# go out of one's way



## beauxyeux

I've found this expression on the dictionary, still I can't get the real meaning of this sentence:

It was later that I realised you really had to go out of your way to get the police's attention.

Context: two children have broken the side window of a bus and now they are really afraid to be caught. The sentence is the comment of the protagonist.
Thanks


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## k_georgiadis

To go out one's way = to make an extraordinary effort


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## beauxyeux

k_georgiadis said:


> To go out one's way = to make an extraordinary effort



So in this case:

Devi fare qualcosa di veramente straordinario per richiamare l'attenzione della polizia

Is that right?


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## k_georgiadis

beauxyeux said:


> So in this case:
> 
> Devi fare qualcosa di veramente straordinario per richiamare l'attenzione della polizia
> 
> Is that right?


 
Esatto!


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## perfavore

Ciao,

Non devi dire, "dovevi/hai avuto fare di qualcosa..."?


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## k_georgiadis

Not to confuse the issue but Oxford-Paravia also suggests the following forms: sforzarsi di fare, fare tutto il possibile


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## beauxyeux

k_georgiadis said:


> Not to confuse the issue but Oxford-Paravia also suggests the following forms: sforzarsi di fare, fare tutto il possibile



Yes I also found "darsi la pena di", but I think your suggestion is the one which fits better here.

And Perfavore, yes you're right, I've got to change the tense!

Thanks to both of you


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## armour65

Ciao,

Would something like "Non voglio darti fastidio" be along the same lines as "I don't want you to go out of your way"


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## Sibille

Ciao , 
I'm Sibille (I'm new here) 
I want give just another example of  'go out of your way'

'She is very friendly: whenever someone new joins the firm, she goes out of her way to make them feel welcome' 

It's correct the use of the verb in this sentence, isn' t it? 
The meaning is 'fa il possibile' ...Is it correct?

Thank you 
Bye bye


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## k_georgiadis

Yes, your sentence is correct as is its meaning. 
Welcome to the Forum.


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## Sibille

Thank you K_georgiadis 
Have a nice day
Bye


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## danalto

Hmmm... si potrebbe anche rendere con "ho fatto l'impossibile".
_Da "Rescue Me"._

*SHEILA
[...] and you know what? I have gone out of my way to force myself into accepting this stupid goddamn idea of yours.*
*SHEILA
[...] la sai una cosa? Ho fatto l'impossibile per sforzarmi di / obbligarmi ad accettare questa tua stupida idea* _(come rendere *goddam*, qui???)_.


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## Giorgio Spizzi

Forse "questa tua maledettamente stupida idea", danalto, ma mi rendo conto che il ritmo della frase ne risente negativamente.


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## danalto

Giorgio Spizzi said:


> Forse "questa tua maledettamente stupida idea", danalto, ma mi rendo conto che il ritmo della frase ne risente negativamente.



No, no, va _maledettamente bene_! Perché ho bisogno di allungarla un po'! Sheila è piuttosto alterata, si sta rivolgendo al figlio.  Grazie!


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## beccamutt

danalto said:


> Hmmm... si potrebbe anche rendere con "ho fatto l'impossibile".
> _Da "Rescue Me"._
> 
> *SHEILA*
> *[...] and you know what? I have gone out of my way to force myself into accepting this stupid goddamn idea of yours.*
> *SHEILA*
> *[...] la sai una cosa? Ho fatto l'impossibile per sforzarmi di / obbligarmi ad accettare questa tua stupida idea* _(come rendere *goddam*, qui???)_.


 
Perhaps:

_I have gone out of my way to force myself into accepting..._
_Ho fatto fatica per sforzarmi di accettare..._


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## danalto

beccamutt said:


> Perhaps:
> 
> _I have gone out of my way to force myself into accepting..._
> _Ho fatto fatica per sforzarmi di accettare..._



Nice!  Thanks, Becca!


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## rrose17

Hi, I'm re-opening this thread because in the original post I don't think "go out of your way" was used figuratively, rather it meant the you, literally, had to travel a great distance, or in a completely different direction to get there. I'd like to say
You don't have to go out of your way to get there.
My brilliant attempt... 
Non devi andare fuori della strada di arrivarci. ???


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## kap

beauxyeux said:


> It was later that I realised you really had to go out of your way to get the police's attention.



In response to today's doubts about whether this was meant in a figurative sense or not, I feel it is 99% sure it was figurative. Firstly, "attention" is not a physical presence, but a state of mind. Secondly, I believe the author would have opted for another expression had it been meant as a distance issue; something like "...you really had to travel miles to...."

I concede a 1% element of doubt, but not much more.

kap


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## rrose17

Well if I may take your 1% doubt and add my interest in knowing how to use this expression literally is there anyone out there who can help?  Perhaps I wasn't clear as I could have been. The expression can, in fact, be used literally, and I would like to say 
Why don't you go to XX? It's not out of your way to go there. 
Or alternately 
Why don't you go to XX? It's on your way.


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## Giorgio Spizzi

Ciao, rrose, come va?

L'originale "_It was later that I realised you really had to go out of your way to get the police's attention_" è un lamento: il parlante si duole del fatto che per ottenere l'attenzione della polizia è necessario fare proprio l'impossibile. 
Credo che sia questo il senso (figurato, dunque) dell'espressione "go out of one's way". 
Si potrebbe anche renderla, in modo più colloquiale, con "Solo più tardi mi resi conto che la polizia, per attirare la sua attenzione, ti fa/faceva vedere i sorci verdi".

Non ho capito bene: stai cercando una frase di senso compiuto (sentence) in cui " go out of one's way" sia impiegato in senso letterale?
Se è così, ti propongo: "Afraid I'll have to go out of my way to give you a ride home".

Cari saluti.

GS


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## rrose17

Ciao Giorgio!
I'm very embarrassed to say that I read the original sentence ...to get to the police station!

In any case yes I would like to know how to say "It's not out of your way" 
If it's not out of your way can you pick me up some tomatoes before you come over?


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## Pat (√2)

rrose17 said:


> Why don't you go to XX? It's not out of your way to go there.
> Or alternately
> Why don't you go to XX? It's on your way.




Ok, in senso* non *figurato . Ci sono varie alternative. Una abbastanza sintetica ed efficace a mio parere è questa:

Perché non vai a (Bologna)? E' di strada.
_E' di strada =_ si trova lungo la strada che devi percorrere / non devi cambiare direzione / non devi cambiare strada / non devi fare deviazioni

If it's not out of your way can you pick me up some tomatoes before you come over?

Se per te è di strada, puoi comprarmi dei pomodori prima di venire qui?


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## Polpo_D

I'm interested in the negative imperative of this phrase,

"Don't go out of your way!"  

It's something a guest might say to a host who's offering to cook for him/her.

---
Host : "Come on in, I'll make you some dinner"
Guest : "Oh, you don't have to go out of your way"

Are there any expressions that work better than, "Non incomodarti", "Non disturbarti"  ?


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## Pietruzzo

Polpo_D said:


> Are there any expressions that work better than, "Non incomodarti", "Non disturbarti"  ?


No,  grazie. È troppo disturbo.


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## Polpo_D

Grazie!


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## King Crimson

Polpo_D said:


> I'm interested in the negative imperative of this phrase,
> 
> "Don't go out of your way!"
> 
> It's something a guest might say to a host who's offering to cook for him/her.
> 
> ---
> Host : "Come on in, I'll make you some dinner"
> Guest : "Oh, you don't have to go out of your way"
> 
> Are there any expressions that work better than, "Non incomodarti", "Non disturbarti"  ?



This one too is good, it's what I would say and it's a little less formal than the option suggested by Pietruzzo. Also, 'non incomodarti' is correct, but 'non scomodarti' is more common.


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## Pietruzzo

I have to disagree with @King Crimson. To me "non scomodarti/disturbarti" sound more sarcastic than informal. Just my opinion.
Another option:"No, dai! Troppo fastidio.


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## Polpo_D

Thanks again, In English the phrase literally means something like:

Non cambiare abitudini

And suggests that if you were already making dinner, that's fine, but don't put any extra effort into it.
Is this phrase also possible, or is it uncommon?  Thanks again


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## King Crimson

Pietruzzo said:


> I have to disagree with @King Crimson. To me "non scomodarti/disturbarti" sound more sarcastic than informal. Just my opinion.



Really? I would say that only in the right context it could be understood that way (but then this could be true for any of the other suggested options).
However, it might be interesting and helpful to have other native speakers weigh in on this.


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## Fooler

King Crimson said:


> This one too is good, it's what I would say and it's a little less formal than the option suggested by Pietruzzo. Also, 'non incomodarti' is correct, but 'non scomodarti' is more common.



I agree with King, although "_Non disturbarti_" sounds polite and common to my ears rather than "_Non scomodarti_" which sounds a little bit sarcastic...to me,of course.


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