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Magnificent.....

English translation: Magnificent in a way, you must admit that. Three tablespoonfuls and not a quiver.

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:Magnificent.....
Selected answer:Magnificent in a way, you must admit that. Three tablespoonfuls and not a quiver.
Entered by: Charles Davis

11:56 Aug 25, 2019
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama / listening and comprehension
English term or phrase: Magnificent.....
These lines are very difficult to understand because there's music along the lines.

The lines are: "Magnificent.........., you must admit that. Three tablespoons ..................................................

I can't understand what the actor is saying after: Magnificent. And also after three tablespoons.

Context: His wife put three tablespoons of poison inside the hot water in order to kill uncle George, but nothing happened with him. So, the actor is talking about this.

Please, help me to understand these lines. I've listened to these lines several times and for me it's impossible to understand them.

Link: https://youtu.be/4PoWXWYSVUQ

Time: 4:35 ---> 4:39

Thanks!
Daniel Slon
Magnificent in a way, you must admit that. Three tablespoonfuls and not a quiver.
Explanation:
I am sure that this is what he says here. Just before this he says "Can't understand it"; that is, he can't understand how such a large dose failed to kill the intended victim. "Magnificent in a way" expresses the fact that although it is very frustrating that the poison didn't work, the ability of the intended victim to withstand it is remarkable, and magnificent, seen from a different perspective ("in a way"). In fairness, one must admire such robustness.

He says "tablespoonfuls", not "tablespoons full". "Not a quiver", of course, means that this large dose of poison had no effect on him; he didn't even quiver.
Selected response from:

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 09:04
Grading comment
Charles, thank you so much for your help! Like Mark said, you have a good ear. I'd say: a wonderful ear!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
4 +2Magnificent in a way, you must admit that. Three tablespoonfuls and not a quiver.
Charles Davis
3Magnificent in the (inaudible). You must admit that. Three tablespoons and not a quiver.
Mark Robertson
3"Magnificently little, you must admit that, three tablespoons full and not a quiver!
Lara Barnett


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


58 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
magnificent.....
Magnificent in the (inaudible). You must admit that. Three tablespoons and not a quiver.


Explanation:
The first one one beats me, "Magnificent in the (inaudible). You must admit that. Three tablespoons and not a quiver"

Mark Robertson
Local time: 08:04
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 48
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7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +2
magnificent.....
Magnificent in a way, you must admit that. Three tablespoonfuls and not a quiver.


Explanation:
I am sure that this is what he says here. Just before this he says "Can't understand it"; that is, he can't understand how such a large dose failed to kill the intended victim. "Magnificent in a way" expresses the fact that although it is very frustrating that the poison didn't work, the ability of the intended victim to withstand it is remarkable, and magnificent, seen from a different perspective ("in a way"). In fairness, one must admire such robustness.

He says "tablespoonfuls", not "tablespoons full". "Not a quiver", of course, means that this large dose of poison had no effect on him; he didn't even quiver.

Charles Davis
Spain
Local time: 09:04
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 52
Grading comment
Charles, thank you so much for your help! Like Mark said, you have a good ear. I'd say: a wonderful ear!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Mark Robertson: You have a good ear sir.
2 hrs
  -> Thanks very much, Mark :-)
agree  B D Finch: Unfortunate timing of the church bell!
3 hrs
  -> Yes! Thanks, Barbara :-)
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59 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
magnificent.....
"Magnificently little, you must admit that, three tablespoons full and not a quiver!


Explanation:
I have used slow-playback method (in youtube video settings). However, I don't think any method (bar finding the original script) will be 100% reliable, because this actor has very incoherently mumbled this section of his lines....unfortunately!

Therefore I have marked this as medium confidence, but I would classify that as "medium to low" to be honest.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2019-08-25 12:57:48 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

you can slow down the video as much as you like and it will go slower and slower, but that will not help.

Possible options now are to try to find the original script or, for what its worth, maybe contact a librarian in a film archive library somewhere.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 hrs (2019-08-25 20:28:50 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

...with regard to your interpretation "magnificent is little to describe...", I cannot hear that at all and it sounds a bit out of place in terms of the rest of his lines at this point".

Lara Barnett
United Kingdom
Local time: 08:04
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 16

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  B D Finch: That simply doesn't make sense.//Hardly necessary, given that Charles has got it right.
9 hrs
  -> Why don't you give it a go and suggest something. At least the rest of my info is of some help.// Good, so technically that's simply all you need to say
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