quem me dera ter antes desabrochado hoje

14:56 Nov 13, 2018
This question was closed without grading. Reason: Other

Portuguese to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters / In The Preface To A Novel
Portuguese term or phrase: quem me dera ter antes desabrochado hoje
Context:

Ai! quem me dera ter antes desabrochado hoje com os punhos arregaçados para espremer o pus de muitas escrófulas à face do leitor! Naquele tempo, enflorava-se a pústula; agora, a carne com varaja pendura-se na escápula e vende-se bem, porque muita gente não desgosta de se narcisar num espelho fiel.

Muita Obrigada,

Barbara
Barbara Cochran, MFA
United States
Local time: 06:04


Summary of answers provided
4 +1I wish I had bloomed /blossomed earlier today
Oliver Simões


Discussion entries: 5





  

Answers


1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
I wish I had bloomed /blossomed earlier today


Explanation:
I believe he's using "desabrochar" in the sense of bloom, blossom.

The image is kind of disgusting, though. This is what I understood:

Alas! I wish I had bloomed /blossomed earlier today with my sleeves rolled up so I could squeeze the pus out of many wounds before the eyes of the readers.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 13 hrs (2018-11-14 04:24:37 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Alternative expression:
"bloomed up" instead of "bloomed"

Oliver Simões
United States
Local time: 03:04
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 56

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Margarida Ataide
2 days 2 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)



Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question.

You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs (or are passionate about them). Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy.

KudoZ™ translation help

The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases.


See also:
Term search
  • All of ProZ.com
  • Term search
  • Jobs
  • Forums
  • Multiple search