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  2. French to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

ciels pesants en gestation

English translation: skies heavy with gathering cloud

15:53 Feb 9, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / Novel
French term or phrase: ciels pesants en gestation
Contexte:

"Paul n'aimait pas la pluie, ni le froid, ni le vent, ni la neige, ni le gris des **ciels pesants en gestation."

Quelque chose comme "laden gray skies, about to let loose with any of that?"

Merci ,

Barbara
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 13:46
English translation:skies heavy with gathering cloud
Explanation:
an option

have fun!
Selected response from:

Evans (X)
Local time: 18:46
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +7skies heavy with gathering cloud
Evans (X)
4 +3threatening leaden skies
cc in nyc
4 +2menacing dark clouds
Verginia Ophof
4 +1storm clouds brewing
kashew
4lowering skies
Carol Gullidge


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


3 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +7
skies heavy with gathering cloud


Explanation:
an option

have fun!

Evans (X)
Local time: 18:46
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 48
Grading comment
Selected automatically based on peer agreement.

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  philgoddard: That'll do nicely.
6 mins
  -> thank you very much, phil
agree  cc in nyc: I like this too
11 mins
  -> thank you very much, cc
agree  kashew: Nice
25 mins
  -> thanks, John!
agree  Alison Sabedoria (X)
37 mins
  -> thank you Wordeffect
agree  Ingeborg Gowans (X): that is even poetic!
1 hr
  -> thank you, Ingeborg
agree  Marian Vieyra
1 hr
  -> thanks, Marian
agree  Allison Wright (X): this is so good, I am not even going to disclose my initial thought!
3 hrs
  -> you are too kind! Thanks, Allison
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13 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +3
threatening leaden skies


Explanation:
Or perhaps even ominously threatening leaden skies, but I would eliminate "gray" since "leaden" implies both color and heft.

cc in nyc
Local time: 13:46
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Evans (X): I like the use of ominous, perhaps without the threatening?
6 mins
  -> Yes, thank you.
agree  Alison Sabedoria (X)
27 mins
  -> Thank you
agree  Carol Gullidge: as it's at the end of the list, I think just "leaden skies" on its own would fit best
1 hr
  -> Thank you
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27 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
storm clouds brewing


Explanation:
Nice and grey (gray)
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:DKSIkxG...

kashew
France
Local time: 19:46
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof
1 hr
neutral  cc in nyc: IMO, a nominal construction – perhaps "brewing storm clouds" – is preferable here ;-)
2 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
menacing dark clouds


Explanation:
heavy gathering storm clouds

Verginia Ophof
Belize
Local time: 11:46
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  cc in nyc: I like this too, maybe even "menacing storm clouds"
57 mins
  -> Thank you cc in nyc !
agree  Robin Salmon (X)
4 hrs
  -> Thank you Robin !!
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
lowering skies


Explanation:
another, rather literary expression I'm rather fond of.

Surprisingly, this gets quite a few g-hits, but mainly because it's both the name of a book and a song title.

Here's a definition:

Lowering | Define Lowering at Dictionary.com dark and threatening, (sky, clouds, or weather); overcast; gloomy: lowering skies. 2. frowning or sullen, (face or gaze); scowling; angry. ...
dictionary.reference.com/browse/lowering

Chambers gives: "gloomy, threatening appearance"

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Note added at 1 hr (2011-02-09 17:40:20 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

PS, forgot to mention, I think you need something fairly short to go at the end ot the list: Paul didn't like rain, the cold, wind, .... or grey/the grey of ...

Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
Local time: 18:46
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 80
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