There is no room for ambiguity when it comes to translations, and professional services will strive to provide the most accurate translation possible because in cases where their services are required, accuracy is absolutely vital.
However, whilst this ideal is essential, it is not always easy or even possible to achieve, and the notion of accuracy can vary based on the purpose of the text. Translating an idiom directly from one language to another can lead to more confusion rather than less.
What is even worse than a figure of speech, however, is a word or phrase that is untranslatable; if there is a term that is so tied to a specific dialect that there is no direct analogue, what is a translator to do about it?
There are a lot of options, thankfully, depending on the nature of the text and the parallel needs of maintaining accuracy whilst avoiding ambiguity. Here are some of the choices you can make.
Circumlocution
Whilst the use of indirect and wordy language might not be the most ideal or elegant solution, circumlocution, or using more words than is necessary to express an idea, can be essential in translating an untranslatable word.
This is an important technique in languages which function very differently, such as translating from English to Chinese, where even the English word “yes” requires a completely new sentence that blurs the line between translation and outright adaptation.
Closest Analogue
By contrast, sometimes the easier option is to use the closest correct word, although it is very important to be mindful of whether this approach is acceptable for the type of text that is being translated.
It is very much a lesser of two evils approach, and can sometimes lead to a misinterpretation, so for many translation purposes, it is not good enough.
However, it is commonly used when translating marketing materials, so long as the sentiment of the expression is close enough.
Keep It And Use It
Many languages, but especially English, have a very long tradition of borrowing words and using them, first with a clear description and then increasingly amalgamating the term into common parlance.
As long as it is not being openly misused, this is a perfectly fine way to translate.