The task at hand

I tried to use
tâche a la main

but have been informed this is wrong.

How can this be expressed?
I want to say "They are focused on the task at hand."
I would also like to know what tâche means since my dictionary is so lame!
Pam

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Permalink Reply by Frank on September 28, 2009 at 8:15pm

Hello Pam,

"Une tâche" has several meanings, and "a task" is one of them.

La tâche courante, La tâche à accomplir and La tâche en cours are possible translations of the task at hand.

But we wouldn't really say "Ils se concentrent sur la tâche à accomplir". It's technically correct, and it completely makes sense, but it sounds a bit unnatural.

We'd rather say Ils se concentrent sur leur travail or Ils se concentrent sur ce qu'ils font although they aren't literal translations.

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Permalink Reply by Pamela Kingfisher on September 28, 2009 at 8:17pm

Thank you Frank!
Pam

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Permalink Reply by Crack1 on September 29, 2009 at 12:50pm

Frank
I have French as the default language in my mobile phones.
The word 'tâche' is there.
If I changed the language into English it is 'tasks'.
Now I have learnt from you.

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Permalink Reply by Christopher de Chazal on October 1, 2009 at 9:12am

How about "ils travailles forcement sur la tache courante"
or" "ils se mets forcement sur la tache courante"
have fun, Christopher

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Permalink Reply by Frank on October 1, 2009 at 10:21am

Hi Christopher,

Both would be perfectly understood by any native speaker (with some grammar corrections: "Ils travaillent sur la tâche courante" and "Il se met forcément sur la tâche courante).

However, excepted in some expressions ("se tuer à la tâche"), the word "tâche" is really only used about time tracking or when talking about computer stuff.