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. Russian to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

с выражением крайнего недоумения на лице

English translation: and fumbles there looking totally dumbfound(ed)

07:54 Feb 26, 2009
Russian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
Russian term or phrase: с выражением крайнего недоумения на лице
Он засовывает руку в карман, шарит там с выражением крайнего недоумения на лице.

Контекст: человек заметил пропажу из кармана, но не понимает, кто спер то, что там было и когда. Он обескуражен. А еще, как будет слово "шарит"? Можно образно перевести, ну и американский английский, пожалуйста. Спасибо!
Vika_S
Local time: 07:34
English translation:and fumbles there looking totally dumbfound(ed)
Explanation:
...
Selected response from:

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 16:34
Grading comment
Thank you!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +3and fumbles there looking totally dumbfound(ed)
Michael Korovkin
4 +1fumbles/gropes in his pocket, his face twisted into pure/complete bewilderment
Mark Berelekhis
4with an expression of total incomprehension (on his face)
Jack Doughty


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


4 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
with an expression of total incomprehension (on his face)


Explanation:
I don't really see why you need "на лице/on his face" - it couldn't be on any other part of his anatomy, could it? - but as it's in the Russian, maybe it should go in the English too.

Jack Doughty
United Kingdom
Local time: 15:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 658
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
and fumbles there looking totally dumbfound(ed)


Explanation:
...

Michael Korovkin
Italy
Local time: 16:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in RussianRussian
PRO pts in category: 174
Grading comment
Thank you!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  dimcity
43 mins
  -> thanks
agree  Alexandra Taggart: the state of dumbfoundedness - is to be totally dumbfounded. Michael, the words become obsolete for people who read too little or do not read at all.
14 hrs
  -> The state of dombfoundness is the state of being dombfound. That's what a 1956 (!) dictionary says. 'Fraid I'm becoming obsolete together with the usage.Actually reading books mekes me even more obsolete. God help us all!
agree  Jack Doughty: It has to be dumbfounded, not dumbfound - you ought to remove the brackets.
23 hrs
  -> Thanks. Yeah I know but sometimes like to use the obsolete forms.... found is already a past participle. So, strictly, to say donbfounded is like saying well-feded. All those redundancies and itirarions (without the redundant re!!!)
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
fumbles/gropes in his pocket, his face twisted into pure/complete bewilderment


Explanation:
'шарить' can be either 'fumble' or 'grope' (in his pocket). For the face, another option is 'looking positively/unequivocally stupefied' (I love the word 'stupefy').

Mark Berelekhis
United States
Local time: 10:34
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 666

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alexandra Taggart: " positively stupefied"
7 hrs
  -> Thank you.
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