Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Italiano term or phrase:
ne combinò di tutti i colori
Inglese translation:
(virtually) tied himself in knots
Added to glossary by
David Turnbull
May 12, 2010 10:14
14 yrs ago
Italiano term
ne combinò di tutti i colori
Da Italiano a Inglese
Arte/Letteratura
Poesia e Prosa
From a sticker album about the Disney Princesses.
We're talking about Aurora, from Sleeping Beauty, who has met a little dragon in the woods and taken him home:
Can't think of a good way to render the starred part.
Any ideas appreciated!
Nella corte le fatine stavano appendendo i festoni per il Re Stefan e la Regina che sarebbero arrivati quella sera per un ballo a corte. Poverine, non fecero in tempo a commentare l’arrivo del draghetto che lui ***ne combinò di tutti i colori*** nel tentativo di imitare un micio, un cane, un uccellino e persino un pesce! Ogni volta che soffiava rischiava di incendiare ogni cosa! Capii che aveva paura di non essere accettato solo perché era un drago e per questo cercava di assomigliare a qualcun altro.
We're talking about Aurora, from Sleeping Beauty, who has met a little dragon in the woods and taken him home:
Can't think of a good way to render the starred part.
Any ideas appreciated!
Nella corte le fatine stavano appendendo i festoni per il Re Stefan e la Regina che sarebbero arrivati quella sera per un ballo a corte. Poverine, non fecero in tempo a commentare l’arrivo del draghetto che lui ***ne combinò di tutti i colori*** nel tentativo di imitare un micio, un cane, un uccellino e persino un pesce! Ogni volta che soffiava rischiava di incendiare ogni cosa! Capii che aveva paura di non essere accettato solo perché era un drago e per questo cercava di assomigliare a qualcun altro.
Proposed translations
(Inglese)
Proposed translations
+1
6 min
Selected
(virtually) tied himself in knots
hth :)
Note from asker:
Thanks - this fits the bill |
Peer comment(s):
agree |
manducci
: While most of the other suggestions are correct as a translation of the idiom, this one fits the context perfectly.
2 ore
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
8 min
was creating all kinds of havoc
There are various ways you could put this - this is one.
Hope it helps! :o)
Hope it helps! :o)
+1
14 min
he got into all kinds of mischief / he got up to all sorts of mischief)
Mischief - Associated Content - Topic - associatedcontent.com
<B>New kittens can get into all kinds of mischief and danger</B> when their owner's backs are turned. Cat owners need to keep a close eye on their new kitten to ...
www.associatedcontent.com/topic/47741/mischief.html
<B>New kittens can get into all kinds of mischief and danger</B> when their owner's backs are turned. Cat owners need to keep a close eye on their new kitten to ...
www.associatedcontent.com/topic/47741/mischief.html
Peer comment(s):
agree |
James (Jim) Davis
1 ora
|
Thanks James
|
|
neutral |
Fiona Grace Peterson
: Again I don't feel this really reflects the nuance of the source text.
1 ora
|
Well, just a suggestion.
|
|
neutral |
manducci
: Agree with Fiona
2 ore
|
Well, just a suggestion.
|
+2
26 min
he got up to all sorts of tricks (or mischief)
Questo e' quello che ho pensato appena ho visto la domanda e l'ho riscontrato sul Collins sotto la voce 'colore': farne di tutti i colori...
Peer comment(s):
agree |
Mailand
: I favour this, sounds "disneyish" ...
16 min
|
Thanks!
|
|
agree |
BrigitteHilgner
: I wouldn't use "mischief" - make it sound positive.
25 min
|
very good point! was not my first choice either.thanks!
|
|
neutral |
Fiona Grace Peterson
: This is practically the same answer proposed by Cristina. Also I am not quite sure this reflects the nuance of the source text.
50 min
|
Thank you for your comment - it was the word 'tricks' I personally liked.
|
|
neutral |
manducci
: Again, agree with Fiona's comment here.
2 ore
|
39 min
was outdoing himself
...
Peer comment(s):
neutral |
manducci
: As a translation of the idiom in this particular context, I agree. but don't think we would use this in the past continuous form. Better: he outdid himself...
2 ore
|
'nel tentativo di imitare' he was outdoing himself in his attempts to imitate - I saw it as an action in progress but, reading it more carefully, I agree it would be simple past.
|
1 ora
got into a real pickle
got into a real pickle
3 ore
He fell over himself trying to ..
He fell over himself trying to .../ in his attempts to...
+1
3 ore
Discussion