[Vocabulary] What verb should I use to express success of infiltration?

Jigster · Mar 5, 2014

Dear teachers,
I ran across an expression, which reads: "Infiltration complete". It is meant to be striking; something of a one-liner in an advertisement.
I am having a little problem with the word "complete". It does not feel right. What would, though?
Certainly "infiltration successful", then I thought of "infiltration achieved", but that also sounds wrong: I do not think infiltration can be achieved.
If you tell me that "successful" is ok, then I will be happy. If not, please suggest other possibilities, however I would like to keep the word order.
Thank you very much.

bhaisahab · Mar 5, 2014

Jigster said:
Dear teachers,
I ran across an expression, which reads: "Infiltration complete". It is meant to be striking; something of a one-liner in an advertisement.
I am having a little problem with the word "complete". It does not feel right. What would, though?
Certainly "infiltration successful", then I thought of "infiltration achieved", but that also sounds wrong: I do not think infiltration can be achieved.
If you tell me that "successful" is ok, then I will be happy. If not, please suggest other possibilities, however I would like to keep the word order.
Thank you very much.

What is the context?

Jigster · Mar 5, 2014

bhaisahab said:
What is the context?

A drawing of a chicken on stilts among flamengos.

MikeNewYork · Mar 5, 2014

Jigster said:
A drawing of a chicken on stilts among flamengos.

I think "successful" is fine. Another possibility is "accomplished'. The birds are "flamingos" in English.

SoothingDave · Mar 5, 2014

People (or chickens) who successfully infiltrate usually relay their success by saying "I'm in."

5jj · Mar 6, 2014

SoothingDave said:
People (or chickens) who successfully infiltrate usually relay their success by saying "I'm in."

That's true of people, but that would not be understood by many people in the context of this cartoon.

emsr2d2 · Mar 6, 2014

I have no problem with the use of "complete" in the original. "Successful" works too. They suggest that infiltration took a while but that process has now been completed.

Jigster · Mar 6, 2014

Thank you for your replies.
I would like to elaborate on the word "infiltration". How is it that it can be used with "successful" and not really with "complete"? Infiltration is a process, not a state, right? So it should be able to be complete as well as successful. Is it just a matter of "sounding right" or is there some science behind it? I use my gut on a daily basis in these situation so I would be fine with it.
EDIT: I started writing before emsr2d2 replied. Just letting you know, because the post would lack sense a little.

5jj · Mar 6, 2014

MikeNewYork said:
The birds are "flamingos" in English.

Or 'flamingoes'.

[Vocabulary] What verb should I use to express success of infiltration?

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