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Quand Même!

aggie
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It must have been something quite private that finally occured : a wedding, a birth, a contract .... Something that happened at last, something they wanted but can't achieved... AT LAST is the closest traduction but there is a hint of satisfaction, victory and relief in "QUAND MÊME ", even some bravado...
 
Tony C.
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Also odd is the use of Roman numerals only for the day.
 
aggie
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Not the day. The month.The 24 December 1937. Christmas Eve , probably,
Edited:
 
Duracuir1
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Modest_Proposal Modest_Proposal
I learned a little French back in the day, but this phrase doesn't make sense to me. Can someone who speaks it fluently tell me what this fun little phrase might mean?

(sadly, the watch has a bad redial)

https://www.ebay.com/itm/165178646993?hash=item26756a21d1:g:M7sAAOSwyJZhjYjQ
I grew up speaking French (Canada) and used this expression a lot. Explaining it is like trying to explain baseball though. I know how to play, but to teach it! No way!

It means something along the lines of « despite » or « just the same ». Example. « Je ne t’aime pas, mais j’achèterais quand meme ta montre. ».

Translation. « I don’t like you, but I would buy your watch just the same. »

I have used it as “even though” and “even if” also.

@Syrte will do better than me, but read my explanation quand meme!
Edited:
 
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aggie
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@Duracuir1 Oui , mais !orsqu'on utilise "quand même" seul en interjection comme ici, c'est un peu différent. Ça devient une interjection bravache.Ah ! Quand même , tu l'as fait/eu/dit...Not easy to explain, though !
 
Syrte
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It’s clearly a private joke, or a reference to private discussions. It can losely be translated as «despite it all » or «anyway »- and in context could mean I’m offering this watch to you **anyway** (ie despite the fact I said I wouldn’t or despite the fact you said you didn’t want it).
Another interpretation is that the recipient uses that phrase all the time or simply that it refers to a discussion in which those words were uttered eg « I love you anyway » or « despite it all »….
 
aggie
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Syrte Syrte
It’s clearly a private joke, or a reference to private discussions. It can losely be translated as «despite it all » or «anyway »- and in context could mean I’m offering this watch to you **anyway** (ie despite the fact I said I wouldn’t or despite the fact you said you didn’t want it).
Another interpretation is that the recipient uses that phrase all the time or simply that it refers to a discussion in which those words were uttered eg « I love you anyway » or « despite it all »….

True, saying "Quand même " is about something on going for some time, perharps a long time BUT it can be used on that way anytime and for anything you want in these kind of occurrences . This use is not specific to these people, it is usual idiomatic french language.
 
Boojumhunter
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aggie aggie
Not the day. The month.The 24 December 1937. Christmas Eve , probably,
I went through a phase of writing months this way when I was regularly using a fountain pen. Thank heavens I'm no longer pretentious (he says with tongue in cheek and vintage watch in hand...)
 
Omegafanman
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Maybe you give someone a secret gift on Xmas Eve.....because you can’t see the person on Xmas day.....the watch might have a racy past....and if you cant spend time with them on Xmas day is has all been a bit bitter sweet....

Mind you a gold watch would be a bit of a red flag / a high risk strategy;0)
 
Woops
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I just love that an inscription from 84 years ago shared between two presumably fond friends or lovers has sparked such a lively global discussion here decades later.

Little watch threads such as this are a real tonic during another alienating auction season - thanks gang!
 
aggie
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Woops Woops
I just love that an inscription from 84 years ago shared between two presumably fond friends or lovers has sparked such a lively global discussion here decades later.

Little watch threads such as this are a real tonic during another alienating auction season - thanks gang!

Proof watches are magical . The oldest are the most magical ! Watch an antique watch and through your imagination you can live several lifes back. Extraordinary ! ( it is the same for many other antiques, actually... should I say I love antiques? ha!ha)
Edited:
 
felsby
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Tony C. Tony C.
Also odd is the use of Roman numerals only for the day.
Europeans typically use YYYY-MM-DD. Also, we don't have 24 months 😁
 
Servius
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Thanks for sharing this !

Clearly a private joke, our imaginations will do the rest… 👍
 
MTROIS
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Syrte Syrte
It’s clearly a private joke, or a reference to private discussions. It can losely be translated as «despite it all » or «anyway »- and in context could mean I’m offering this watch to you **anyway** (ie despite the fact I said I wouldn’t or despite the fact you said you didn’t want it).
Another interpretation is that the recipient uses that phrase all the time or simply that it refers to a discussion in which those words were uttered eg « I love you anyway » or « despite it all »….
Très belle (et bonne!) explication. Merci @Syrte !! 👍👍👍
 
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