par à coup

English translation: convulsively, spasmodically

23:54 Dec 22, 2018
French to English translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary - Poetry & Literature
French term or phrase: par à coup
Il n’y avait que des vaches écrasées, toujours tressautantes par à coup qui meuglaient d’une voix puissante et plaintive des messages de détresse adressés aux divinités des bovins qui semblaient, à cette heure-ci, totalement sourdes.
Frank Gerace
United States
Local time: 06:42
English translation:convulsively, spasmodically
Explanation:
With what life these poor cows had left in them.
Selected response from:

Adam Warren
France
Local time: 12:42
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +1jerkily / jerking
Tony M
3convulsively, spasmodically
Adam Warren


Discussion entries: 2





  

Answers


7 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +1
jerkily / jerking


Explanation:
Have to admit, I thought it was written 'à-coup' — but that's perhaps just my memory playing tricks.

Tony M
France
Local time: 12:42
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 128

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daryo: it is "par à-coups" https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/par_à-coups
7 hrs
  -> Thanks, Daryo!
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11 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
convulsively, spasmodically


Explanation:
With what life these poor cows had left in them.

Adam Warren
France
Local time: 12:42
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  writeaway: but doesn't toujours preclude spasmodically and a good translation of tressautantes will automatically include the meaning of par à-coup, making it redundant. imo
1 hr
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