Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Mar 26, 2014 12:49
10 yrs ago
Spanish term
en viento
Spanish to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
Hi everyone. Can anyone help me with this phrase?
"Cuatro días: el tiempo que necesita el miedo para convertir a un hombre en viento; en renacuajo; en mierda."
I've asked separately for any suggestions for the word renacuajo as well, please post separately for the sake of the glossaries if anyone has any ideas for that!
For a bit of context, the man referred to in the sentence has been followed by a debt collector for the last four days.
Thanks!
"Cuatro días: el tiempo que necesita el miedo para convertir a un hombre en viento; en renacuajo; en mierda."
I've asked separately for any suggestions for the word renacuajo as well, please post separately for the sake of the glossaries if anyone has any ideas for that!
For a bit of context, the man referred to in the sentence has been followed by a debt collector for the last four days.
Thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +2 | a shadow |
Susan Andrew
|
| 4 | into a gust of wind / nothing but air |
Simon Bruni
|
| 4 | into jelly |
Carol Gullidge
|
| 4 | into thin air |
jude dabo
|
Change log
Apr 4, 2014 10:24: Susan Andrew Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+2
20 mins
Selected
a shadow
Four days: the time it takes for fear to turn a man into a shadow; a quivering wreck
As per my other answer.
As per my other answer.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Charles Davis
: As I said, I think this is a very good choice: it's idiomatic and expressive in the context, and it captures the key point here, which is insubstantiality.
3 mins
|
| agree |
Amy Logan
: Idiomatic and captures the meaning very well
7 days
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Good idea, thank you!"
11 mins
Simon Bruni
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
Related KudoZ points
:
151
into a gust of wind / nothing but air
Four days: the time it takes for fear to turn a man into a gust of wind / nothing but air
I think a similar metaphor works fine in English, I would just avoid "wind" by itself due to its connotations with flatulence.
I think a similar metaphor works fine in English, I would just avoid "wind" by itself due to its connotations with flatulence.
25 mins
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
Specializes in field
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
315
into jelly
one of several possible metaphors, although I don't think "wind" would work well here (especially given the "mierda" that follows (unfortunate connotations!)).
I actually think that "jelly" would combine well with Susan's metaphor for renacuajo in the previous question:
the time it takes for terror to turn you into jelly, into a quivering wreck, ...
I actually think that "jelly" would combine well with Susan's metaphor for renacuajo in the previous question:
the time it takes for terror to turn you into jelly, into a quivering wreck, ...
44 mins
into thin air
viable option
Discussion