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déchirer les étiquettes

English translation: defying all labelling

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
French term or phrase:déchirer les étiquettes
English translation:defying all labelling
Entered by: kashew

04:56 Sep 26, 2014
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
French term or phrase: déchirer les étiquettes
Has anyone heard the phrase "déchirer les étiquettes" in a figurative sense? I'm trying to work out what is intended in this sentence from an album review: "Tout en déchirant les étiquettes, [le compositeur] se réapproprie une Neue Volkfmusik [...]". I'm guessing the intention is something like "doing away with conventions"-- can anyone confirm this or lend a better understanding?
Neil Coffey
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:55
defying all labelling
Explanation:
Pretty standard phrase
e.g.
Norwegian Metal music has taken on many shapes over the past decade, but none ... Metal, but like most truly great music, their sonic assault defies all labelling.

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Note added at 8 heures (2014-09-26 13:04:52 GMT)
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"hors catégorie" to be chic?

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Note added at 8 heures (2014-09-26 13:16:06 GMT)
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Leaving the labels in tatters!

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Note added at 8 heures (2014-09-26 13:31:47 GMT)
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NB: I read it again and take it that the musician in question can no longer be pigeonholed as he had been previously.
Selected response from:

kashew
France
Local time: 20:55
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5defying all labelling
kashew
4Going beyond category
kashew
4ripping up the rule-book
Sophie Cherel
3throwing all labels in the rubbish bin
Daryo


Discussion entries: 3





  

Answers


8 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
Going beyond category


Explanation:
*

kashew
France
Local time: 20:55
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
defying all labelling


Explanation:
Pretty standard phrase
e.g.
Norwegian Metal music has taken on many shapes over the past decade, but none ... Metal, but like most truly great music, their sonic assault defies all labelling.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 heures (2014-09-26 13:04:52 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

"hors catégorie" to be chic?

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 heures (2014-09-26 13:16:06 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Leaving the labels in tatters!

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 8 heures (2014-09-26 13:31:47 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

NB: I read it again and take it that the musician in question can no longer be pigeonholed as he had been previously.

kashew
France
Local time: 20:55
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 40

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Verginia Ophof
1 hr
  -> Thanks
agree  Sandra & Kenneth Grossman
1 hr
  -> Thanks
agree  Yvonne Gallagher: or "nor fitting into any particular category"
2 hrs
  -> Thanks
agree  Sheri P: Defying all labels -- the two -ings don't sound very pretty :-)
5 hrs
  -> Thanks. I agree!
agree  philgoddard: Agree with Sheri.
8 hrs
  -> Thanks. Yes, I know.
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6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
ripping up the rule-book


Explanation:
This is a common idiom in English, I think it is the best equivalent

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Note added at 7 hrs (2014-09-26 12:31:58 GMT)
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or rulebook

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Note added at 16 hrs (2014-09-26 21:04:58 GMT)
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It might sound right like this: 'The [compositeur] rips up the rulebook to make a [Neue Volkfmusik...](song) his very own.'

Sophie Cherel
Spain
Local time: 19:55
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
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1 day 6 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
throwing all labels in the rubbish bin


Explanation:
ignoring them, refusing to chose any of them

while throwing all labels in the rubbish bin ...



Daryo
United Kingdom
Local time: 19:55
Native speaker of: Native in SerbianSerbian, Native in FrenchFrench
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