Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Arabic term or phrase:
انا سابت مفاصلي
English translation:
my knees gave
Arabic term
United Kingdom
انا سابت مفاصلي
- سيب يا عسكري
- أنا اللي سابت مفاصلي
Proposed translations
United Arab Emirates
It's not just a job...
Native in: Arabic (Variant: Egyptian) 
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
my knees gave
- it's my knees that gave!
The literal translation is that his legs turned to jelly from being scared/startled.
This is just an attempt to keep the pun between سيب and سابت
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K. Ganly (X)
: this is a good attempt at using the alliteration in English. i like it. I would use "its my knees that have given up! " though.
28 mins
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Ghada Samir
: Yes, "...That have given up!" Suitable to the dialogue!
1 hr
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Thanks
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Mohammad Gornas
: agree to Katharine`s input it gives more sense to the entry
6 hrs
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Quality stands out...
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English, French to Arabic, and 1 more.
Got ants in my pants
You could say: I can't. I got ants in my pants!
Good luck.
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Tamer Mekhimar
: It means to be unable to sit still, for example because you are nervous or full of energy. I checked the link attached and the meaning is "nervousness and agitation". What I believe the meaning is about being afraid.
5 mins
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No, please refer to http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/ants in pants
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Hani Hassaan
11 mins
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meci cheri
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Mohamed Ghazal
: Hi Noha. I am afraid Tamer is right
31 mins
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Egypt
10+ years of experience
Native in: Arabic (Variants: Egyptian, Standard-Arabian (MSA)) 
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
shake in one's boots and quake in one's boots
I've gone all weak in the knees
Egypt
Accuracy and Timeliness
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
my joints is shaking like a jelly/ I got a butterflies in my tummy
my joints is shaking like a jelly/ I got a butterflies in my tummy/ scared stiff
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Note added at 35 mins (2009-04-16 22:48:05 GMT)
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butterflies without (a)
To shake like a leaf
"Im shaking like a leaf" = " Im scared out of my wits!"
Türkiye
Taleb Ebrahim - Arabic - English - Turkish Professional Conference Interpreter-Translator
Conference Interpreting & Translation -
Native in: Arabic
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic, Turkish to Arabic, and 5 more.
My knees its gone
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Note added at 1 hr (2009-04-16 23:33:17 GMT)
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My knees are killing me
Professional accurate reliable service
Native in: Arabic , English
Works in: Arabic to English, English to Arabic, Arabic, and 1 more.
my legs/limbs turned to jelly
Sudan
Translation is a responsibily
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
it is me who is tired of you
Egypt
PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL TRANSLATOR
Native in: Arabic
Works in: English to Arabic, Arabic to English
I've spaghetti legs
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