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Bourth...yes was it red? Starsky (dark hair?) was my hero. Dustin Hoffman is, was and will be. Spiv = dandy?
Bourth (X)
@ burguete
09:58 Oct 3, 2010
I only fell in love with Barbara Feldon. And Diana Rigg. And later, Glynis Barber. More recently, Sophia Miles.
Bourth (X)
I think
09:32 Oct 3, 2010
that in cinema, etc., just as the "bad boy" defined in my answer wears a leather jacket, the popular portrayal of a pimp (if the meaning of marlou here is "pimp") probably does involve a dress style, quite possibly a cap, and irrespective of time frame. I have no particular example in mind, but the "cap" image that leaps to the front of my mind is the indic, the "grass" in - what was it, Starsky and Hutch? - the black guy, with a bit of a soft touch, a heart of gold, but ever ready to take advantage of any dishonest opportunity, who wore a large floppy cap.
have to agree with Bourth that I far prefer "spiv" to "wide boy", although I can't put my finger on any logical reason! In any case, would either of them have worn their cap any particular way? Having said that, this does conjure up visions of Del Boy in his flat cap, but there again, there's nothing remarkable about the way he wears his cap... or is there?
"...wearing his cap (or variation thereof) like a French M/marlou..." would make many people think he's a cross-dresser, dressed like Marylou, Maryline, etc. Suddenly I have a 1970s vision of Barbara Feldon. Not that I'm suggesting she cross-dressed, just that as Agent 99, at least, she was always wearing fashionable headgear.
how about:"...wearing his cap (or variation thereof) like a French M/marlou..."
Bourth (X)
Spiv
21:52 Oct 2, 2010
Of course even if the musicians are modern, they might be wishing to evoke an age gone by, and for British readers anyway, "(a bit of a) spiv" might be it (I prefer it to "wide boy"). These are terms I know from where? My parents? Dads' Army?
If as SMcG says, this is the 30s, then I believe "wide boy" could be perfectly in keeping. According to Wiki (if we take that as gospel...): "The word came to public attention in 1937 with the publication of Wide Boys Never Work by... " It was synonymous with "spiv".
But do we know for sure that this is the 30s? I seem to be missing something here. Perhaps Nora could wade in and put us out of our misery!
Bourth (X)
Timeframe?
19:23 Oct 2, 2010
Are these musicians current (the accordion is alive and well in France, in the right circles) or is this a reference to historic characters? Whether we use modern language, or a modern/distorted interpretation of marlou, or attempt to use a "period" word will depend on it. I mean, it's all very well for SMcG to think it's 1930s, but I'd like to hear from Nora.
Carol, that's an interesting debate you started there. I've always wondered about that. (BTW there's a scene in The Wire where one of the characters -coke negotiators- becomes aware of that (also he is considering leaving the drug business...)
no doubt true, but surely the whole point of being a shady character (if indeed that is what is being discussed here) is not to advertise the fact by looking like one :O)
...there's a dress code for almost every walk of life. But inkeeping with the theme, do any of you follow the latest american tv series "the Wire"? I highly recommend it, plenty of dress code categories there! I wish we had more text to work with...
actually, I think of "wide boy" as fairly old fashioned! Probably something to do with the fact than my mother used it a lot :) But then, it's all relative. Do we actually have an exact time frame for this?
SMcG (X)
Belgium
13:40 Oct 1, 2010
To follow up on Drmanu49 : the image of the pimp with a cap, fits in with the temporal frame of the work. If you read Henry Miller or Céline you will find this image.
That is why I would say : just keep it simple, keep with the timeframe of the piece and do not use any modern slang (like 'wide-boy')
This is cultural and a popular French image. Pimps and some hoods or bad boys use to wear their cap this way and any native speaker would understand the implication.
1."Pimp" is only one definition of "marlou" and 2. pimps don't wear caps in any particular way as far as I know. Any of the other suggestions would probably be a better option in my opinion.
SMcG (X)
Belgium
it says pimp why sanitize it?
13:17 Oct 1, 2010
a question
SMcG (X)
Belgium
nb. not of major relevance but is
12:49 Oct 1, 2010
marle also the partner who plays the "man" in a homosexual relationship, as used by Genet.
Main Entry: 1mack·er·el Pronunciation Guide Pronunciation: mak()rl Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural mackerel or mackerels Etymology: Middle English makerel, from Old French, probably from makerel pimp, modification of Middle Dutch makelaer go-between, broker, pimp, from makelen to act as go-between, broker or pimp (from maken to make, do) + -aer -er; from the belief that mackerel act as pimps for the herring in the schools they accompany -- more at MAKE from Merriam-Webster
Automatic update in 00:
Answers
1 min confidence: peer agreement (net): +4
hood (or hoodlum) or pimp
Explanation: IMO
-------------------------------------------------- Note added at 7 mins (2010-10-01 11:36:23 GMT) --------------------------------------------------
It's the way it is worn which is typical. Kind of sideways.
Drmanu49 France Local time: 07:02 Works in field Native speaker of: English, French PRO pts in category: 84
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
Notes to answerer
Asker: I understand hood, but how would a flat cap make you look like a pimp?
peer agreement (net): +4