Problem
Given a short J phrase, provide the equivalent common English idiom (or vice-versa).
Constraints
- J phrases must be syntactically valid. That is, they do not produce an error when typed into the most recent J interpreter.
- English idioms must be common, real, and not "close hits". American idioms are preferred to UKisms.
- If you see a J phrase translated to an English idiom, and you feel the J phrase was not the best expression of the idiom, submit the better one.
Notes
Feel free to submit your own J phrase puzzles. Or even English idioms for a reverse search.
No. |
Puzzle |
Translation |
Puzzle |
Solution |
Notes |
0 |
" *. (1!:) |
"rank and file" |
-- DanBron 2006-05-19 18:09:27 |
-- RogerHui 2006-05-19 19:40:45 |
|
1 |
> a: |
"within an ace" |
-- DanBron 2006-05-19 18:09:27 |
-- DanBron 2007-03-21 21:47:50 because no one found the solution |
|
2 |
,~ 1 |
"beside oneself" |
-- DanBron 2006-05-19 18:09:27 |
-- DanBron 2007-03-21 21:47:50 because no one found the solution |
|
3 |
{. +: {: |
"head nor tail" |
-- DanBron 2006-05-19 18:09:27 |
-- Raul Miller 2006-05-19 16:29:02 |
|
4 |
"level with me" |
L: ] |
-- DanBron 2006-05-19 18:09:27 |
-- DanBron 2007-03-21 21:47:50 because no one found the solution |
|
5 |
". :: (2!:55) |
"do or die" |
-- DanBron 2006-05-24 09:51:14 |
|
|
6 |
1 {.^:_ it |
"take it to the limit" |
-- RogerHui 2009-09-26 18:33:31 |
-- DanBron 2009-09-28 18:08:09 |
|
7 |
?~2e9 |
"big deal" |
-- RogerHui 2009-09-26 18:36:25 |
-- DanBron 2009-09-28 18:07:09 |
The monadic version ?2e9 could be described as "high roller". |
8 |
1 2 1 ([: |. _4 1 +/ .* [ *//. ^~) ] |
"reverse discrimination" |
-- RogerHui 2009-09-26 18:54:43 |
-- DanBron 2009-09-28 18:15:53 |
The verb 1 2 1 (_4 1 +/ .* [ *//. ^~) ] calculates the discriminant |
, and of course |.
Discussion
- Is there a better way to express number 2?
- 4 is a syntax error, and more generally it's not obvious what you're aiming for with any of these. A literal translation of 1 would be "unbox ace", while a literal translation of 3 would be "head nor tail" -- these don't seem to be common phrases. And 0 seems useless. Perhaps an example would illustrate the point?
Perhaps the solution to 0 answers some of your questions? -- RogerHui 2006-05-19 19:40:45
- Yep, Roger got 0.
- You got 3 (10400000 hits for [head nor tail] on Google).
You did not get 1, which is why it doesn't make sense to you. They can't all be obvious.
Regarding 4, the J phrases must not produce errors. But 4 is not a J phrase, it is an English idiom. The "puzzle" column may be a J phrase to translate to an English idiom or a English idiom to translate to a J phrase (notice the problem spec says "or vice-versa").
These early puzzles are easy and meant to stimulate interest in creating harder ones. They're poor witticisms in the sense demonstrated at Essays/Witticisms, which generally derive their translations by their actions (what they do), not their composition (what they're made of).
#7 is better described as "big deal", seeing as how the dyad ? is "deal" ("roll" is the monad). -- RogerHui 2009-09-28 20:04:38
Ok, changed & noted.