Nov 5, 2019 15:07
4 yrs ago
3 viewers *
French term
Not a translator
'Être fou comme un lapin'
Not for points
Homework / test
French to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
French idiom
Hi everyone, I have been asked to do a translation of a French literary text and the idiom 'être fou comme un lapin' is in the text. I have asked two French friends and they told me they have no idea of what it means. It does not appear anywhere online either so I was wondering if you could help me. Thanks in advance!
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +8 | As mad as a March hare |
SafeTex
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| 5 +1 | To be as mad as a hatter |
Cydonie Miles
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| 3 | to be batshit crazy |
Ben Gaia
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| 2 | crazy as a loon |
Barbara Cochran, MFA
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Proposed translations
+8
6 hrs
Selected
As mad as a March hare
Hello
For me, this is the only phrase that refers to the hare's sexual antics in March, as does the French expression pointed out by Ph_B in the discussion
For me, this is the only phrase that refers to the hare's sexual antics in March, as does the French expression pointed out by Ph_B in the discussion
Reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mad_as_a_March_hare
https://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/as-mad-as-a-march-hare.html
Note from asker:
| This is probably the best option as it's a literary text, thank you very much! Really appreciate it. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Stephanie Benoist
: I like maintaining the rabbit image. also reminiscent of Alice in Wonderland (of course it was the Hatter who was mad, mais bon...)
3 hrs
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thanks Stephanie
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| agree |
Ben Gaia
: Perfect.
12 hrs
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Thanks. Some similarities between languages does help at times
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| agree |
AllegroTrans
12 hrs
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Thanks AllegroTrans :)
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| agree |
B D Finch
: Also works without the "As", i.e. "Mad as a March hare".
13 hrs
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Thanks
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| agree |
Ph_B (X)
15 hrs
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Cheers
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| agree |
Michele Fauble
19 hrs
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Thank you
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| agree |
Yolanda Broad
1 day 3 hrs
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Thanks Yolanda
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| agree |
Tony M
: Yes, and captures a similar notion: rabbits or hares behaving oddly in the Spring (season of reproduction)
30 days
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Comment: "This is great and probably the most useful answer as it is for a literary text. Really appreciate it."
4 hrs
to be batshit crazy
A modern idiom which used to be "mad as a snake" or more precisely, in Australia, "mad as a cut snake". As the discussion entry suggests there is a sense in French regarding rabbits as sexually very active, but the phrase is usually "un lapin chaud" - a hot rabbit", for a horny person, so I suggest this modern English animal-madness equivalent.
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Note added at 4 hrs (2019-11-05 19:53:01 GMT)
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Good note on etymology here: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=batshit craz...
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Note added at 4 hrs (2019-11-05 19:53:01 GMT)
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Good note on etymology here: https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=batshit craz...
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: Although not really suitable for GB, where the expression is less used, and still has a US association... / No, 'batshit crazy' + 'stir crazy' both have US associations to us Brits; 'going apeshit' is a quite different expression. 'Crazy' is a bit US.
11 mins
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Australian surely, the US equivalent is "apeshit"? Though associations can be random. The full Ozzy phrase was "All over the place like a mad woman's knitting". It seems to have morphed into a more defecatory sense.
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| neutral |
AllegroTrans
: asker says it's a literary text: unless it has this register of language your suggestion is not suitable
16 hrs
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Not all literature is stuck in the nineteenth century. French idioms are often much ruder than British ones.
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5 hrs
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
United States
Native in English
Specializes in field
United States
Laudable Lady Linguist
Native in: English 
Works in: Spanish to English, French to English, English to Spanish, and 3 more.
crazy as a loon
https://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/crazy as a loon
Although it's usually associated with a bird, not a rabbit.
Although it's usually associated with a bird, not a rabbit.
Peer comment(s):
| neutral |
Tony M
: Again, possibly more suitable for the US; 'a bit loony' might sound more familiar in BE.
30 days
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Yes, it would be suitable then, because I am in the US, merci a Dieu.
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+1
30 days
To be as mad as a hatter
This is our most common translation for British English, but we do also use "as mad as a march hare" - both are quite quaint and old fashioned, but still used in a polite setting.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Yolanda Broad
53 mins
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| neutral |
Tony M
: Although the association with Alice in Wonderland is appealing, there was of course the White Rabbit; but this kind of "madness" was really quite different, so not sure the origin of the expression is quite apt?
6 hrs
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Yes, the madness is a bit different, frustrated-mad vs crazy-mad, but I wasn't sure of the context. Although the phrase was popularised in the Alice books, it did come from hat makers who used a special substance in their work that made them go dotty!
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Discussion
Nuts as what?