Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term
Israel
Translating since 2004 / ITA Recognized
Native in: French 
, English
Works in: French to English, Russian to English, Hebrew to English
à eux seuls
I do not understand the second sentence.
| 4 +9 | alone |
B D Finch
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| 4 +1 | left alone |
Daryo
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| 4 | single-handedly |
Zohar CHABAUD
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| 4 | they suffice to... |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
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May 14, 2014 23:49: philgoddard changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"
Non-PRO (3): Michele Fauble, Nikki Scott-Despaigne, philgoddard
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Proposed translations
alone
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Note added at 13 mins (2014-05-14 17:25:39 GMT)
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I hope that this is not the sort of elitist argument that assumes that one lot of people contribute ideas, while another lot of people contribute the hands to construct what has been conceived. It is better to assume that all people can be workers by both hand and brain. (To freely adapt Clause 4.)
| This reinforces my sense of the meaning of this sentence. The context involves leaders of "peace" thinking. |
| agree |
Denise DeVries
: Yes, "in themselves" or "per se"
16 mins
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Thanks Denise
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| agree |
Sheri P
44 mins
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Thanks Sheri
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| agree |
writeaway
: Lots of ways to translate this. This is one of them
1 hr
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Thanks writeaway
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| agree |
Tony M
: Totally agree (though I'm very happy to take care of the brains bit and leave the brawn to the others...)
2 hrs
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Thanks Tony (you old elitist).
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| agree |
Daniel Weston
2 hrs
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Thanks Daniel
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| agree |
Helen Shiner
3 hrs
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Thanks Helen
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| agree |
Michele Fauble
4 hrs
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Thanks Michele
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| agree |
Melissa McMahon
5 hrs
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Thanks Melissa
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| agree |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
: The sentence could start quite simply with "They alone ..."
6 hrs
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Thanks Nikki. Possibly.
|
France
Inspiringly professional
Native in: Hebrew 
Works in: English to Hebrew, French to Hebrew
single-handedly
With its ideological, right wing approach, the Conservatives have single-handedly created a situation that will contribute to the rise of poverty in our country.
| agree |
Carol Gullidge
: elegant!
17 mins
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Merci :)
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| agree |
SafeTex
: I like this especially if you are able to keep 'arms' in the sentence before
2 hrs
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Thanks
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| neutral |
Tony M
: You can't speak of 'arms' doing anything 'single-handedly' — it would sound comical at best, and at worst, nonsensical: the brain does not provide a second hand.
2 hrs
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| neutral |
Michele Fauble
: Agree with Tony's comment
4 hrs
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| disagree |
Daryo
: wrong slant - it would mean s.o. ("hands") managed to do s.t. ("wreck things") without needing any external help (you would almost make it sound like some kind of achievement)
10 hrs
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| disagree |
Victoria Britten
: With Daryo
14 hrs
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Psychologist, Court-certified legal
Native in: English
Works in: French to English
they suffice to...
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Note added at 6 hrs (2014-05-14 23:34:06 GMT)
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As in "they suffice to destroy what has been (was) built".
More context about what leads up to this pair of sentences might help to get the style and pitch right.
left alone
Les idées engagent les bras dans la construction du monde. Ces derniers à eux seuls ne font que détruire ce qui a été construit.
... . Left alone, hands ....
| agree |
Victoria Britten
: or "on their own": both reinforce the point that ideas are needed to drive positive action
4 hrs
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ideas are needed to drive positive action - exactly the point; no need to add "elitism" nor "anti-elitism" in the mix. Thanks!
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Discussion