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.
French to English translations [PRO] Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
French term or phrase:ramassé sur le trottoir
Kiki de Montparnasse is getting the gossip from her latest boyfriend. He's talking about a famous artsy couple and their wedding night, or rather, nights.
'Tu n’as pas entendu parler de son mariage avec Renée ? On l’a ramassé sur le trottoir après trois jours et trois nuits d’orgie !'
I was going to go for, 'They had to scrape him off the footpath' – any other ideas?
Although footpath is Hiberno-English, Irish as I am, I certainly wouldn't use it when pavement is quite clearly understood in Ireland and the UK! I still prefer 'street' because of the alliteration with 'scraped off'.
I'm afraid I have no idea what they use in Ireland, but "pavement" is what is used in British towns! Agree with those who point out that footpaths are generally for the countryside - at least in UK.
Having said that I love both "scraped" and "gutter" for their negative connotations - just what you'd expect with "gossipping"! :)
Interesting point, Nora - thanks for the info. I agree with others that in the UK a footpath is unpaved (often muddy in London, I remember!) whereas the paved area at the side of a road for pedestrians is a pavement.
Miranda Joubioux (X)
16:42 Sep 27, 2010
I would use gutter if he was an alcoholic or a drug addict, but in this case I'd use "street", or "sidewalk" if you prefer. 'Scrape off' is good. NB: faire le trottoir is to steetwalk!
Footpath is definitely the standard in Hiberno-Eng
16:37 Sep 27, 2010
...hence my choice, but the publication is UK, so will go with whatever (pavement, etc.) the UK side would recommend.
SMcG (X)
Belgium
IMO not footpath but pavement
16:32 Sep 27, 2010
Le Robert: trottoir = pavement (Brit)
i.e. paved
footpath = path in countryside
Makes sense in the context and I agree with Glen McCulley that 'gutter' linked to debauchery conveys the correct meaning, 'he had to be scraped off the pavement' is also good.
Nora, couple of points: 1 a footpath you find in the countryside, and i don't think it has any negative connotations whatsoever 2 a pavement/sidewalk doesn't really have anything unsavoury about it (prostitution aside), whereas gutter definitely does ('gutter press', 'in the gutter')..; hence my idea of the gutter. That said, "scraped off the sidewalk" (EnUS) may well fit the ball.
SMcG (X)
Belgium
15:16 Sep 27, 2010
why not gutter? le long d'un trottoir?
'pick him up out of the gutter' being a better translation in the context (IMO) than 'scrape him off the footpath' as footpath is kind of antiquated.
Hi folks, thanks, I might go for my own after all. I don't think in the context that there's any judgement of the kind associated with 'gutter', but am weighing all the options!
And Gilla, well done on the ref. Am sure it's not accidental, the authors are a talented bunch. :)
peer agreement (net): +5