Como dizer "zero à esquerda" em inglês

My two cents, just for variety's sake:
Before I found the EE my English was next to none [1], since then it has improved considerably.

Before I had bumped into this site my English was indeed limited...

I had scant knowledge of English when I discovered the EE forum/blog/site. Since then, I have learned a lot around here.

Before joining the EE I hardly knew any English, now it improved considerably. My English skills took a big leap.

Note [1] : be careful. There is the expression "second to none" that means "unsurpassed/first-class/number one, etc...", Thus, technically the opposite of "next to none".

You can also use the term "worthless zero".

I'm a worthless zero when it comes to quimestry.
Sou um zero a esquerda quando se trata de química.

Slouch (Informal)

''My brother was no slouch at making a buck.''
Oxford's

''You're no slouch yourself, Yefim.''
Moonlight Mile - Dennis Lehane

One nil down

"...because an ability to understand endogenous growth theory is not one that's essential when you're one nil down on a cold night in Sunderland." The Guardian

Before EE, i sucked at english.

zero à esquerda no sentido alguem que se deu mal na vida, se usa muito "loser".

I failed in school, i'm a loser.
I rodei na escola, sou um zero à esquerda/perdedor.

to be nothing/nobody
to be a big fat nothing/nobody

Another tip in the way of suggestion:

failure/hopeless/useless = (pessoa incompetente) zero à esquerda, nulidade
nonentity/nobody = (pessoa insignificante) zero à esquerda, joão-ninguém, zé-ninguém/a person who is not famous or important


e.g.:
1- (pessoa incompetente)
- He's a failure as a teacher
- He's hopeless at maths (English, cooking, sport etc)
- He's useless at languages
- He's useless in bed

2- (pessoa insignificanate)
- He's a nonentity/he's a nobody = ele é um zero à esquerda
- She quickly went from being a nonentity [= nobody]to being one of the most famous women in the country.
(Ela rapidamente deixou de ser um zero à esquerda para ser uma das mulheres mais famosas do país.)
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/nonentity

donay mendonça escreveu:Olá Pessoal,

Mais uma:

Before EE,I was hopeless at English.


Boa sorte!

Before EE I was hopeless in [the subject of] English.

Traduzindo a frase da pergunta original:

Before EE I was hopeless at English. [Antes do EE, eu era um zero à esquerda em inglês.]

Bons estudos.

Ser um zero à esquerda (em)
1 (não saber nada) to be useless (at sth/doing sth)
Sou um zero à esquerda em matemática. I’m useless at math.
Oxford Escolar

Before EE, I was useless at English.