Fare-thee-well

[JPablo]

fare-thee-well or fare-you-well
1. A state of perfection.
2. The maximum effect.

What would be a good Spanish translation?

(What is the common register of this in English?)

[Rusty]

(to a/the) state of perfection
(to an/the) utmost degree
(to a/the) flawlessness
(to) perfection
to a tee

[JPablo]

Thank you Rusty,

You think that "a la perfección" or "al máximo" would work in Spanish?

And... is it a bit highbrow expression in English?

[Rusty]

Yes, fare-thee-well is a highbrow expression.

I don't see anything wrong with the Spanish equivalents you proposed, but something like 'al no va más' might also work.

[JPablo]

Ah, buena idea. Supongo que algo como "al non plus ultra" puede funcionar en algún contexto.

Gracias os sean dadas...

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by JPablo

(What is the common register of this in English?)

Unused. The only collocation of those words in the BNC are two quotes from Shakespeare and one reference to a work by Byron, and in all three cases the meaning is more vaya con Dios.

[Don José]

After reading this post, I remembered learning a song when being a kid with "fare-thee-well" (or perhaps "farewell").

I've been browsing and found some songs with that expression.
Curiously, here they use both "farewell to you" and "fare-thee-well", and the meaning seems to be a way of saying goodbye.

http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.n...25709000436734

However, that's "my song", using fare thee well:

[wrholt]

I've heard or read "fare-thee-well" = "extremely" occasionally here in the US; it's not commonly used, but it isn't unknown either.

[JPablo]

Ok, thank you all.
I see that Merriam Websters gives
fare-thee-well: the utmost degree <researched the story to a fare–thee–well>
2
: a state of perfection <imitated the speaker's pompous manner to a fare–thee–well>

Variants of FARE-THEE-WELL

fare–thee–well also fare–you–well

So, although BNC only gives a couple of quotations with the "you" version... I would not "discard" this expression...

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by JPablo

So, although BNC only gives a couple of quotations with the "you" version... I would not "discard" this expression...

COCA doesn't have any relevant examples either. Use it if you want, but bear in mind that most of the native speakers who don't respond by asking what you mean are probably guessing from context.

[JPablo]

Yup, thank you, pjt33.
I totally get your drift... I don't discard it, in terms of understanding it in context, but probably I'd not use it very much.

Se comprende, y adiós muy buenas... o "si te he visto, no me acuerdo"...

[Calcoyote]

A few thoughts on the usage of this phrase:

Without regard to what the dictionaries say, In years past this phrase was used here in the United States by Christian groups as a way of saying "be blessed" or "Dios te bendiga". If it were used today it would sound kind of odd and antiquated.

It could still be used in a sarcastic manner. For example if you feel that someone has made a poor decision that will result in a mistake, you could use sarcasm and say, "well good luck with that" or "fare thee well".

It is not a term that is very commonly used in the United States.

[JPablo]

Thank you for your remarks, Calcoyote. I appreciate the additional thoughts on the expression and possible usages.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Never heard of it before.