How to answer this Creative Thinking interview question about Idiomatic Translation for Mid-Level Translator?

How do you handle translating idiomatic expressions to retain their meaning in the target language?

A popular meme image featuring the Marvel character Thanos with the caption “A small price to pay for salvation,” commonly used to humorously express acceptance of a minor sacrifice for a greater benefit.
Translator

Creative Thinking

Asked at

Lionbridge

Difficulty :

Medium

A modern, rounded square webclip or app icon with a soft gradient background, representing a mobile-friendly shortcut or digital brand identity for quick access and visual consistency.
A popular meme image featuring the Marvel character Thanos with the caption “A small price to pay for salvation,” commonly used to humorously express acceptance of a minor sacrifice for a greater benefit.

Explanation

This question evaluates your ability to adapt idiomatic expressions into the target language while preserving the original meaning and context. Recruiters assess your creativity, cultural knowledge, and linguistic flexibility. Common pitfalls include translating idiomatic expressions literally without considering cultural context or failing to find an equivalent expression. A strong answer involves explaining how you research and adapt idioms using culturally appropriate equivalents or creative phrasing.

A popular meme image featuring the Marvel character Thanos with the caption “A small price to pay for salvation,” commonly used to humorously express acceptance of a minor sacrifice for a greater benefit.

Answer Example

I handle idiomatic expressions by first analyzing the context in which they are used and identifying the intended meaning. I then research culturally equivalent expressions in the target language or rephrase the message in a way that retains its impact. For example, when translating "spill the beans" into Spanish, I replaced it with the equivalent phrase "revelar el secreto" to maintain the intended meaning.

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A popular meme image featuring the Marvel character Thanos with the caption “A small price to pay for salvation,” commonly used to humorously express acceptance of a minor sacrifice for a greater benefit.

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A popular meme image featuring the Marvel character Thanos with the caption “A small price to pay for salvation,” commonly used to humorously express acceptance of a minor sacrifice for a greater benefit.

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A popular meme image featuring the Marvel character Thanos with the caption “A small price to pay for salvation,” commonly used to humorously express acceptance of a minor sacrifice for a greater benefit.

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