Radotages d’un Traducteur

I’m sorry that I have not been able to post many translations of late. I am currently in exam period and so any new phrases I learn are kept in my head and do not necessarily find their way onto this blog. I will however dispose of more time in the very near future, so expect to see this blog take off again.

The French expression “donner le ton” means:

To set the pace, set the pitch

Source: Libération, Vendredi 20 Avril 2007

In the article entitled Le Parlement roumain destitue Basecu, I came across the expression “remporter haut la main”.

Une démission pour mieux rebondir, espère-t-il, car il compte remporter haut la main l’élection présidentielle anticipée qui sera organisée d’ici à trois mois.

The expression “remporter haut la main” means:

To walk away with (something)

The whole sentence can be translated as:

A resignation for better to bounce back, he hopes, as he counts on walking away with the title of President in the anticipated elections to be organised three months from now.

Source: Libération, Vendredi 20 Avril 2007

In the article entitled Le Parlement roumain destitue Basecu, I came across the expression “jeter un pavé dans la mare”.

C’est le Président qui, le premier, a jeté un pavé dans la mare, en rendant public un billet du Premier ministre dans lequel ce dernier lui demandait d’invertvenir en faveur d’un ami inculpé de fraude et d’évasion fiscale.

The expression “jeter un pavé dans la mare” means:

To make waves

Hence the whole sentence can be translated as:

It was the President who was the first to make waves, making public a bill from the Prime minister in which the latter asked him to intervene in favour of a friend who had been charged with fraud and tax evasion.

Source: Libération, Vendredi 20 Avril 2007

In the article entitled Le Japon sous le choc après le meurtre du maire de Nagasaki, I came across the expression “avoir pignon sur rue”.

Forte de 39000 hommes (parmi les quelque 92000 yakusqs recensés), cette organisation criminelle a encore pignon sur rue, malgré l’adoption en 1992 de la “loi antigang”.

The expression “avoir pignon sur rue” means:

To be prominently placed, to be well established

Hence the translation of the whole sentence above is:

39,000 strong (amongst about 92000 yakusqs counted), this criminal organisation is still well established, despite the adoption in 1992 of an “anti-gang law”.

Source: Libération, Vendredi 4 Mai 2007

In the article entitled Encore deux jours pour réfléchir, I came accross the expression “faux-cul”.

Lui, il était faux-cul.

The word “faux-cul” means:

Two-faced bastard

As you can see, it is quite “strong” so careful when and where you choose to use it! In this case, to my delight, it was designating Nicolas Sarkozy!