Jan 8, 2007 15:08
17 yrs ago
French term
Not a translator
A Man of My Word, Word Power to Share
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Russian to English
M’a piqué la plus belle…
French to English
Other
History
Émile Gallé
It is just an inscription on a plate with a floral design.
It is possible that it could be 'picqué'. This is how it is printed, but several French people I have asked believe this to be a misprint.
Some say "My most beautiful girl", others just don't know.
It is possible that it could be 'picqué'. This is how it is printed, but several French people I have asked believe this to be a misprint.
Some say "My most beautiful girl", others just don't know.
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
+1
4 hrs
Selected
The most beautiful one pricked me
Hi Dave....I have been looking this one up as it seems to me that you are more intrigued about the whole reason why it is on the plate as much as anything else.
Firstly, it is pricked and has nothing to do with stealing.
Secondly, this expression features on one of the coats of arms of the Arces familly as stated here: http://www.euraldic.com/blas_ar.html
Cannot find any reason for its use but here is the history of the Arces familly FYI:
http://gillesdubois.blogspot.com/2006/10/la-famille-darces.h...
Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, is the history of the rose itself which could explain it: Does your rose have 5 petals?
"Along with the cross which was the sign of sorrow, the rose was made to represent the blood of martyrs. The five-petalled red rose, for instance, was made to symbolize Christ's five wounds and consequently, His compassion and love for mankind while the white rose came to stand for the purity and virginity of His Blessed Mother." If not, you may in any case be interested in this link:
http://www.msc.edu.ph/wired/roses.html.
On the same site there are references to the yellow rose being the symbol of envy, unfaithfulness or the symbol of one man loving someone other than the person receiving the rose.
To sum up, this might be a religiously inspired coat of arms which makes reference to Judas's betrayal of Christ perhaps?
Good luck.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2007-01-08 19:40:56 GMT)
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Hi Dave: According to this, the expression is: "n'a pique la plus belle", i.e. the most beautiful one did not prick. See this link which claims that it was simply a pun adopted as the family device: http://www.lagazettedesancetres.com/archive-11-2006.html
Firstly, it is pricked and has nothing to do with stealing.
Secondly, this expression features on one of the coats of arms of the Arces familly as stated here: http://www.euraldic.com/blas_ar.html
Cannot find any reason for its use but here is the history of the Arces familly FYI:
http://gillesdubois.blogspot.com/2006/10/la-famille-darces.h...
Lastly, and perhaps most significantly, is the history of the rose itself which could explain it: Does your rose have 5 petals?
"Along with the cross which was the sign of sorrow, the rose was made to represent the blood of martyrs. The five-petalled red rose, for instance, was made to symbolize Christ's five wounds and consequently, His compassion and love for mankind while the white rose came to stand for the purity and virginity of His Blessed Mother." If not, you may in any case be interested in this link:
http://www.msc.edu.ph/wired/roses.html.
On the same site there are references to the yellow rose being the symbol of envy, unfaithfulness or the symbol of one man loving someone other than the person receiving the rose.
To sum up, this might be a religiously inspired coat of arms which makes reference to Judas's betrayal of Christ perhaps?
Good luck.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2007-01-08 19:40:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Hi Dave: According to this, the expression is: "n'a pique la plus belle", i.e. the most beautiful one did not prick. See this link which claims that it was simply a pun adopted as the family device: http://www.lagazettedesancetres.com/archive-11-2006.html
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Helen"
8 mins
Pierre POUSSIN
France
France
Native in French
Specializes in field
France
Fast and accurate.
Native in: French (Variant: Standard-France) 
Works in: English to French, French to English, Latin to French, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
Stole the prettiest one from me
"Piquer" is mild slang for "to steal" and there could be a double entendre if it is a floral decoration with a bee (a bee stings = une abeille, ça pique!
9 mins
piquer = voler (to steal)
...has stolen the most beautiful one
9 mins
Stole the most beautiful one from me
No mispelling, just colloquial
+1
3 hrs
The prettiest one pricked/hurt me - NFG
Not for grading since you came up with the answer yourself.
I think it's a case of poetic subject/verb inversion, esp. given that were this not the case, there is no subject.
In "grammatical" French it would be "La plus belle m'a piqué".
Maybe not even "the prettiest" but "the nicest", "the one I liked most" ...
Ain't that just a comment on life?
I think it's a case of poetic subject/verb inversion, esp. given that were this not the case, there is no subject.
In "grammatical" French it would be "La plus belle m'a piqué".
Maybe not even "the prettiest" but "the nicest", "the one I liked most" ...
Ain't that just a comment on life?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tony M
: Absolutely! Of all the things on the plate, it is the most beautiful one (yes, a rose is beautiful) that has the "sting in the tail"
4 hrs
|
14 hrs
the pretty one I liked pricked me
something else
Discussion
Assiette du service «Allégorie» avec citation «M’a picqué la plus belle…»
Circa 1871-1876
Signature Galle Nancy
déposé – St-Clément
Collection privée