Calling all Latin speakers!

[doghandler]

I know nothing about latin except that, "Illigetemi Non Carburundum", means, "Dont let the bas***ds grind you down!

This was sent to me at the end of an email.

What I want to know is, can anyone, translate my reply, "They didnt, I jumped ship", into Latin please?

I have tried all the online translators on the web, but I dont think it is that easy.

If anyone knows the translation or a similar comeback, it would be greatly appreciated.

[Quizmonster]

Here's a crack at it at least. ('Jump ship' is, of course, idiomatic and need not involving jumping or a ship!)

"Non faciebant...subterfugiebam."

Literally, "They did not...I escaped by stealth."

[doghandler]

Excellent!

Thank you ever so much.

[Peter Pedant]

I will ask all my crazy frenz.

the problem with 'they didnt' is that the verb is understood: the full version is 'they didnt grind me down'

The Romans used to repeat the main verb instead of saying yes or no.

and there has to be a classical verb for jump ship

? I wasnt pushed, I jumped?

[jno]

sorry if I'm stating the bleeding obvious here, but the Illegitimi business is a joke, not real Latin - illegitimi sounds like illegitimate, carborundum is an abrasive, non does means not; but the phrase is meaningless. You might as well answer 'Non carborundum, leptover wallus, Biggus Dickus' or something equally nonsensical.