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This question was closed without grading. Reason: Answer found elsewhere
Mar 25, 2010 11:31
14 yrs ago
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English term

an idiom for 'much discussion was stimulated by ...'

English Art/Literary Poetry & Literature idiom
This is for a Dutch term which literally means 'tongues were loosened' but in English this seems to be connected only with the result of alcohol consumption. I've trawled through various sources but the idioms/sayings to do with 'talk' have negative connotations and 'tongue(s)' mostly so as well.

The context is the publishing of an academic book with new ideas that caused much discussion amongst academics.
Responses
3 +5 (this book) sparked off a lively discussion
4 +1 stimulated considerable debate/discussion
4 much discussion has been kindled by
3 generated an ice breaking that led to a lively discussion
2 resulted in a great deal of tongue-wagging
Change log

Mar 26, 2010 17:55: Katalin Horváth McClure changed "Level" from "Non-PRO" to "PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

PRO (3): British Diana, Pnina, Katalin Horváth McClure

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Discussion

Jack Dunwell Mar 26, 2010:
Languidly of course "In the room the women come and go
Talking of Michaelangelo"

The quiet, enthralled enthusiasms of life? But no less volcanic.
Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães Mar 25, 2010:
Another no-brainer, but... Have you considered "...has people talking"?
Jennifer Barnett (asker) Mar 25, 2010:
It was original rather than controversial as far as I can tell...
Oliver Lawrence Mar 25, 2010:
Further clarification please :) see my earlier discussion entry
Jennifer Barnett (asker) Mar 25, 2010:
I hope this makes things clearer NL 'het artikel ..... ook in ons land de tongen heeft losgemaakt' = ENG (literally) has also loosened tongues in our land.
I am not looking for a direct translation but the close English equivalent (IF there is one) that sounds idiomatic and is formal in tone.
I have no problem thinking of non-idiomatic phrases or words such as most suggested here so far.
BrigitteHilgner Mar 25, 2010:
Wouldn't it make more sense ... if you posted the original (presumably Dutch) sentence and asked for a translation into English? I don't quite understand what you are getting at. "resulted in an animated discussion" is a frequently used expression, but I have no idea whether this might fit your context.
Oliver Lawrence Mar 25, 2010:
was the book controversial or just original? that will determine what is the best translation
Jonathan MacKerron Mar 25, 2010:
the problem is that I'm still not quite sure what you're getting at here. Is the idea simply that the published book has "awakened interest"? The German equivalent is "die Zunge lockern/lösen", which has something of a different connotation, i.e. "getting someone to talk".
Jennifer Barnett (asker) Mar 25, 2010:
thanks Jonathon Unfortunately, tongue-wagging is about gossip and so to me inappropriate for this context. And 'making waves' means to cause trouble.
Jennifer Barnett (asker) Mar 25, 2010:
Thanks fva Yes, there are plenty of alternatives but I prefer to use a more closely matching idiom, if at all possible.
Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães Mar 25, 2010:
Jennifer... Have you considered something less specific, such as "sparked/set off a flurry of..."? I'm pretty sure that's not what you're looking for, but it's always worth a shot :)

Responses

47 mins

generated an ice breaking that led to a lively discussion

The ice breaking immediately put everyone at ease.

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Note added at 53 mins (2010-03-25 12:25:33 GMT)
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Another possibility: generated cut and thrust among the academics.
One of the meanings of the idiom "cut and thrust" is a lively or aggressive discussion.
Note from asker:
Thank you for your effort but it was an idiom I was after and it seems that there isn't one. I already knew the non-idiomatic alternative suggestions and have chosen to use a colourless neutral phrase. I'm afraid that your 'ice breaking' is out of place in this context.
Peer comment(s):
neutral Oliver Lawrence : unfortunately 'generated an ice breaking' is not at all idiomatic
1 hr
Something went wrong...
20 mins

resulted in a great deal of tongue-wagging

in keeping with the tongue motif

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 20 mins (2010-03-25 11:52:56 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"prompted much tongue-wagging"

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Note added at 22 mins (2010-03-25 11:54:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

a tongueless solution:
"made waves in the academic community"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 40 mins (2010-03-25 12:12:19 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

-has stimulated active discussion
-is being actively discussed
-has prompted the academic community to come out of its shell

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2010-03-25 12:38:18 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

has gotten the academic community all abuzz (?)
Note from asker:
Thank you for your effort but it was an idiom I was after and it seems that there isn't one. I already knew the non-idiomatic alternative suggestions and have chosen to use a colourless neutral phrase.
Peer comment(s):
neutral B D Finch : Tongue-wagging is negative, even malicious.
2 hrs
Something went wrong...
+5
1 hr

(this book) sparked off a lively discussion

I don't think there is an idiom connected with tongues for what the Asker wants.

Or just simply:
This book got people talking
This book was the talk of the department (not necessarily negative!)
Note from asker:
I have (failed to or possibly twice) awarded points for confirming that there is no equivalent English idiom. Sorry, my first time!
Peer comment(s):
agree Jack Doughty
3 mins
Thanks, Jack!
agree carly kelly : nice
1 hr
Thanks,carly!
neutral Oliver Lawrence : the asker says she is looking for something 'formal'; 'sparked off', whilst nice, is probably slightly too colloquial// this isn't the only idiom, and IMHO it's too colloquial
2 hrs
IIf I just say "engendered" or something, it isn't an idiom any more./You are right, Oliver, your "stimulated" is strictly speaking an idiom as well and perhaps the Asker will prefer it.
agree Rachel Fell : or - led to, generated much discussion (lively too, if it was, rather than just voluble)
7 hrs
Thanks, Rachel!
agree Filippe Vasconcellos de Freitas Guimarães : Yes indeed. I stand by my suggestion of "a flurry of..." ;)
1 day 6 hrs
Thanks, fvasconcellos!
agree Darius Saczuk
2100 days
Something went wrong...
+1
1 hr

stimulated considerable debate/discussion

hth

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 3 hrs (2010-03-25 15:17:46 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

should be formal enough for you :)
Note from asker:
Thank you for your effort but it was an idiom I was after and it seems that there isn't one. I already knew the non-idiomatic alternative suggestions and have chosen to use a colourless neutral phrase.
Peer comment(s):
agree Tina Vonhof (X) : Formal and neutral - good solution.
11 hrs
Something went wrong...
1 day 10 hrs

much discussion has been kindled by

"Stimulated" - means "by using artificial stimuli" anyway.
http://www.answers.com/topic/stimulation
Note from asker:
Thank you for your effort but it was an idiom I was after and it seems that there isn't one. I already knew the non-idiomatic alternative suggestions and have chosen to use a colourless neutral phrase.
Something went wrong...
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