che faccia di latta

English translation: What a hoot!—Little devil!

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
Italian term or phrase:che faccia di latta
English translation:What a hoot!—Little devil!
Entered by: Maria Burnett

14:48 Oct 18, 2019
Italian to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / book
Italian term or phrase: che faccia di latta
I translated that with " you have a lot of nerve", but the author is looking for another expression.
Can anyone help me?
Thank you so much.

Beh, io me ne vado! – strillò furibondo, mentre le piume gli si arruffavano tanto da farlo diventare tondo come una palla. Fece quel che aveva detto e si alzò in volo dirigendosi verso il lungofiume.
Dopo non più di due secondi il pipistrello gli si affiancò. – Dove andiamo? – chiese come se niente fosse.
“Che faccia di latta!”, pensò Bollino. – A mangiare – grugnì.

Bollino is the owl and Daki is the bat.
Maria Burnett
United States
Local time: 06:06
What a hoot!—Little devil!
Explanation:
For a less literal take and a smattering of a pun in translation, the idea being to convey Owl's scorn towards Bat for thinking he's so clever playing ignorant.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2019-10-19 12:35:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'Baldfaced little devil!' is one way to expand on the second option.
Selected response from:

Wolf Draeger
South Africa
Local time: 12:06
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +4What a cheek!
Fiona Grace Peterson
4 +2what a poker face
Angie Garbarino
2 +3What a hoot!—Little devil!
Wolf Draeger
4 +1Well, how utterly/terribly brazen!
Lara Barnett
4(What an) impudent little scalawag/scamp!
Janice Giffin


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
what a poker face


Explanation:
faccia di latta or faccia di bronzo https://context.reverso.net/traduzione/italiano-inglese/facc...

Angie Garbarino
Local time: 11:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in ItalianItalian
PRO pts in category: 4

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Roberta Broccoletti
51 mins

agree  Luciene Freitas
7 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

21 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +4
What a cheek!


Explanation:
This is how I would say it.

Fiona Grace Peterson
Italy
Local time: 11:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 44

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Wolf Draeger
2 hrs

agree  Sabrina Bruna
6 hrs

agree  Kathryn Jones
15 hrs

agree  Jasmina Towers
21 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5 peer agreement (net): +3
What a hoot!—Little devil!


Explanation:
For a less literal take and a smattering of a pun in translation, the idea being to convey Owl's scorn towards Bat for thinking he's so clever playing ignorant.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2019-10-19 12:35:00 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

'Baldfaced little devil!' is one way to expand on the second option.

Example sentence(s):
  • 'What a hoot!' Bollino snorted to himself.
  • 'Little devil!' thought Bollino.

    Reference: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/hoot#Noun
    Reference: http://www.ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=hoot&submit.x...
Wolf Draeger
South Africa
Local time: 12:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  texjax DDS PhD: What a hoot is genius!
5 hrs
  -> Thanks!

agree  Lisa Jane
12 hrs
  -> Ta!

agree  P.L.F. Persio: brilliant!
18 hrs
  -> Thank you!
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

5 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
Well, how utterly/terribly brazen!


Explanation:
"brazen
adjective
1. shameless or impudent:
brazen presumption.
made of brass.
2. like brass, as in sound, color, or strength.
verb (used with object)
3. to make brazen or bold."
https://www.dictionary.com/browse/brazen?s=t

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2019-10-19 12:31:24 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"Brazen" synonyms include "audacious, blatant, brassy cocky, impertinent & nervy..." (see thesaurus.com), of which I would go for "brassy" if you are not happy with "brazen".

I do not believe it is simply coincidence that such a harsh, cold and metallic material is used to describe this aspect of a person's character.

"brassy"
,,,,
1a: shamelessly bold
a brassy reporter
b: OBSTREPEROUS
2: resembling brass especially in color
3: resembling the sound of a brass instrument
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brassy

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2019-10-19 12:34:34 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"HOW TERRIBLY BRAZEN, impertinent, downright dodgy even, for the supermarket to use the official planning process to attempt to open a shop in an area they believe there to be local demand."
https://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/opinion/gazette-letters-s...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 21 hrs (2019-10-19 12:39:45 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"BRAZEN.....
1. Definition of brazen is shameless, or overly bold or loud, or made of brass.
2. If your mother says not to take a cookie and you proudly go right up and grab one anyway, this is an example of when you are brazen.
3. If a candlestick is made of brass, this is an example of brazen.
[ALSO]
Origin of brazen
Middle English brasen from Old English bræsen from bræs, brass..."
https://www.yourdictionary.com/brazen



Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:06
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 36
1 corroborated select project
in this pair and field What is ProZ.com Project History(SM)?

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Lisa Jane
9 hrs
  -> Thank you
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

2 days 4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
(What an) impudent little scalawag/scamp!


Explanation:
The owl is probably bigger and feels superior to a little bat that pays no mind to the owl's indignation

Example sentence(s):
  • Bjørnar’s sweet, little puppy Hjalmar has grown into an impudent little scamp.

    Reference: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=scamp
Janice Giffin
Italy
Local time: 11:06
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 20
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search