# A question about a fake Latin phrase **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-a-fake-latin-phrase/638448 "2012-10-21T19:36:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-a-fake-latin-phrase/638448/1 "2012-10-21T19:36:49Z")
Okay, if “Illegitimi non carborundum” is fake Latin for “Don’t let the bastards grind you down” how would that statement actually be stated in _real_ Latin? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2012, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-a-fake-latin-phrase/638448/2 "2012-10-21T20:09:48Z")
Something like _Noli permittere ut spurii te adterent_ would be close. “Do not (literally, “be unwilling”) to-allow that bastards you should-grind-down”. I just found “spurius” after a quick search, and now I think I know where one of the characters in “How Horatius Kept The Bridge” got his name. Grammatically, having said “be unwilling to permit” the thing you’re refusing to permit then appears as a subjunctive, not an infinitive and still less an indicative. Latin’s like that. ---
**Author:** ![Hail\_Ants](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/dc4da7/32.png) [@Hail\_Ants](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hail_Ants)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2012, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-question-about-a-fake-latin-phrase/638448/3 "2012-10-22T00:05:16Z")
Hey, _“istaimundus-fearriobundus!”_ Oh, I forgot, you don’t speak Latin… 😃