Jan 31, 2009 21:29
15 yrs ago
Russian term
Russian Federation
proficient translation
Native in: English 
, Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, English
загораживаться тряпками
Russian to English
Other
Poetry & Literature
"fence myself with cloths/rags" - does not make much sense. Could the author put it deliberately telling that she, perhaps, did not know what to say, or did not want to say "rags" and, as it often happens when you want to say two things at once in a haste-something awkward is pronounced, could it be? What is possible to put there instead?
Proposed translations
(English)
| 3 +3 | hide behind some rags |
Olga Vlasova
|
| 5 | hide behind rugs |
Michael Korovkin
|
| 3 | shade oneself with these rags |
Serg Yefimov
|
| 2 | stay сurtained off |
Andrew Vdovin
|
Proposed translations
+3
44 mins
Olga Vlasova
Native in Russian
Specializes in field
literature and coal processing texts
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Ukrainian to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
11
Selected
hide behind some rags
This is my best guess but I would like to see some context in Russian too, maybe it will make some difference. As of now, I think she refers to the curtains as "rags" (if she drew them with violence it's probably because she was annoyed with the necessity of hiding behind them).
Thus, the translation is:
Why do I have to hide behind some rags/cloth?
Thus, the translation is:
Why do I have to hide behind some rags/cloth?
Note from asker:
| I've put the context in my next question. |
| "Rags" in Russian is a general term for everything made of fabric. An old cloth is a "rag" as well as latest fashion clothes, it is a derogative. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Sergei Belay
42 mins
|
|
Спасибо!
|
|
| agree |
James McVay
: If "тряпки" refers to the curtains, maybe "hide behind these rags," since they are right in front of her.
1 hr
|
|
I wouldn't use "these" because it's not in the original text. If she wanted to refer to these particular curtains the original phrase would have been "Почему я должна загораживаться этими тряпками?" But thank you for "agree"
|
|
| agree |
Dylan Edwards
: I like 'cloth' - perhaps, contemptuously, 'bits of cloth'.
12 hrs
|
|
I like 'bits of cloth' too! Thanks for your suggestion!
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks everyone! With your permission, Olga, I will put " Why should I hide behind these... rags!""
7 hrs
Andrew Vdovin
Native in Russian
Specializes in field
DELVING into DETAIL
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian, Russian to English, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
88
stay сurtained off
Why should I stay here curtained off?
Не дословно, конечно, но как вариант.
Не дословно, конечно, но как вариант.
Note from asker:
| As i can see it is necessary to trasgress from words. Your suggestion is the closest - but it does not exist in nature."Why should I cut myself off", she has meant it. |
12 hrs
Michael Korovkin
Italy
Italy
Native in Russian
&
English
Specializes in field
Italy
Native in: English , Russian
Works in: Russian to English, English to Russian, Italian to Russian, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
174
hide behind rugs
without "some" as someone put it: "some" ruins everything.
"Curtain myself off" is too existentially lofty and mataphoric to be warranted.
"Curtain myself off" is too existentially lofty and mataphoric to be warranted.
Note from asker:
| To be honest "these rags" should not be there...It is simply not my way to punish curtains. |
3 days 3 hrs
Serg Yefimov
Ukraine
Ukraine
Native in Russian
Ukraine
Marketing, Manuals, Localization
Native in: Russian , Ukrainian
Works in: English to Russian, English to Ukrainian, Ukrainian to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
12
shade oneself with these rags
shade oneself with these rags
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Note added at 3 days7 hrs (2009-02-04 04:37:22 GMT)
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shade myself with these rags
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Note added at 3 days7 hrs (2009-02-04 04:37:22 GMT)
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shade myself with these rags
Note from asker:
| This woman is very beautiful but she is far from being shy. Thanks anyway! |
Discussion
-Рекс !!! Заткнись...А ж сердце...
Её лицо потемнело и она медленно подошла к окну.
- Что ж это такое! Почему я должна загораживаться тряпками ?
И дёрнула занавески с яростью. Покачалась на каблуках и взглянула на Мишу очень прямо. Михаилу не хотелось менять мечтательной позы...