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  1. KudoZ™ Top
  2. French to English
  3. Poetry & Literature

poudroyer un chemin

English translation: dotted

10:13 Jun 3, 2010
French to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature / glass sculpture
French term or phrase: poudroyer un chemin
The finishing touch to those 5 charlatan glass figures!: " Les statuettes, dont il (l'artiste) poudroie son chemin, s’ornent d’une “armure” de gris-gris, de fioles et de fiasques qui courent sur leur silhouette longiligne comme des cartouchières. Leurs apparences respirent du côté de l’Afrique, de l’Océanie, de l’au-delà des étoiles."
Je connais l'expression - le soleil poudroie - Does that fit?
kashew
France
Local time: 12:25
English translation:dotted
Explanation:
"the statues he dotted along his way"
Selected response from:

Titus Haennni
Switzerland
Local time: 12:25
Grading comment
That's what I used - thanks a lot.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
4 +5scatter / spread
Mathieu Isidro (X)
3 +4leaves a trail [of them] behind him
B D Finch
4dotted
Titus Haennni
3 +1pepper/dot/sprinkle
polyglot45
3 +1glinting remnants strewn by the artist
Claire Nolan


  

Answers


19 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +5
scatter / spread


Explanation:
Ici poudroyer prend le sens de distribuer de manière irrégulière: Il dépose des statuettes ici et là sur son chemin.

J'opterais pour quelque chose comme "The statuettes, which he scatters / spreads along his way"

J'ai aussi pensé à sprinkle, mais ça me parait un peu fort.

Mathieu Isidro (X)
Local time: 12:25
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Evans (X): I like "scatters" , even "scatters behind him as he goes"
10 mins
  -> thanks Gilla
agree  Chris Hall: "scatters"
11 mins
  -> thanks Chris
agree  mimi 254
1 hr
  -> thanks mimi
agree  Alison Sabedoria (X)
1 hr
  -> thanks
agree  Verginia Ophof
5 hrs
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24 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +4
leaves a trail [of them] behind him


Explanation:
Less politely, one could say that his path is littered with them.

B D Finch
France
Local time: 12:25
Works in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 43

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chris Hall
25 mins
  -> Thanks Chris
agree  Parrot: I'd go for "of which the artist leaves a shimmering trail"...
1 hr
  -> Thanks Parrot. Wouldn't that be over-translating it?
agree  Alison Sabedoria (X)
1 hr
  -> Thanks Wordeffect
agree  Helen Shiner: I agree - other solutions make it sound as if the sculptures would be smashed.
4 hrs
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34 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
dotted


Explanation:
"the statues he dotted along his way"

Titus Haennni
Switzerland
Local time: 12:25
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
That's what I used - thanks a lot.
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

38 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
pepper/dot/sprinkle


Explanation:
try the thesaurus for more synonyms

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Note added at 58 mins (2010-06-03 11:12:34 GMT)
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stud

polyglot45
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in category: 52
Notes to answerer
Asker: Peppered sounds very suitable - esp as there are those olfactory memories later: thanks a lot.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Alison Sabedoria (X): I like peppered.
1 hr
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
glinting remnants strewn by the artist


Explanation:
suggestion

Claire Nolan
Local time: 06:25
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 23

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Chris Hall: Another suggestion of yours which I find myeslf agreeeing with.
50 mins
  -> Thank you, Chris.
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