# Say It In Latin

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-in-latin/562868>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 3, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-in-latin/562868 "2010-12-03T22:13:08Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-in-latin/562868/1 "2010-12-03T22:13:08Z")

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How would you render “Don’t risk it” in Latin? Google Translate gives me “Periculum est ne”, but I’m dubious, although I know exactly zero about Latin.

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-in-latin/562868/2 "2010-12-03T22:44:06Z")

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In what sense? You might get away with “Cave!” - “Beware!”

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**Author:** ![astorian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ad7895/32.png) [@astorian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astorian)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-in-latin/562868/3 "2010-12-03T23:07:43Z")

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“Noli audere” would mean “Do not dare.”

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**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [December 3, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-in-latin/562868/4 "2010-12-03T23:11:26Z")

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In the sense of “When in doubt…” It’s kind of our family motto. We almost always go with the safe bet or the known quantity, so I want to make it official and put it on a crest.

ETA: Ideally, it should convey the idea of not losing something you already have.

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**Author:** ![Johnny\_Angel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d26b3c/32.png) [@Johnny\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Angel)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-in-latin/562868/5 "2010-12-04T01:24:40Z")

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There is an old proberb:

_Nōlī plaustrum percellere_ – literally “don’t knock over the wagon” used in the same sense as “don’t upset the apple cart”  
_Quī maiōra cupit saepe minōra capit_ - Who wishes for bigger things often gets smaller ones.  
_In arēnā aedificās._ - You are building on sand.  
_Semper avārus eget_ - The greedy man is always in need.

But if you’re looking for something new:

_Aude dēpōnere_ - dare to give up!  
_Nōn perditum quod nōn spōnsum_ - It is not lost which is not bet.  
_Nīl est sperandum!_ - Nothing is to be hoped for (a play on _nīl dēsperandum_).

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**Author:** ![Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/4bbf92/32.png) [@Heart\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Heart_of_Dorkness)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2010, 1:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/say-it-in-latin/562868/6 "2010-12-04T01:44:07Z")

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Well, I was looking for a literal translation, but I do like these:

> [@Johnny\_Angel](#):
>
> _Nōlī plaustrum percellere_ – literally “don’t knock over the wagon” used in the same sense as “don’t upset the apple cart”

> [@Johnny\_Angel](#):
>
> _Nōn perditum quod nōn spōnsum_ - It is not lost which is not bet.

Now I just have to pick one. The bluntness of the first captures the mood of “Don’t risk it”, but the second is more poetic and motto-like. Decisions, decisions.