"Traduku la sencon, ne la vortojn."

Translation: Translate the sense, not the words.

[esposch]

I did, and you marked me wrong!

[FredCapp]

So I should write: Bring out the inner essence of the concepts entailed in each phrase and ignore the mundane drudgery of the actual words themselves?

[StefanoSolgreno]

Nice selection of words and combinations. Hopefully not being rude now but; how old are you? :D

[FredCapp]

Tro.

[BillEverett]

I remember things like put a nickle in the slot to get a cold Coke.

More to the point, the question is broader than the simplistic injunction "translate the sense, not the words" would imply. There is a range from word-for-word translations (which I have done, translating handwritten Russian documents from the 19th century for many people), scientific or technical translations (which I have also done), translation of prose literature (imagery), translation of poetry or song (imagery, rhythm, and rhyme), and interpretation in commercial or political negotiations (intention and nuance).

[tommylinsley]

Perhaps like me, born before the internet? (Hint, my 1st car had an 8-track player.)

[FredCapp]

Mia unua aŭto estis antaŭ tiaj aparatoj.

[Cambarellus]

You mispelled trolo. ;)

[malfruemulo]

Duo didn't accept this. D:

[FredCapp]

Why am I not surprised?

[AiSENMA]

You are essentially saying the same, but longer and more philosophical-ish

[FredCapp]

Tio estis la ŝerco.

[djzeus01]

NOW he tells me!

[blueandnerdy]

would have been nice to know a bit earlier, ĉu ne?

[Nacanaca12]

At the final lesson, you set me free. Duo, you have no power over me.

[Andrew.Hull]

A bit ironic coming from Duo...

[Rippler]

And yet "Do it the right way" was not accepted.

[seahorsecomet]

I think the intent here is not that you give a very different wording that has approximately the same meaning, but that you not translate word-for-word such that it doesn't read like smooth English.