I am translating a book and I am not sure what these expressions mean. Could you please help me with them?

an English accent WHICH BETRAYED NO HOME COUNTIES HORSINESS

who is CHACHA?

He had worked doggedly THROUGH PUNISHING HOUSE to complete his medical training, while his friends dallied with lucrative but less worthy careers in banking and media.

as though they are an old divorced couple catching up OVER A BRIDGE HAND…

I have the choice of betraying my country, or betraying all that I HOLD GOOD.

At a cricket game: Khan´s batting. WORKING UP TO HIS HALF CENTURY.

Thanks in advance for any help.

dag said:

I am translating a book and I am not sure what these expressions mean. Could you please help me with them?

an English accent WHICH BETRAYED NO HOME COUNTIES HORSINESS

who is CHACHA?

He had worked doggedly THROUGH PUNISHING HOUSE to complete his medical training, while his friends dallied with lucrative but less worthy careers in banking and media.

as though they are an old divorced couple catching up OVER A BRIDGE HAND…

I have the choice of betraying my country, or betraying all that I HOLD GOOD.

At a cricket game: Khan´s batting. WORKING UP TO HIS HALF CENTURY.

Thanks in advance for any help.

home counties - http://en.wikipedia.org/w...e_counties - the sentance makes no sense to me

fuck knows who chacha is. sounds like some happy days reference. cha cha is a dance like the waltz

the next bit sounds like some badly translated shit, it makes no sense

bridge is a card game, and a hand in cards is what you get dealt. thus they caught up with the past/stories/etc over a game of cards

i hold good = what i belive in

a half centuary is a cricket score. a centuary is 100, a half centuary is 50. http://en.wikipedia.org/w...cricket%29

dag said:

I am translating a book and I am not sure what these expressions mean. Could you please help me with them?

an English accent WHICH BETRAYED NO HOME COUNTIES HORSINESS

who is CHACHA?

He had worked doggedly THROUGH PUNISHING HOUSE to complete his medical training, while his friends dallied with lucrative but less worthy careers in banking and media.

as though they are an old divorced couple catching up OVER A BRIDGE HAND…

I have the choice of betraying my country, or betraying all that I HOLD GOOD.

At a cricket game: Khan´s batting. WORKING UP TO HIS HALF CENTURY.

Thanks in advance for any help.

I think "Punishing House" is actually a bad translation of "punishing residency" and this is after medical school when you first become a doctor

these seem like they are already translated, and badly!

A bridge hand is probably meant to say "a hand of bridge"

"horsiness" might mean "hoarseness"

I already mentioned residency...

I'm guessing "betraying all that I hold good" should be "betraying all that I hold dear."

NDRU said:

these seem like they are already translated, and badly!

A bridge hand is probably meant to say "a hand of bridge"

"horsiness" might mean "hoarseness"

I already mentioned residency...

Thanks a lot. I will think about these and try to figure them out, but I think I still don´t get the "a hand of bridge". What does it mean in that sentence?

Efan, thanks. I think this works too. Thanks a lot.

dag said:

NDRU said:

these seem like they are already translated, and badly!

A bridge hand is probably meant to say "a hand of bridge"

"horsiness" might mean "hoarseness"

I already mentioned residency...

Thanks a lot. I will think about these and try to figure them out, but I think I still don´t get the "a hand of bridge". What does it mean in that sentence?

Efan, thanks. I think this works too. Thanks a lot.

a hand of bridge

"bridge" is a game like Mah Jong or Chess. Specifically it is a game with Playing Cards like Poker, Black Jack, etc.

You'd say "Hey, would you want to play a hand of Bridge?" Similar to "would you like a glass of whiskey?" Since you usually hold Playing Cards in your hand to play, that's where that comes in.

[Edited 8/23/10 12:39pm]

dag said:

NDRU said:

these seem like they are already translated, and badly!

A bridge hand is probably meant to say "a hand of bridge"

"horsiness" might mean "hoarseness"

I already mentioned residency...

Thanks a lot. I will think about these and try to figure them out, but I think I still don´t get the "a hand of bridge". What does it mean in that sentence?

Efan, thanks. I think this works too. Thanks a lot.

Bridge is the name of the game. A hand is the group of cards you are dealt, like Unique said.

But I think "hand" also can refer to a game. So you can play a hand of bridge (this would be informal, I think), and (more formally) in a game of bridge you are dealt dealt a hand.

A similar example might be playing "a set of tennis"

Also, I think the first one about the English accent is in regards to how there was no specific dialect. Nothing in the person's english accent gave any clue to where the person was raised.

In England/America/Canada/etc. there are many dialects and slang that are specific to regions. London will speak different from Northern England which can sound different from Wales or Ireland, which is different from Texas which is not the same as Tennesee or Massachusets.

NDRU said:

these seem like they are already translated, and badly!

A bridge hand is probably meant to say "a hand of bridge"

"horsiness" might mean "hoarseness"

I already mentioned residency...

That.

NDRU said:

dag said:

Thanks a lot. I will think about these and try to figure them out, but I think I still don´t get the "a hand of bridge". What does it mean in that sentence?

Efan, thanks. I think this works too. Thanks a lot.

Bridge is the name of the game. A hand is the group of cards you are dealt, like Unique said.

But I think "hand" also can refer to a game. So you can play a hand of bridge (this would be informal, I think), and (more formally) in a game of bridge you are dealt dealt a hand.

A similar example might be playing "a set of tennis"

You mean that they are trying to catch up or make up for that lost time that they were not together by playing bridge?

dag said:

I am translating a book and I am not sure what these expressions mean. Could you please help me with them?

an English accent WHICH BETRAYED NO HOME COUNTIES HORSINESS

Home counties are the counties surrounding London. A lot of weathy people live in these areas rather than London itself. Now picture someone speaking while showing their teeth, as a horse would. This is a typical home counties posh accent.

Betrayed no home counties horsiness- their accent doesnt reflect there home counties roots

dag said:

NDRU said:

Bridge is the name of the game. A hand is the group of cards you are dealt, like Unique said.

But I think "hand" also can refer to a game. So you can play a hand of bridge (this would be informal, I think), and (more formally) in a game of bridge you are dealt dealt a hand.

A similar example might be playing "a set of tennis"

You mean that they are trying to catch up or make up for that lost time that they were not together by playing bridge?

yes. some people may do so over a drink, but coffin dodgers might do so over a card game

dag said:

NDRU said:

Bridge is the name of the game. A hand is the group of cards you are dealt, like Unique said.

But I think "hand" also can refer to a game. So you can play a hand of bridge (this would be informal, I think), and (more formally) in a game of bridge you are dealt dealt a hand.

A similar example might be playing "a set of tennis"

You mean that they are trying to catch up or make up for that lost time that they were not together by playing bridge?

yes, the game gives them an opportunity to spend some time together to chat and and catch up on each others' lives

Thank you all for your help.

I have few more questions:

Do you have any idea what an ENT water is?

Another abbreviation I don´t understand is MRT Singapur.

And here I don´t understand the term "confetti" and I cannot find it anywhere. Or the meaning that I have found makes no sense to me:

Aids, if he had refused the drugs, might have eaten his irritable mind into CONFETTI.

This is confetti:

[img:$uid]http://www.kortink.nl/downloads/images/fotos/Feest/HighRes/HR_Confetti.jpg[/img:$uid]

[Edited 8/25/10 1:38am]

dag said:

Thank you all for your help.

I have few more questions:

Do you have any idea what an ENT water is?

Another abbreviation I don´t understand is MRT Singapur.

And here I don´t understand the term "confetti" and I cannot find it anywhere. Or the meaning that I have found makes no sense to me:

Aids, if he had refused the drugs, might have eaten his irritable mind into CONFETTI.

confetti is the little bits of paper that are thrown at a wedding. at some weddings people throw rice, at some they use confetti, which looks like the pic above

MRT singapore is a company you can google. ENT water might be another company. those aren't english phrases. ENT water has a youtube video that has something to do with lord of the rings

some of the phrases you've mentioned are hard to explain without a sentance using them in context

Thanks a lot, guys.

Could the use of "confetti" mean that aids would eat his mind into SMALL PIECES?

Other ones:

She tries to ignore the curious looks she get on the Central Line train, as SUITED commuters stare freely at the sandals hanging off her bare feet, at her...

Does "suited" here man that they are wearing suits or does it have another meaning?

I don´t know how to translate "old chap". Is it something like an "old friend" or "old person"?

dag said:

Thanks a lot, guys.

Could the use of "confetti" mean that aids would eat his mind into SMALL PIECES?

Other ones:

She tries to ignore the curious looks she get on the Central Line train, as SUITED commuters stare freely at the sandals hanging off her bare feet, at her...

Does "suited" here man that they are wearing suits or does it have another meaning?

I don´t know how to translate "old chap". Is it something like an "old friend" or "old person"?

1) it sounds like a writer is usuing a fancier style or wording. they are basically saying his brain will turn to mush/crap/rubbish/confetti/mince - AIDS is destroying his brain

2) suited passengers is people with suits, ie. business men on the train looking at a hippy with sandals on

3) old chap, it's kinda like old friend, but sometimes it can be said if you don't know the person, sometimes the person might be older. sometimes it's said to be friendly, sometimes the opposite

unique said:

dag said:

Thanks a lot, guys.

Could the use of "confetti" mean that aids would eat his mind into SMALL PIECES?

Other ones:

She tries to ignore the curious looks she get on the Central Line train, as SUITED commuters stare freely at the sandals hanging off her bare feet, at her...

Does "suited" here man that they are wearing suits or does it have another meaning?

I don´t know how to translate "old chap". Is it something like an "old friend" or "old person"?

1) it sounds like a writer is usuing a fancier style or wording. they are basically saying his brain will turn to mush/crap/rubbish/confetti/mince - AIDS is destroying his brain

2) suited passengers is people with suits, ie. business men on the train looking at a hippy with sandals on

3) old chap, it's kinda like old friend, but sometimes it can be said if you don't know the person, sometimes the person might be older. sometimes it's said to be friendly, sometimes the opposite

Thank you soooooooooo much.

What is the book you are translating?

mostbeautifulboy said:

What is the book you are translating?

Half Life by Roopa Farooki

Another term: a woman with the COLDEST FEET. This is the dictionary definition I´ve found.

"Fearfulness or timidity preventing the completion of a course of action."

Does it concert any action or does it usually refer to someone who cannot keep a relationship. Cause in the book it says something like "he managed to marry a woman with the coldest feet."

I found out in the dictionary that CHAP may also mean an single man. Could it have this meaning in this phrase?

chap can sometimes have gay connotations rather than being a single man, it might mean single gay man in gay circles

holly johnson changes lyrics to say "chaps" in the FGTH cover of born to run and ralph lauren had an offshoot range called chaps and someone mentioned it to me then. i don't think that's the use here, it's more like old friend

the cold feet reference, i've not heard in that way and thought it literally meant she had unwarm feet. the phrase "getting cold feet" means you aren't so sure about doing something, like changing your mind. the reference may have meant she usually changes her mind about things, but the mention of bed seems to change that

the thing is even if you know english, sometimes it's hard to figure out what writers mean if they try to be too arty

unique said:

chap can sometimes have gay connotations rather than being a single man, it might mean single gay man in gay circles

holly johnson changes lyrics to say "chaps" in the FGTH cover of born to run and ralph lauren had an offshoot range called chaps and someone mentioned it to me then. i don't think that's the use here, it's more like old friend

the cold feet reference, i've not heard in that way and thought it literally meant she had unwarm feet. the phrase "getting cold feet" means you aren't so sure about doing something, like changing your mind. the reference may have meant she usually changes her mind about things, but the mention of bed seems to change that

the thing is even if you know english, sometimes it's hard to figure out what writers mean if they try to be too arty

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

I have another simpler phrase, I think. I´LL LEAVE YOU TO IT.

Anyone?

[Edited 8/27/10 9:32am]

The coldest feet thing: The woman was scared about getting married and may have wanted to back out but the man managed to marry her anyway.

I'll leave you to do it: this is just like saying that you'll leave someone alone so that they can do an action..maybe one that the person leaving asked them to do.

fambam93 said:

The coldest feet thing: The woman was scared about getting married and may have wanted to back out but the man managed to marry her anyway.

I'll leave you to do it: this is just like saying that you'll leave someone alone so that they can do an action..maybe one that the person leaving asked them to do.

Thank you.

dag said:

fambam93 said:

The coldest feet thing: The woman was scared about getting married and may have wanted to back out but the man managed to marry her anyway.

I'll leave you to do it: this is just like saying that you'll leave someone alone so that they can do an action..maybe one that the person leaving asked them to do.

Thank you.

No problem. I am only 16, but I'll try my best to help if you have any more.

fambam93 said:

dag said:

Thank you.

No problem. I am only 16, but I'll try my best to help if you have any more.

I might have more. Thank you.

dag said:

unique said:

chap can sometimes have gay connotations rather than being a single man, it might mean single gay man in gay circles

holly johnson changes lyrics to say "chaps" in the FGTH cover of born to run and ralph lauren had an offshoot range called chaps and someone mentioned it to me then. i don't think that's the use here, it's more like old friend

the cold feet reference, i've not heard in that way and thought it literally meant she had unwarm feet. the phrase "getting cold feet" means you aren't so sure about doing something, like changing your mind. the reference may have meant she usually changes her mind about things, but the mention of bed seems to change that

the thing is even if you know english, sometimes it's hard to figure out what writers mean if they try to be too arty

Thanks a lot. I appreciate it.

I have another simpler phrase, I think. I´LL LEAVE YOU TO IT.

i'll leave you to it - i'll leave you to get on with it

if you start talking to someone when they are busy and they say they can do the job themselves, you might say "i'll leave you to it"