faire ma raclette

English translation: be a wet blanket

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

French term or phrase:	faire ma raclette
English translation:	be a wet blanket
Entered by:	Melissa McMahon

06:17 Feb 29, 2016

French to English translations [PRO]
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / Humour

French term or phrase: faire ma raclette

In a popular science book, after telling the tale of the development of classical physics by various famous scientists, the author says:

"Sans vouloir *faire ma raclette*, il est nécessaire que je vous informe que tout ce qu’ils ont pu trouver est globalement faux." (because of the development of quantum physics)

This seems to be a reference to a line from the French comedy series Kaamelott, where one of the characters (Perceval) says: "J'voudrais pas *faire ma raclette*, mais la soirée s'annonce pas super." This is the only instance I can find on the internet of "faire ma raclette" used as expression, and the author of the science book has a connection to the writer of the series, so the reference to the series makes sense.

Based on the context in each case, one guess would be that it means something like "I don't want to be a downer, but..." or "I don't want to break up the party, but...", but that's just a wild stab, no idea what raclette would have to do with that. Is "faire ma raclette" itself a reference to or variation on yet another expression? An in-joke or running joke that makes sense in the series? Any help appreciated.

Melissa McMahon KudoZ activity Questions: 78 (none open) (17 closed without grading) Answers: 515 Australia
Local time: 16:09

I don't want to be a wet blanket, but ...

Explanation:
Alternative: I don't want to be a kill-joy, but ...

Selected response from:

claude-andrew
France
Local time: 08:09

Grading comment

Thank you, Claude-Andrew, I think this is the closest in meaning.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

adding my tuppence-worth

B D Finch

have a scrape with anyone here

Sébastien GUITTENY

I don't want to be a wet blanket, but ...

claude-andrew

with the greatest respect...

chris collister

Discussion entries: 7

Melissa McMahon

Australia

ASKER

Thanks

23:28 Feb 29, 2016

to everyone for their feedback so far - seems I am on the right track but it is so useful to be able to draw on others' ideas and knowledge. It will be hard to single out a "most helpful" when the time comes.

Lisa Jane

Italy

I have a feeling

20:09 Feb 29, 2016

that the possessive 'ma' is important here and that equivalent idioms like -make my own bed- (and then have to lie in it!) or -dig my own grave- or -cut my own throat- may come close to translating faire ma raclette. It seems to suggest I don't want to get myself into any trouble here but...

polyglot45

or 'killjoy"

10:52 Feb 29, 2016

while I take Nordiste's point about maintaining the "décalé" style, if you go too far, English-speaking readers won't understand. There is "being too clever by half", after all!
"Not wanting to cast/put a damper on the proceedings" would be a further option

nordiste

France

to be a black blanket / a cold blanket

10:42 Feb 29, 2016

Je pense qu'il faut garder ce côté décalé en anglais aussi, donc plutôt que "to be a wet blanket" qui est l'expression juste je dirais "to be a black blanket" (or "a cold blanket" ) par exemple.

polyglot45

never seen the series

10:31 Feb 29, 2016

and have never heard the expression but, going by the other comments, you could say "I don't want to rain on your parade"

Mollie Milesi

Israel

En faire tout un plat

09:32 Feb 29, 2016

Thank you, Nordiste! I've have only seen one or two episodes of Kaamelott - the title in itself is a cool pun :-) and was wondering if the expression the asker has posted is a deformation of 'je ne veux pas en faire tout un plat'?

nordiste

France

Kaamelott

07:25 Feb 29, 2016

Dans cette série les personnages utilisent beaucoup d'expressions inventées par eux-mêmes ; ce sont souvent des déformations d'expressions plus usuelles, toujours très imagées pour créer un effet comique.
(La raclette est un fromage suisse et aussi un plat à base de ce fromage.)
Dans la série Perceval est dépressif et toujours pessimiste.

Answers

2 hrs confidence:

have a scrape with anyone here

Explanation:
have a scrape (with someone or something)
Fig. to come into contact with someone or something; to have a small battle with someone or something. I had a scrape with the county sheriff. John and Bill had a scrape, but they are friends again now.
See also: have, scrape

Reference: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/scrape

Sébastien GUITTENY
France
Local time: 08:09
Does not meet criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: French
PRO pts in category: 8

3 hrs confidence:

I don't want to be a wet blanket, but ...

Explanation:
Alternative: I don't want to be a kill-joy, but ...

Example sentence(s):

wet blanket A person who discourages enjoyment or enthusiasm

Reference: http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/wet+blanket

claude-andrew
France
Local time: 08:09
Does not meet criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 20

Grading comment

Thank you, Claude-Andrew, I think this is the closest in meaning.

10 hrs confidence:

adding my tuppence-worth

Explanation:
It's not just for the sake of adding my tuppence-worth, but ...

Think about how one eats raclette: each person does their own cheese.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raclette
"Les convives font griller les aliments sur la plaque supérieure, puis préparent leur composition dans les coupelles à portions individuelles, surmontées de fromage. La coupelle est ensuite accrochée sous le grill jusqu'à ce que le fromage fonde. Les aliments peuvent également être cuits séparément sur la plaque et le fromage dans les coupelles, puis versé sur les aliments grillés, dans l'assiette."

http://www.marmiton.org/recettes/recette_raclette-suisse_136...
"Chacun fait fondre son fromage dans le poêlon et le déguste ensuite avec une pomme de terre et les accompagnements de son choix."

B D Finch
France
Local time: 08:09
Does not meet criteria
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 136

5 hrs confidence:

with the greatest respect...

Explanation:
Translating idiomatic terms is a nightmare, and I'm often tempted to go for safer options. You know that any sentence beginning with "With the greatest respect" is a precursor to an expression of the exact opposite to the offered opinion. "I don't want to dissapoint you, but..." might work, also the more pompous "far be it for me to shatter your illusions, but..."

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Note added at 16 hrs (2016-02-29 22:45:51 GMT)
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or (correctly) "disappoint"...

chris collister
France
Local time: 08:09
Does not meet criteria
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 18

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faire ma raclette

English translation: be a wet blanket

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