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droit comme un « i » de Prévert

English translation: ramrod straight

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:droit comme un « i » de Prévert
English translation:ramrod straight
Entered by: laenai

22:25 Jun 26, 2011
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
French term or phrase: droit comme un « i » de Prévert
This is actually from a tourist guide in the restaurant section. I labelled it as literature because I thought that the actual sentence would be more suited to people who work in the literary field.

This sentence comes from the description of a chef: C’est la table de Christian Morisset, *droit comme un « i » de Prévert*, moustache dalienne, passé de l’hôtel Juana au style Art Déco à cette auberge intime du Vieil Antibes.

I have done some research and see that Prévert has been referred to many times as standing "droit comme un « i »" to welcome his guests but I think it would be meaningless in English to say "straight as a die like Prévert" for example. Does anyone know if this refers to a poem of his for example or have any bright ideas on what I could do here? I am tempted to leave out the Prévertreference and just say that he stands "straight as a die".

Thank you in advance for your time :)
laenai
United Kingdom
Local time: 00:35
straight as an arrow / a ramrod
Explanation:
... though I actually can't help thinking that a more appropriate simile needs to be found, since this might imply 'stiffly upright', whereas I hope this just means he welcomes people with politely self-confident body language.

Do note, though, that 'straight as a die' will not do at all, since that kind of 'straight' means 'honest', 'of good character', etc. — qualities which I'm sure would be taken for granted in this esteemed gentleman, but have nothing to do with his body language when greeting customers.

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Note added at 8 heures (2011-06-27 06:52:58 GMT)
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I get the impression that this restaurateur is proud and sure of himself, and so does not need to adopt the slightly stooped, cringeingly subservient, almsot hand-wringing posture that one so often finds in small restaurant staff; this man seems to have character and stature.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 heures (2011-06-27 10:41:45 GMT)
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See the picture of the chef here:

http://www.restaurant-figuier-saint-esprit.com/restaurant-le...

A fine, upstanding man!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 heures (2011-06-27 15:39:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Commenters are right: 'arrow' doesn't work either, as that implies directional motion; it needs to be ramrod here.
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 01:35
Grading comment
Thank you to everyone for all the answers suggested and also the helpful discussion!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3straight as an arrow / a ramrod
Tony M
3 +2military bearing, stands tall
polyglot45
3 +1perfectly poised and sure of himself
FX Torrentz
4straight-backed/erect (like a soldier)
Yvonne Gallagher
4as straight/ stiff as a poker
piazza d
3standing erect like Prévert the poet
claude-andrew


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
perfectly poised and sure of himself


Explanation:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/poised

I liked this definition of poised and thought that it could fit nicely here, although it is much more literal.

FX Torrentz
United States
Local time: 18:35
Native speaker of: French

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tony M: Could amount to over-translation, but I think the idea of getting away from possibly inappropriate similes is the right way to go.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Tony.
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9 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +2
military bearing, stands tall


Explanation:
I have eaten in his restaurant and even shaken hands with the guy.....
He is not that tall so perhaps they mean he tries to look taller...


The chef is CM, a man who stands tall, sports a Dali-style moustache

http://www.restaurant-figuier-saint-esprit.com/restaurant-an... - see picture here

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 52

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Laurette Tassin: I like stands tall
3 hrs
agree  Tony M
3 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
straight-backed/erect (like a soldier)


Explanation:
other options

agree with Tony's comment about "straight as die" =honest

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2011-06-27 00:07:03 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

or if you want him standing a little less stiffly/formally, perhaps

"standing tall" might work

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 hrs (2011-06-27 10:41:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

don't think it necessary to refer to Prévert as not a quote from him, and DALIESQUE MOUSTACHE is all that is needed



Yvonne Gallagher
Ireland
Local time: 00:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
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16 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
standing erect like Prévert the poet


Explanation:
keeps the reference to Prévert
Could be followed by "and sporting a Dali moustache"
Has a nursery rhyme-like 1-2-3-4 //1-2-3 rhythm to it.

claude-andrew
France
Local time: 01:35
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  polyglot45: the problem is that while English speakers have heard of Dali, you have to be French to have heard of Prévert ; even so, it remains obscure, don't you think, if you're trying to create a visual image
5 hrs
  -> Agree! That's why I suggested "Prévert the poet" not just Prévert
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28 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
straight as an arrow / a ramrod


Explanation:
... though I actually can't help thinking that a more appropriate simile needs to be found, since this might imply 'stiffly upright', whereas I hope this just means he welcomes people with politely self-confident body language.

Do note, though, that 'straight as a die' will not do at all, since that kind of 'straight' means 'honest', 'of good character', etc. — qualities which I'm sure would be taken for granted in this esteemed gentleman, but have nothing to do with his body language when greeting customers.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 heures (2011-06-27 06:52:58 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I get the impression that this restaurateur is proud and sure of himself, and so does not need to adopt the slightly stooped, cringeingly subservient, almsot hand-wringing posture that one so often finds in small restaurant staff; this man seems to have character and stature.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 12 heures (2011-06-27 10:41:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

See the picture of the chef here:

http://www.restaurant-figuier-saint-esprit.com/restaurant-le...

A fine, upstanding man!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 17 heures (2011-06-27 15:39:54 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Commenters are right: 'arrow' doesn't work either, as that implies directional motion; it needs to be ramrod here.

Tony M
France
Local time: 01:35
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 128
Grading comment
Thank you to everyone for all the answers suggested and also the helpful discussion!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks for the ideas! Especially for the "as a die" tip!


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  DLyons: I think ramrod works because it seems common in a military sense.
24 mins
  -> Thanks, D!
neutral  philgoddard: As you say, I'm not sure this fits the context.
4 hrs
  -> Thanks, Phil! No, I was really concerned to correct the misuse of 'as a die'; we really need to know why this comment is being made in the specific context.
agree  B D Finch: Ramrod straight.
10 hrs
  -> Thanks, Barbara!
agree  Sam Cogdell: I'm with B D Finch, 'ramrod straight.'
13 hrs
  -> Thanks, Sam!
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
as straight/ stiff as a poker


Explanation:
Harrap's dictionary

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs (2011-06-27 17:37:29 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

I think anyway he is "at attention" which is probably better than "stiff". "droit comme un i" may mean he is proud (see the Dalinian moustache), and ready to play his part.

piazza d
France
Local time: 01:35
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Tony M: I think we have the same problem: it's hard to tell from the context, but I'm not sure that 'stiffness' is actually the desirable characteristic that is being vaunted here.
1 hr
neutral  DominiqueLyon: Indeed, given the context, it would have to be 'straight' rather than 'stiff as a poker' which has a negative connotation.
1 day 9 hrs
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