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mãos pensas

English translation: hands hanging

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Portuguese term or phrase:mãos pensas
English translation:hands hanging
Entered by: Martin Riordan

19:18 Apr 15, 2012
Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting / Essay on artist
Portuguese term or phrase: mãos pensas
This is from an essay by an art critic on artist Milton Machado and his work "History of the Future". It comes near the beginning of the essay. I am having trouble understanding the whole phrase. Thanks for your help!

Como na máquina do mundo de Drummond, estamos diante de uma revelação. Mas ela não vem de repente, brotada da terra pedregosa de Minas durante uma perambulação do poeta. Seu aparecimento é laborioso, pois coincide com uma verdadeira reconstrução do dispositivo criador do mundo. Diante da possibilidade de sua súbita revelação, o artista não renuncia e parte, ***mãos pensas***, deixando que se reencerre a resposta final que ali se oferecia. Ele sabe, de saída, que não há resposta, e por isso põe a mão na massa; o pensamento força o sulco do chão de barro e revira-lhe os torrões, refaz mundo e pergunta, sabendo que terá que repetir mil vezes essa operação, cada vez um pouco diferente. O artista é a própria máquina do mundo.
Lindsay Spratt
France
Local time: 09:23
hands hanging
Explanation:
It seems to me to mean something like "hands hanging" but more important than the litteral translation is what it says about the state of spirit of the person. It suggests a rejection or a degree of dispair. The link below has an interesting commentary on this.

"A acídia mencionada, no seu sentido original, não significa simplesmente preguiça, mas justamente ausência de repouso, uma fuga (desesperada?) daquele comprometimento radical com Deus, ou com um ideal político, ou social, ou intelectual, ou estético, fuga que se percebe como lassidão, como abatimento existencial. Parece-me que as mãos pensas algo têm a ver com esta acídia. Por maior que seja ou tenha sido o grau de atividade artística ou científica, o homem marcado pela akedía (em grego significa literalmente indiferença) não se sente chamado, não se sente vocacionado a trilhar nenhum caminho de autotranscendência."
Selected response from:

Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 04:23
Grading comment
I went with this, thanks Martin!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +1hands hung/suspended/posed in thought
Sheryle Oliver
4hands hanging
Martin Riordan
3 +1idle handed
Nick Taylor


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


23 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
hands hanging


Explanation:
It seems to me to mean something like "hands hanging" but more important than the litteral translation is what it says about the state of spirit of the person. It suggests a rejection or a degree of dispair. The link below has an interesting commentary on this.

"A acídia mencionada, no seu sentido original, não significa simplesmente preguiça, mas justamente ausência de repouso, uma fuga (desesperada?) daquele comprometimento radical com Deus, ou com um ideal político, ou social, ou intelectual, ou estético, fuga que se percebe como lassidão, como abatimento existencial. Parece-me que as mãos pensas algo têm a ver com esta acídia. Por maior que seja ou tenha sido o grau de atividade artística ou científica, o homem marcado pela akedía (em grego significa literalmente indiferença) não se sente chamado, não se sente vocacionado a trilhar nenhum caminho de autotranscendência."


    Reference: http://www.burburinho.com/20060416.html
Martin Riordan
Brazil
Local time: 04:23
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Grading comment
I went with this, thanks Martin!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
idle handed


Explanation:
idle handed

Nick Taylor
Local time: 08:23
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 91

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daniel Tavares
17 hrs
  -> thanks Daniel
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 day 3 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
hands hung/suspended/posed in thought


Explanation:
The artist thinks with his hands, creates with his hands - hence the choice of an adjective that suggests not only physical, but intellectual and spiritual position as well.

Sheryle Oliver
Brazil
Local time: 04:23
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Edward Nelson: Yes, like his hands mould his thoughts.
16 hrs
  -> So they do. Thanks, Edward.
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