Nov 19, 2010 22:42
13 yrs ago
French term
Je fais bloc face à l’air,
French to English
Other
Sports / Fitness / Recreation
speed skiing
Good Evening!
This is part of an interview given by a downhill speed skier.
The whole sentence is: *Je fais bloc face à l’air,* qui devient mon principal ennemi.
It would make sense to say 'he is at one with the air'- but then I can't see how the air would become his enemy.
Could he mean something like 'I am at one with the air but this ends up working against me?
By doing this I feel I have missed out the 'face à'
I looked this up in several places- for one, on the Word Ref.com forum where two confusing explanations are given...so that has confused me even more!
Many thnx 4 yr help!
This is part of an interview given by a downhill speed skier.
The whole sentence is: *Je fais bloc face à l’air,* qui devient mon principal ennemi.
It would make sense to say 'he is at one with the air'- but then I can't see how the air would become his enemy.
Could he mean something like 'I am at one with the air but this ends up working against me?
By doing this I feel I have missed out the 'face à'
I looked this up in several places- for one, on the Word Ref.com forum where two confusing explanations are given...so that has confused me even more!
Many thnx 4 yr help!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 4 +3 | to hold out against, to stand up against, |
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
|
| 4 | I set my face against the wind. |
philgoddard
|
| 3 | aerodynamics |
Bourth (X)
|
Proposed translations
+3
1 hr
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Native in English
Works in field
Psychologist, Court-certified legal
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
21
French term (edited):
faire bloc face à quelque chose
Selected
to hold out against, to stand up against,
I see this quite differently from you Cervin, much more along the lines of Phil. The skier is not at one with the air, as you suggest, but rather facing up to it, confronting the air which he has every intention of beating.
Fuller context would help me to feel the text but the idea is certainly of holding out against the air.
Fuller context would help me to feel the text but the idea is certainly of holding out against the air.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Gabriella Bertelmann
: agree
3 hrs
|
| agree |
Imanol
: Normaly, there must be at least two people to "faire bloc" against something. But I think you are right : what is meant here is probably "I stand up against", nothing more than that.
12 hrs
|
| agree |
Bourth (X)
: Indeed. With the additional context, it's along the lines of "I don't let my arms and legs and indeed head flap about". The wind force at those speeds must be quite something.
14 hrs
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Many thanks to everyone- it's always good to talk.
I used the word 'confront' as in Nikki's explanation. I couldn't really use 'stand up' because the skier is bent down!
Bourth- the speeds are amazing- the present world record is 251km/h!!!..and you should see the slope- it sends shivers down your spine!"
1 hr
philgoddard
United States
United States
Native in English
United States
Six languages into flawless English
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English, Spanish to English, and 4 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
24
I set my face against the wind.
Or I face off against the wind.
"Faire bloc" means "stand up to" or "form a united front against", and both my suggestions mean "adopt an attitude of confrontation" - but they also have the literal meaning of "turn my face towards".
If you Google "set my face against", many of the references are to God getting angry with people who don't obey him.
"Faire bloc" means "stand up to" or "form a united front against", and both my suggestions mean "adopt an attitude of confrontation" - but they also have the literal meaning of "turn my face towards".
If you Google "set my face against", many of the references are to God getting angry with people who don't obey him.
21 mins
aerodynamics
Context might indicate that there is some other meaning, but part of the quest for speed in d/h skiing is improving aerodynamics, hence specially shaped helmets, tight fitting clothing, "airfoils" at the back of skiboots, etc.
With or without that gear a descending skier is an "obstacle" to the air (in the same way as the sun rises and sets; it's not the air that moves, it's the skier; it's not the sun that rises and sets but the earth), and obstacle that fait bloc face à l’air.
"I am an obstacle" might not he as sexy as "I am the walrus", but here at least has greater meaning.
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Note added at 26 mins (2010-11-19 23:08:37 GMT)
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Quel que soit votre choix, il y a des règles à respecter. Par exemple, pour une haie brise-vent, il faudra choisir des végétaux qui NE FASSENT PAS BLOC AU VENT. On les disposera de sorte qu’ils filtrent le vent. Car une haie trop hermétique, donne un effet de turbulence au lieu de l’effet désiré
http://jimetwill.canalblog.com/
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Note added at 34 mins (2010-11-19 23:16:52 GMT)
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IOW, you can basically leave out face (à) which adds nothing and content yourself with translating Je fais bloc à l’air, qui devient mon principal ennemi.
I am the windblock, goo goo g' joob?
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Note added at 16 hrs (2010-11-20 15:14:05 GMT)
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Ah, with the additional context it becomes clear that this is not about aerodynamics in the sense of overcoming wind-resistance to increase speed, but rather about withstanding the buffeting in order to simply stay upright/on track/alive!
Seems to me it refers to the buffeting at the high speeds involved, something that requires strength to simply hold head, arms and legs in the necessary position, without which they will get ripped out of position, flay about, and throw the skier into an aerial cartwheel.
"I (have to) hold myself together against the wind"?
With or without that gear a descending skier is an "obstacle" to the air (in the same way as the sun rises and sets; it's not the air that moves, it's the skier; it's not the sun that rises and sets but the earth), and obstacle that fait bloc face à l’air.
"I am an obstacle" might not he as sexy as "I am the walrus", but here at least has greater meaning.
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2010-11-19 23:08:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Quel que soit votre choix, il y a des règles à respecter. Par exemple, pour une haie brise-vent, il faudra choisir des végétaux qui NE FASSENT PAS BLOC AU VENT. On les disposera de sorte qu’ils filtrent le vent. Car une haie trop hermétique, donne un effet de turbulence au lieu de l’effet désiré
http://jimetwill.canalblog.com/
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 34 mins (2010-11-19 23:16:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
IOW, you can basically leave out face (à) which adds nothing and content yourself with translating Je fais bloc à l’air, qui devient mon principal ennemi.
I am the windblock, goo goo g' joob?
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 16 hrs (2010-11-20 15:14:05 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
Ah, with the additional context it becomes clear that this is not about aerodynamics in the sense of overcoming wind-resistance to increase speed, but rather about withstanding the buffeting in order to simply stay upright/on track/alive!
Seems to me it refers to the buffeting at the high speeds involved, something that requires strength to simply hold head, arms and legs in the necessary position, without which they will get ripped out of position, flay about, and throw the skier into an aerial cartwheel.
"I (have to) hold myself together against the wind"?
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
philgoddard
: All this may be true, but it's not really an answer to the question.
3 mins
|
|
"I am the walrus" is certainly not true, and neither is it an answer, but "I am an obstacle" and, subsequently, "I am a windblock" are!
|
Discussion
L’enjeu, c’est d’avoir la meilleure position aérodynamique et de la garder tout au long du run. Je fais bloc face à l’air, qui devient mon principal ennemi.
The next question follows immediately after: Are you ever afraid?