stuck in quicksand.
- … written a letter with my own blood.
- … not washed for over a week.
- … not shaved my entire body for over a year.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Questions 18+
When adults play never have I ever the questions be very different than when kids play it. Adults are usually the ones to play the game in the first place. These questions can include things that only adults should be able to do.
Examples:
- Never have I ever gotten a speeding ticket.
- … bought a lot of alcohol and drank it all in one day.
- … took out a loan.
- … cheated on my driver’s exam.
- … forgotten to pay my electricity bill.
- … had to take out a mortgage on my house.
- … forgotten to feed the kids.
- … forgotten to change my baby’s diaper.
- … fallen asleep while babysitting.
- … messed up a speech at a wedding.
- … got so drunk I knocked on a wrong door.
- … played poker and lost all my money.
- … not payed my electricity bill and they cut my power.
- … been in a car accident.
- … had to cook and entire meal for a house party.
- … gotten fired.
- … been late for work.
- … talked about my boss behind his back.
- … talked about my boss behind his back and he heard me.
- … fallen in love with a coworker.
- … had an affair with a coworker.
- … gotten married.
- … gotten a divorce.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Questions for Girl
When playing never have I ever it depends on who’s asking the question. Often times boys will ask questions only boys can relate to, but girls can also ask questions only girls can relate to. This can be tactical, so the opposite players have to take a drink, do a task, or get punished.
There are some questions only girls can relate to, and they can be used against your opponents.
Examples:
- Never have I ever kissed a boy.
- … gotten my period in a public place.
- … forgotten to take my birth control.
- … left the house without a condom.
- … gotten drunk and made out with someone I don’t like.
- … lost a basketball match.
- … lost in track and field.
- … had to wear high heels.
- … worn teared jeans.
- … bought shoes two sizes too small.
- … brought sneakers with me when I went out.
- … had to ask for a tampon from a friend.
- … gotten scared by a rat.
- … chased a stray dog from my yard.
- … burnt my food while cooking.
- … lifted under sixty kilos in a deadlift.
- … walked through the forest alone.
- … forgotten about my black cat and almost sat on it.
- … cut my hair short after a breakup.
- … dyed my hair purple.
- … cleaned the entire house instead of studying.
- … cried in public.
- … made out with a girl.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Teenage Questions
When teenagers play never have I ever it’s usually to show off, or play tough in front of their friends. Teenagers tend to ask wild questions, which are not even true about their own lives. In general teenagers like to exaggerate.
If they can teenagers like to play never have I ever as a drinking game. They make up wild questions so everyone has to drink, or look foolish. It’s still fun, but most of these questions would never be answered honestly.
Teenagers like to pose questions so that they lose too. Then everyone has to take a drink, do a dare, or get punished.
Examples:
- Never have I ever been to the moon.
- … shot the sheriff.
- … robbed a bank.
- … kicked my dog.
- … hunted for wild deer.
- … shot a gun.
- … seen two people have sex.
- … kissed a girl.
- … kissed a boy.
- … had sex.
- … driven a car.
- … stolen money from my older sibling.
- … told my mom to get out of my room.
- … told my dad to shut up.
- … skipped school.
- … gotten drunk behind the school.
- … smoked a cigarette.
- … smoked weed.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Sexual Questions
Never have I ever can be a very sexual game. Often times players pose questions in order to find out something a person’s sexual history. It’s pretty easy to pose these types of questions.
Examples:
- Never have I ever had sex.
- … had sex with someone I don’t like.
- … had a one night stand.
- … had sex with multiple people.
- … had a threesome.
- … been on birth control.
- … not used a condom.
- … been unable to perform.
- … not remembered the night before.
- … hooked up with someone I know form high school.
- … slept with my ex again.
- … been with someone who’s married.
- … had an orgasm.
- … used toys during sex.
- … had sex while drunk.
- … had sex while high.
- … had sex outdoors.
- … hooked up in a car.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Funny Questions
- Never have I ever peed myself in bed.
- … had my leg humped by a dog.
- … worn clown makeup in public.
- … worn two different socks when I went out.
- … had my food stolen by a squirrel.
- … gotten pooped on by a pigeon.
- … let my sandwich fall into a puddle of mud.
- … gotten my pants pulled down in public.
- … snored so loud I woke up my neighbors.
- … fallen asleep during sex.
- … farted in an elevator.
- … leaned on a stranger’s shoulder when I fell asleep on the bus.
- … pooped my pants in public.
- … hit a signpost when I wasn’t looking.
- … talked to my cat for half an hour when I was drunk.
- … thought a statue was a real person and apologized for hitting it.
🎲 Never Have I Ever Drinking Game
Never have I ever is often played as a drinking game. This is one of the most popular ways to play the game. The rules don’t change, but the people who lose a round have to drink.
The game starts with one person making a statement about something they never did, and the other people react. The people who also didn’t do what the person said are clear, and the ones who did have to take a drink.
Example:
- Never have I ever been bungee jumping.
If seven people are playing, then six have to react to the statement. Out of those six two people did go bungee jumping, and four didn’t. The two people who did go bungee jumping have to take a drink.
🎲 How Do I Play Never Have I Ever?
Never have I ever is an extremely simple game. There are only two rules. The first rule is that one person has to make a statement about something they have never done.
That’s why it’s called never have I ever.
Example:
- Never have I ever gotten into a fight.
The second rule is that people have to react to the statement. There two possible reactions. One is about the people who agree with the statement. Those are the people who also have never done the thing from the statement.
The people who also haven’t ever done the thing are safe for the round. The second group is the people who have done the thing from the statement. These people have to do something that is in the rules.
The people who don’t agree with the statement have to perform a task. This is a rule you have to make up before starting the game. This task can be to take a drink, to do some kind of challenge (like push-ups, crunches, sit-ups, etc.), or a form of light punishment.
Each turn a different person makes a statement, and the other players react. This goes on in circles with a new statement in every turn. There is no way to win, and never have I ever is usually a good game to get to know people.
Something I can never have
То, чего у меня никогда не будет
I still recall the taste of your tears.
Echoing your voice just like the ringing in my ears.
My favorite dreams of you still wash ashore.
Scraping through my head
‘Ttill I don’t wanna sleep anymore.
You make this all go away.
You make this all go away.
I’m down to just one thing.
And I’m starting to scare myself.
You make this all go away.
You make this all go away.
I just want something.
I just want something I can never have.
You always were the one to show me how
Back then I couldn’t do the things
That I can do now.
This thing is slowly taking me apart.
Grey would be the color if I had a heart.
Come on and tell me.
You make this all go away.
You make this all go away.
I’m down to just one thing.
And I’m starting to scare myself.
You make this all go away.
You make this all go away.
I just want something.
I just want something I can never have
In this place it seems like such a shame.
Though it all looks different now,
I know it’s still the same.
Everywhere I look you’re all I see.
Just a fading fucking reminder
Of who I used to be.
You make this all go away.
You make this all go away.
I’m down to just one thing.
And I’m starting to scare myself.
You make this all go away.
You make it all go away.
I just want something.
I just want something I can never have.
I just want something I can never have.
Я всё ещё вспоминаю вкус твоих слёз,
вызывающий эхо твоего голоса, как звон в ушах.
Мои любимые сны о тебе всё ещё преследуют меня,
крутятся в голове до тех пор,
пока я не перестаю хотеть спать.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Я хочу только одного
и начинаю пугать самого себя.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Я просто хочу кое-что.
Я просто хочу то, чего у меня никогда не будет.
Ты всегда была единственной, кто мог показать, как…
Тогда я ещё был способен на многое из того,
что могу сейчас.
Это начинает постепенно разрушать меня.
Цвет был бы серым, если бы у меня было сердце.
Давай, скажи мне.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Я хочу только одного
и начинаю пугать самого себя.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Я просто хочу кое-что.
Я просто хочу то, чего у меня никогда не будет.
Здесь этого особенно жаль.
Несмотря на то, что сейчас всё выглядит иначе,
я знаю, что всё по-прежнему.
Куда бы я ни посмотрел, вижу только тебя:
всего лишь грёбаное тающее напоминание о том,
кем я был.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Ты заставляешь всё это исчезнуть.
Я хочу только одного
и начинаю пугать самого себя.
Ты заставляешь всё исчезнуть.
Ты заставляешь всё исчезнуть.
Я просто хочу кое-что.
Я просто хочу то, чего у меня никогда не будет.
Я просто хочу то, чего у меня никогда не будет.
Понравился перевод?
Перевод песни Something I can never have — Nine Inch Nails
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“Something I Can Never Have” is the fifth track on Nine Inch Nails’ 1989 debut album, Pretty Hate Machine. It’s a song about lost love and missed chances. An extended and edited version was used in the movie soundtrack for Natural Born Killers, which was produced by Trent Reznor. This OST version also samples dialogue and sound effects from the movie.
A stripped-down version was released in the 2002 studio album Still from the double-album And All That Could Have Been (aka Halo 17), featuring Trent Reznor on piano and former NIN-drummer Jerome Dillon on guitar.
Пословицы и поговорки – это отражение народной мысли, установок, моральных ценностей. Обычно они имеют аналоги в других языках, поскольку воспроизводят “простые истины”, свойственные любому человеку каждой нации. Пословица может иметь другие образы, но будет доносить тот же смысл:
| Английские пословицы | Русские эквиваленты английских пословиц |
| When in Rome, do as the Romans do. | В чужой монастырь со своим уставом не ходят. |
| The early bird catches the worm. | Кто рано встаёт – тому Бог подает. |
| Too many cooks spoil the broth. | У семи нянек дитя без глазу. |
⠀
Но есть высказывания, которые вообще не имеют эквивалента в русском языке. Такие пословицы в наибольшей степени отражают отличия менталитета, поэтому составляют для нас особый интерес.
Кстати, сегодня мы узнаем не только смысл этих английских пословиц, но и связанные с ними занимательные истории.
Обрати внимание: если вдруг ты не согласен с описанным примером и точно знаешь русский аналог, то обязательно пиши об этом в комментариях – подискутируем! 🙂
Уникальное наследие: пословицы на английском языке с переводом
1. If you can’t be good, be careful.
Дословный перевод: Если не можешь быть хорошим, будь осторожен.
Если ты собираешься делать безнравственные вещи, убедись, что они не опасны для тебя или общества. Когда ты планируешь сделать что-то аморальное, удостоверься, что об этом никто не узнает.
Первое упоминание именно этой формулировки датируется 1903-м годом, но смысл выражения намного старше и берет свое начало из латинской пословицы “Si non caste, tamen caute” (если не целомудренно, то по крайней мере осторожно).
2. A volunteer is worth twenty pressed men.
Дословный перевод: Один доброволец стоит двадцати принужденных.
Значение пословицы по сути прямое: даже маленькая группа людей может быть полезнее, если у нее есть энтузиазм, стремление и т.д. Зародилась эта пословица в начале 18-го века.
В то время Королевский флот имел группу матросов, вооруженных дубинками, чья цель была “насобирать” моряков на флот. Они могли делать это, рассказывая о небывалых преимуществах службы, или же просто силой (все же вооружены дубинками они были неспроста).
Такое стечение обстоятельств не делало принужденного хорошим моряком. Отсюда и “вытекло” это умозаключение.
Заметь, что в этой пословице можно менять соотношение цифр:
100 volunteers are worth 200 press’d men.
One volunteer is worth two pressed men
и т.д.
3. Suffering for a friend doubleth friendship.
Дословный перевод: Страдание за друга удваивает дружбу.
Значение этой шотландской пословицы понятно без особых объяснений. Казалось бы, в русском языке есть довольно похожая пословица “друг познается в беде”. При этом очень интересен сам смысл “страдания за друга”. Если в русском варианте говорится о том, чтобы не отвернуться от друга и помочь ему в трудной ситуации, то здесь именно страдать вместе с ним, тем самым усиливая дружбу.
Еще одна интересная с точки зрения образов английская пословица о дружбе: Friends are made in wine and proven in tears (дружба рождается в вине, а проверяется в слезах).
Также читайте: Какой он — живой английский язык?
4. A woman’s work is never done.
Дословный перевод: Женский труд никогда не заканчивается.
Ну вот и о нашей нелегкой женской доле английские пословицы позаботились 🙂 Выражение пошло от старинного двустишия:
Man may work from sun to sun,
But woman’s work is never done.
Получается, значение пословицы в том, что женские дела (в отличие от мужских) длятся бесконечно. Видно это из примера:
“A woman’s work is never done!”, said Leila. She added: “As soon as I finish washing the breakfast dishes, it’s time to start preparing lunch. Then I have to go shopping and when the kids are back home I have to help them with their homework.”
(“Женский труд никогда не заканчивается!”, – Сказала Лейла. Она добавила: “Как только я заканчиваю мыть посуду после завтрака, приходит время готовить обед. Потом я должна идти по магазинам и, когда дети возвращаются домой, я должна помогать им с домашним заданием”.)
5. Comparisons are odious / odorous.
Дословный перевод: Сравнения отвратительны / воняют.
Люди должны оцениваться по их собственным заслугам, не стоит кого-либо или что-либо сравнивать между собой.
Два варианта пословица имеет не просто так. Первый вариант (Comparisons are odious) очень древний, и впервые он был запечатлен еще в 1440 году. А вот измененный вариант (Comparisons are odorous) был “создан” Шекспиром и использован им в пьесе “Много шума из ничего”.
6. Money talks.
Дословный перевод: Деньги говорят (сами за себя).
Значение – деньги решают все. Происхождение выражения является предметом споров среди лингвистов. Одни считают, что пословица зародилась в Америке 19-го века, другие – что в средневековой Англии.
Кстати, пословица использована в названии песни австралийской рок-группы AC/DC.
7. Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself.
Дословный перевод: Не держи собаку, если лаешь сам.
Значение этой английском пословицы: не работай за своего подчиненного. Высказывание очень древнее: первое упоминание зафиксировано еще в 1583 году.
По поводу отсутствия аналога: в разных источниках дана разная информация. Кто-то согласен с тем, что аналогов в русском языке нет, другие в качестве эквивалента предлагают пословицу:
За то собаку кормят, что она лает.
Однако, в Большом словаре русских пословиц такой пословицы о собаке нет вообще. Возможно, то что предлагают нам в качестве альтернативы, это адаптированный перевод именно английской пословицы (такое бывает).
8. Every man has his price.
Дословный перевод: У каждого есть своя цена.
Согласно этой пословице, подкупить можно любого, главное предложить достаточную цену. Наблюдение впервые зафиксировано в 1734 году, но, скорее всего, имеет и более давнюю историю.
Также читайте: История Англии: список лучших документальных фильмов
9. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Дословный перевод: Подражание – самая искренняя форма лести.
Значение пословицы прямое. Эта формулировка восходит к началу 19-го века. Но сама мысль еще древнее и встречалась в текстах 18-го века, например, в 1714 году у журналиста Юстаса Баджелла:
Imitation is a kind of artless Flattery (Имитация является своего рода бесхитростной лестью).
10. It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness.
Дословный перевод: Лучше зажечь свечу, чем проклинать темноту.
Вопрос об аналоге снова спорен: в некоторых источниках, где даны английские пословицы с переводом на русский, эквивалентом называют:
Лучше пойти и плюнуть, чем плюнуть и не пойти.
Хочу с этим поспорить. Значение русской пословицы: лучше сделать, чем жалеть, что не сделал. Смысл английской – лучше исправить положение, чем жаловаться на него. Лично мне смысловая составляющая про жалобы кажется первостепенной, поэтому приравнивать эти пословицы я бы не стала.
11. Stupid is as stupid does
Дословный перевод: Глуп тот, кто глупо поступает.
На самом деле это не совсем “народная пословица”, а фраза, которой Форест Гамп отбивался от назойливых вопросов о своем интеллекте:
Фраза ушла в народ 🙂 Прародитель этого выражения – пословица “Handsome is as handsome does” (красив тот, кто красиво поступает), уже имеющая аналог в русском языке: “Не тот хорош, кто лицом пригож, а тот хорош, кто для дела гож”.
Также читайте: Игра престолов с Lingualeo, или Hear me roar
12. You can’t make bricks without straw
Дословный перевод: Нельзя сделать кирпич без соломы.
Опять же в некоторых источниках в качестве аналога указывается русское “без труда не вытащишь и рыбку из пруда”. При этом английская пословица говорит не о трудолюбии, а о невозможности выполнить задачу без необходимых материалов.
“It’s no good trying to build a website if you don’t know any html, you can’t make bricks without straw.” (Не пытайся создать веб-сайт, если ты не знаешь HTML: ты не можешь делать кирпичи без соломы).
Согласно википедии выражение берет начало из библейского сюжета, когда Фараон в наказание запрещает давать израильтянам солому, но приказывает делать то же количество кирпичей, как и раньше.
Где искать пословицы и поговорки на английском языке по темам?
Возможно, это не все высказывания, не имеющие русских аналогов, ведь английских пословиц (и их значений) огромное множество. Кстати, ты вполне можешь поискать их самостоятельно в нашей Библиотеке материалов по запросу “proverb”, чтобы насытить свою английскую речь чудесными выражениями. Успехов! 🙂
never have a good word to say about (someone of something)
To always say negative, hurtful, or critical things about someone or something; to never or rarely say something positive or encouraging about someone or something. No wonder the kid’s self esteem is so low—his parents never have a good word to say about him. I don’t understand why she stays in the same job if she never has a good word to say about it.
See also: good, have, never, of, say, to, word
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms. © 2022 Farlex, Inc, all rights reserved.
not/never have a good word to ˈsay for/about somebody/something
(informal) not/never have anything positive to say about somebody/something: She rarely has a good word to say about her neighbours. ♢ Nobody has a good word to say for the new computer system. OPPOSITE: praise somebody/something to the skies
See also: for, good, have, never, not, say, somebody, something, to, word
Farlex Partner Idioms Dictionary © Farlex 2017
- never have a good word to say about (someone of something)
- never have a good word to say for (someone of something)
- not have a good word to say about (someone of something)
- not have a good word to say for (someone of something)
- say (something) for (someone or something)
- say for
- open (one’s) big mouth
- hint at
- hint at (something)
- hold your tongue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| «Something I Can Never Have» | |
|---|---|
| Song by Nine Inch Nails | |
| from the album Pretty Hate Machine | |
| Released | October 20, 1989 |
| Genre |
|
| Length | 5:55 |
| Label | TVT |
| Songwriter(s) | Trent Reznor |
| Producer(s) | Trent Reznor, John Fryer |
«Something I Can Never Have» is the fifth track by industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails from the 1989 debut album, Pretty Hate Machine. According to Loren Coleman, the song deals with suicidal themes.[2]
A «deconstructed» version of the song was also included in the live album And All That Could Have Been. The accompanying live music video, with Jerome Dillon was also released.[3] The song was used in the 1994 film Natural Born Killers.[4][5]
Background[edit]
Trent Reznor co-produced the track in London with John Fryer, although Reznor «kind of backed away» from it. He felt that Fryer’s production gave the track a «dreamy quality», as the piano is heavily filtered and features a large amount of reverb. The track also features elements of unused backing tracks by This Mortal Coil, a music collective that Fryer was part of; while these were initially included by accident, both Reznor and Fryer felt they fit well in the track.[6]
Reception[edit]
Tom Breihan from Pitchfork Media gave a positive review to the song, stating that the song portrays «an absolute mastery» with «its haunted, minimal piano figure and a few hushed synth tones slowly, letting in sputtering static, faraway door-slam drums, and quiet little counter-melodies.»[7] When the song was re-released in 2006, Rob Mitchum referred to it as a «‘Goodbye Blue Sky’ rip-off».[8] In 2020, Kerrang and Billboard ranked the song number seven and number five, respectively, on their lists of the greatest Nine Inch Nails songs.[9][10]
Covers[edit]
This song has been covered by Dutch dark wave band, Clan of Xymox, in its 2012 album Kindred Spirits, and by the band Flyleaf for Underworld: Evolution OST.[11] In July 2014, Tori Amos covered the song on her Unrepentant Geraldines Tour.[12] A version of the song was used in the fifth episode of the HBO series Westworld in 2016.[13]
References[edit]
- ^ Top Ten Most Depressing Alternative Rock Songs Retrieved January 5, 2015
- ^ Coleman, Loren (2004). The Copycat Effect: How the Media and Popular Culture Trigger the Mayhem in Tomorrow’s Headlines. Simon & Schuster. p. 184. ISBN 1416505547. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
- ^ «Nine Inch Nails — Something I Can Never Have». NME. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ Lochhead, Judy (2001). Postmodern Music/Postmodern Thought. Taylor & Francis, ISBN 9780815338208
- ^ Buckley, Peter (2003). The Rough Guide to Rock. Rough Guides. ISBN 1858284570. Retrieved December 1, 2012.
- ^ Doerschuk, Robert L. (April 1990). «Nine Inch Nails». Keyboard. Vol. 16, no. 4. San Bruno. Retrieved July 6, 2019.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (November 24, 2010). «Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine». Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ Mitchum, Rob (January 12, 2006). «Nine Inch Nails Pretty Hate Machine». Pitchfork Media. Retrieved November 8, 2012.
- ^ Law, Sam (August 7, 2020). «The 20 greatest Nine Inch Nails songs – ranked». Kerrang. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ Unterberger, Andrew (November 5, 2020). «The 25 Best Nine Inch Nails Songs: Staff Picks». Billboard. Retrieved August 29, 2022.
- ^ «Marco Beltrami – Underworld: Evolution (Original Score)». Discogs. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
- ^ Cinquemani, Sal (August 21, 2014). «The 10 Best Cover Songs from Tori Amos’s Unrepentant Geraldines Tour». Slant Magazine. Retrieved August 22, 2014.
- ^ Vineyard, Jennifer (November 2, 2016). «Why Did Westworld Choose That Downer of a Nine Inch Nails Song During the Orgy Scene?». Vulture. Retrieved November 2, 2016.