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Explanation: Thank you Nina for making the context clearer. I think this term is about equivalent, '(the original is not too formal) though I am aware that there are many possibilities. It could be said this is not "literary", but the original phrase literally means that "it hits you in the face". As you say, it is amazement. I know it is not done to propose lots of synonyms. However, if you wanted to be a little more formal, you could say it is "breathtaking", or "it really takes your breath away".... to keep the idea of "in your face".
"It rocks you back on your heels", which is literally what happens when you receive a blow in the face, but is also a metaphorical set phrase for something that makes a powerful impression:
This is about painting: "a small painting like Girtin’s White House at Chelsea (which is in the Tate) causes your heartbeat to shoot straight up with its beauty, it rocks you back on your heels like a push from a drunk." http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/forget-all-those...
Thank you. I have chosen mind-blowing as I also have my time restrictions here so I had to send the translation. Thanks again so much to all! These discussions are precious as other translators may have slightly different contexts and may profit from your suggestions.
That really doesn't sound terribly natural to me, nor does it really fit with the context IMHO — it's too close to expressions like "It was a slap in the face for him..." etc.
Thank you for having psoted more context here. It really is essential. My first reaction for the prhase was in line with François' suggestion, although in context, "mindblowing" is a much better solution. "Gobsmacked" is a little too familiar though. Scenery can be picturesque, but the term "gobsmacked" is not at all picturesque! It might have been a good choice for the phrase posted, but certainly not in the context we finally discovered.
yes, gobsmacked was the first thing that came to my mind. And I agree (cf my answer) that breathtaking/it takes your breath away could be a solution. given the whole context , I'm also tempted by "in your face", though that is not at all literary!
My context: "c'est tout simplement incroyable, ce paysage. On se le prend dans la figure, ici. C'est vertical, torturé, austère, et magnifique en même temps. Impressionnant."
gobsmacked would be a fairly literal - but NOT lit
19:35 May 9, 2016
erary translation. However, why don't you turn it around and say something like "it's stunningly/staggeringly beautiful". Or Marco's "breathtakingly beautiful"...
But we DO need the surrounding text, if only to help us judge the required register
IF you are CERTAIN that your interpretation is correct, you could translated as "It takes your breath away" or "It is breathtaking." You should really post the entire paragraph, to enable your colleagues to determine the meaning of the expression.
The context is hiking in the mountains, but my question has to do with the translation of a phrase so I wanted to find out more about the sense of the phrase. I suppose it could be translated as: "I cannot believe it", Ït's amazing" and such, but I would prefer a more "literary" translation, please!
More context please? "Art/literary" plus "letters"... a reaction to a work of art?
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Answers
43 mins confidence: peer agreement (net): +4
it's mindblowing
Explanation: Thank you Nina for making the context clearer. I think this term is about equivalent, '(the original is not too formal) though I am aware that there are many possibilities. It could be said this is not "literary", but the original phrase literally means that "it hits you in the face". As you say, it is amazement. I know it is not done to propose lots of synonyms. However, if you wanted to be a little more formal, you could say it is "breathtaking", or "it really takes your breath away".... to keep the idea of "in your face".
katsy Local time: 05:26 Native speaker of: English PRO pts in category: 40
peer agreement (net): +4