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Batîment de plein pied
cuve (d'un cendrier)

Glossary entry

French term or phrase:

mꭥ si le corps n'est pas en reste

English translation:

even though the body does have its own needs/demands

Added to glossary by Courtney McConnel (X)
Dec 9, 2005 12:35
18 yrs ago
4 viewers *
French term

même si le corps n'est pas en reste

French to English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature du livre 'Sex Memoir' - une histoire d'amour vraie par email
I'm not familiar with this expression 'être en reste'- if it is one. Maybe there was a typo??

"Ensuite j'ai été très longtemps sauvage donc il ne s'est rien passé jusqu'à 16/17 ans et je n'ai plus arrêtée (je crois que le nombre est important et la qualité très varié... de la plus belle à la moins séduisante). Mais depuis quelques années, je ne suis plus tenté à profiter de la moindre occasion. J'ai besoin de sensualité, de sentiments, de fantasmes, de découverte... Le psychologique occupe une place importante MEME SI LE CORPS N'EST PAS EN RESTE."

Thanks a bunch! Courtney
Proposed translations (English)
4 +2 even though the body does have its own needs/demands
3 +2 but not to the detriment of the body
3 +2 even though the body can't be ignored
4 even though the body is a major factor
Change log

Dec 9, 2005 12:35: JCEC changed "Term asked" from "même si le corps n\'est pas en reste" to "m�me si le corps n\'est pas en reste"

Discussion

Courtney McConnel (X) (asker) Dec 9, 2005:
Great, I'm glad you two agree. I suppose even common expressions can be turned in a way that you have to think twice how to express them in another language. :)
Thanks for "body can't be ignored" also. : )
Sandra C. Dec 9, 2005:
yes, you've grasped the meaning now, Courtney :-)
Georges Tocco Dec 9, 2005:
yes you last comments do reflect the meaning. "ne pas �tre en reste" is actually quite commun.
Courtney McConnel (X) (asker) Dec 9, 2005:
Thanks, Sandra.
Yeah, something like "The mind is important though the body has its say too." A continuation of the 'body has its own demands/needs' view. Or: "The psychological aspect is important, not to say that the physical isn't." Would that be in sync with the 'me too' concept you describe, Georges? (I've honestly never heard this expression anywhere else.)
df49f (X) Dec 9, 2005:
agree with others that "surpassed" is absolutely not appropriate to reflect the meaning, and is actually a faux-sens. He's saying that the mind has now become important but, despite that, the body still has its own say in his relationships
Sandra C. Dec 9, 2005:
St�phane is a male name. St�phanie is for women.
Courtney McConnel (X) (asker) Dec 9, 2005:
Hi Sandra and Georges! OK, I do agree that surpassed is poetic license. I'll go with 'not to the detriment of the body' since it's more in keeping with the general vagueness used here and elsewhere by Stephane. Btw, should the male Stephane be without the e? Gender is my weakness! ;)
Georges Tocco Dec 9, 2005:
agree with Sandra. It is not "surpassed" it just means "as well".
Sandra C. Dec 9, 2005:
Hi Courtney, David is right, the translation you suggest (surpassed by the body) doesn't quite work to express the equivalent of 'pas en reste'.
Courtney McConnel (X) (asker) Dec 9, 2005:
You are so sweet with the recommended reading list, Besmir. Thanks! I have just submitted the French version of Sex Memoir to a couple of publishers, so this will help prepare my selling points.
David, I have taken your point. I will let it sink in and maybe something else will emerge after I finish the translation and at that point I can harmonize the overall voice and arguments. I do feel an agreement that the body is at least as strong as the mind (thank you :)) in his view of attraction. :))
Besmir (X) Dec 9, 2005:
pages and, if you already like translating these things, I guarantee you will love Mary Gordon and "Spending" just like your author here, she is something between M. Yourcenar and F. Sagan. :-)
Besmir (X) Dec 9, 2005:
Also, Courtney, you don't need to worry about the dictionaries in this case, I always find these things to be a matter of concepts. For concepts read "Spending" from Mary Gordon, it is sooooooo sensual and amazing! Go to amazon.com they give few first
Besmir (X) Dec 9, 2005:
I love your "surpassed" it is perfect for this context. Also, I just found among my things here at work Harrap's dictionary from 1967 which can be surprisingly helpful in these things: etre en reste: to be in arrears, behindhand. GL :-)
Courtney McConnel (X) (asker) Dec 9, 2005:
Thanks to everyone. I think I understand now. And I also like the term 'emotionality'--sounds like a possible neologism! This 'character' tends to use a sort of emotional 'langue de bois' (to my ears..or should I say eyes?), which I'm trying to simplify and edit down. For this draft, and since this is an adaptation, I will use, "Psychology counts for a lot, but it is surpassed by the body." : )
I use the Robert and Collins, which has been OUTDONE BY your Larousse! (R&C est en reste ?) I think I'll make a trip to the book store soon...

Proposed translations

+2
2 hrs
French term (edited): m�me si le corps n'est pas en reste
Selected

even though the body does have its own needs/demands

my take
in this case "ne pas être en reste" means that if the mind is important the so is the body. that is generally the meaning of ne pas être en reste bascally to simplify a "me too" kind of meaning
Peer comment(s):
agree df49f (X) : c'est bien le sens
20 mins
Thanks
agree Gina W
2 hrs
Merci
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Merci à toutes et à tous ! : )"
38 mins
French term (edited): m�me si le corps n'est pas en reste

even though the body is a major factor

Larousse F>E: "être en reste - to be outdone, to be at a loss". Many other translations with similar meaning possible, of course.
Something went wrong...
+2
1 hr
French term (edited): m�me si le corps n'est pas en reste

but not to the detriment of the body

Although you didn't ask ;-) I think "le psychologique" here could be translated as "the mind".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr 32 mins (2005-12-09 14:07:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I've just read your note, and I don't think "surpassed by" is right. He (?) is talking about the importance to him now of the psychological aspect of a relationship, but that doesn't mean to say that he doesn't get a physical urge!
Peer comment(s):
agree Sandra C. : yes, I agree 100%
1 hr
Thanks Sandra.
agree Peter Shortall
2 hrs
Thanks Peter.
Something went wrong...
+2
4 hrs
French term (edited): m�me si le corps n'est pas en reste

even though the body can't be ignored

Une autre idée..
Peer comment(s):
agree David Goward : Pas mal!
41 mins
thanks David
agree Dr Sue Levy (X)
44 mins
Thank you Sue
Something went wrong...
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