This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential to the operation of the site, while others help to improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used. For more information, please see the ProZ.com privacy policy.
Cookie settings
  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

l'air franc du collier

English translation: hardworking/honest

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:franc du collier
English translation:hardworking/honest
Entered by: Rachel Ward

14:54 Apr 10, 2008
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
French term or phrase: l'air franc du collier
This is from a teenage novel set in Versailles at the court of Louis XIV. The main character is being introduced to a family and this is the opinion of the person she's talking too about the younger son:

"Alors lui, c'est Lorenzo, un gamin tranquille, travailleur et qui a **l'air franc du collier**. Il a huit ans et donne régulièrement un coup de main à l'atelier de la Petite Venise, principalement à la forge, c'est sans doute là-bas que tu l'as vu."

I can't find anything which helps me to understand this phrase at all so I'd be very grateful for any suggestions!
Rachel Ward
United Kingdom
Local time: 20:33
seems to be as straight as a die
Explanation:
According to Robert + Collins, 'franc du collier' means 'straight as a die'; here, 'avoir l'air...' simply means 'has an air of being...' or more naturally 'seems (to be)...'

Of course, you'll probbaly need to adapt the exact simile to suit your own context, but I'm sure by now you've at least got the idea.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 21:33
Grading comment
Thanks Tony!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +6seems to be as straight as a die
Tony M
3 +2absolutely straight/honest
sophieb
4 +1seemed an honest, hardworking lad
B D Finch
4of open demeanor as fits all who are eager to please.
Sylvia Valls
3forthright
Claire Chapman
3fair and square
MatthewLaSon
3 -1looks the sort that would work hard
CMJ_Trans (X)


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): -1
looks the sort that would work hard


Explanation:
franc du collier - in any bog-standard dictionary

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 6 mins (2008-04-10 15:01:32 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

looks a grafter

CMJ_Trans (X)
Local time: 21:33
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 94

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  Diane de Cicco: no, it means "honest"
1 hr
  -> tell that to Collins Robert will you ? I didn't invent it
neutral  Tony M: Interesting Chris, I wonder which edition you have? My Robert + Collins 'Super Senior' definitely gives it as per my answer...
2 hrs
  -> 2nd edition 1990 but I doubt if the language has changed so much since - I don't use it that much. Serves me right for once I look something up !
neutral  B D Finch: Actually it means both, which just shows that co-operation works better than disagreeing!
6 hrs
  -> very fair comment
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

6 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +6
seems to be as straight as a die


Explanation:
According to Robert + Collins, 'franc du collier' means 'straight as a die'; here, 'avoir l'air...' simply means 'has an air of being...' or more naturally 'seems (to be)...'

Of course, you'll probbaly need to adapt the exact simile to suit your own context, but I'm sure by now you've at least got the idea.

Tony M
France
Local time: 21:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 128
Grading comment
Thanks Tony!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  BusterK
10 mins
  -> Merci, Buster !
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X)
49 mins
  -> Danke, Ingeborg!
agree  Martin Cassell: or "straightforward" (from Harrap's)
52 mins
  -> Thanks, Martin! Yes, all sorts of variations on this theme, aren't there?
agree  Ccilb77
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Ccilb!
agree  Diane de Cicco
1 hr
  -> Thanks, Diane!
agree  Ladda McLaren: Or even "looks as straight as a die" since it is in the context of a conversation and perhaps would benefit from succinctness.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Ladda! I agree about succinctness, but am slightly worried about the specific use of 'looks' with such a visual metaphor as 'straight as a die'; perhaps just 'seems' on it's own would be safest. 'straight-looking' could have other connotations ;-)
neutral  B D Finch: But what about the hardworking aspect of the meaning?
6 hrs
  -> Well, I feel that that meaning is very much a subsidiary one, and can find little solid evidence to support it. In this particular instance, we already know he is 'travailleur', so it seems redundant to repeat that.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
absolutely straight/honest


Explanation:
he seems/looks absolutely...
être franc du collier = être très franc, loyal

sophieb
France
Local time: 21:33
Native speaker of: French

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Martin Cassell: juste !
49 mins
  -> merci !
agree  Claire Chapman
1 hr
  -> thanks !
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

46 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
l\'air franc du collier
seemed an honest, hardworking lad


Explanation:
Petit Robert combines the ideas of "très franc" and "loyal" with hardworking as in a "cheval franc du collier, qui tire avec énergie".

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 47 mins (2008-04-10 15:41:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Sorry, wrong tense: "seems".

B D Finch
France
Local time: 21:33
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 43

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mary Carroll Richer LaFlèche
14 hrs
  -> Thanks Mary
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
forthright


Explanation:
A synonym for honest and straightforward. Often used as shown below:

forthright [ˈfoːθrait] adjective
honest and straightforward
Example: He is a very forthright young man.
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=forthright

Claire Chapman
Local time: 15:33
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
of open demeanor as fits all who are eager to please.


Explanation:
...Lorenzo, a quiet youngster, hardworking and of open demeanor as fits all who are eager to please.

Sylvia Valls
Local time: 13:33
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in SpanishSpanish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  B D Finch: Only if the language is deliberately archaic.
3 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 14 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
fair and square


Explanation:
Hello,

I think this captures the meaning of "l'air franc du collier." This French means that someone is both loyal and honest. I think that "fair and square" would be the closest expression to the French.

I hope this helps.

MatthewLaSon
Local time: 15:33
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

Return to KudoZ list

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.

See also:
ProZ.com term search
Search millions of term translations
Close search
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search