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In a scenario I came across a sentence and tried to translated it to English. I am interested to know which one of the similar verbs listed below work here properly?

I wouldn’t............being in the loving embrace of the family over anything.

a) trade

b) exchange

c) change

For me, excepting the last one the first two sound the same and natural, but what a native speaker would think.

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    Usually one trades for, exchanges for, change (in this case) for, not "over." Beautiful sentiment, by the way. And, does the original mean "the family" or "my family"? Jan 31, 2017 at 20:36
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    @MarkH - I think the original could leave the article out altogether: I wouldn’t trade being in the loving embrace of family for anything.
    – J.R.
    Jan 31, 2017 at 20:56

1 Answer 1

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The pattern for this idiom you are looking for is

trade something for something else
I wouldn't trade being with you for the world.

"Exchange" is usually not used.

I wouldn't change a thing.

is another way to express the not trading sentiment in your first sentence.

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  • So what is the best choice here @Peter? :)
    – A-friend
    Jan 31, 2017 at 20:56
  • Wouldn't trade X for Y. I wouldn't trade this for all the money in the world. "I wouldn't trade being in the loving embrace of a family over anything."
    – Peter
    Jan 31, 2017 at 20:59
  • The question is specifically asking to focus on trade/exchange/change and you seem to be emphasizing (based on your bold/italics) on the rest of the sentence.
    – Catija
    Jan 31, 2017 at 20:59
  • I'm showing the usual pattern that is used, which is a contrast.
    – Peter
    Jan 31, 2017 at 21:00
  • I got your point. Thank you both @Catija and Peter. :)
    – A-friend
    Jan 31, 2017 at 21:35

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