Glossary entry (derived from question below)
Russian term or phrase:
черная полоса
English translation:
a bad streak/down on your luck
Added to glossary by
Henry Schroeder
Oct 3, 2006 08:22
17 yrs ago
Russian term
United States
20 years of experience, certified, ATA
Native in: English (Variant: US) 
Works in: German to English, Russian to English, English
черная полоса
Russian to English
Art/Literary
Poetry & Literature
music?
This one is baffling me, too - perhaps because it plays on the leitmotif of music in this passage. In any case, I greatly appreciate any and all assistance!
Потом все оказалось куда проще, чем он ожидал. Мужской голос в трубке был предупредительно-бархатист, у него не спросили лишнего, и вообще в разговоре не прозвучало ни одной вульгарной ноты. Манеры администратора вызывали в воображении концертный зал, контрамарки, публику в партере, да и к тому же, предложив ему девушку на вечер, он отрекомендовал ее скрипачкой, попавшей в ***черную полосу,*** музыканткой хорошей школы, приберегаемой для взыскательных клиентов. «Я слышу в Вас интеллигентного человека, – журчал голос, – Вы останетесь довольны: москвичка, ангел, длинные нервные пальцы...» –
Потом все оказалось куда проще, чем он ожидал. Мужской голос в трубке был предупредительно-бархатист, у него не спросили лишнего, и вообще в разговоре не прозвучало ни одной вульгарной ноты. Манеры администратора вызывали в воображении концертный зал, контрамарки, публику в партере, да и к тому же, предложив ему девушку на вечер, он отрекомендовал ее скрипачкой, попавшей в ***черную полосу,*** музыканткой хорошей школы, приберегаемой для взыскательных клиентов. «Я слышу в Вас интеллигентного человека, – журчал голос, – Вы останетесь довольны: москвичка, ангел, длинные нервные пальцы...» –
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
1 min
Mikhail Kropotov
Germany
Germany
Native in Russian
Works in field
Germany
US-educated, precise & thorough
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Russian
Related KudoZ points
:
376
Selected
a bad streak
...
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Note added at 4 mins (2006-10-03 08:27:01 GMT)
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"who's down on her luck" you might say
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-03 09:29:54 GMT)
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he described her as a violin player down on her luck, a master musician specially reserved for demanding customers.
I think the meaning is quite clear when you put it this way.
If you're looking for the origin of the saying, I can't add much to Vitali's note. However, there's a good analogy in English - bad streak and good streak. Only I think "down on her luck" says it better in this particular situation.
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Note added at 4 mins (2006-10-03 08:27:01 GMT)
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"who's down on her luck" you might say
--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-03 09:29:54 GMT)
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he described her as a violin player down on her luck, a master musician specially reserved for demanding customers.
I think the meaning is quite clear when you put it this way.
If you're looking for the origin of the saying, I can't add much to Vitali's note. However, there's a good analogy in English - bad streak and good streak. Only I think "down on her luck" says it better in this particular situation.
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks Mikhail and Vitali and everyone else for the goods suggestions and explanations."
17 mins
(who was) facing hard times
-
+4
51 mins
"the rot sets in times"
You can translate the phrase as "experiencing (or passing through) the rot sets in times"
the rot sets in - INFORMAL (Cambridge University dictionary)
(of a situation) to begin to go wrong:
The rot set in when his parents divorced and he started taking drugs.
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-03 09:55:40 GMT)
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go through a bad/difficult/rough/sticky patch
INFORMAL
to experience a lot of problems in a period in your life:
Andy's going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment - his wife wants a divorce.
e.g here " попавшей в черную полосу" - "going through a rough patch"
the rot sets in - INFORMAL (Cambridge University dictionary)
(of a situation) to begin to go wrong:
The rot set in when his parents divorced and he started taking drugs.
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Note added at 1 hr (2006-10-03 09:55:40 GMT)
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go through a bad/difficult/rough/sticky patch
INFORMAL
to experience a lot of problems in a period in your life:
Andy's going through a bit of a rough patch at the moment - his wife wants a divorce.
e.g here " попавшей в черную полосу" - "going through a rough patch"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Olga Sharpe
: for whom a rot set in
1 hr
|
|
Thanks, Olga!
|
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| agree |
Alexander Demyanov
: I like "rough patch" better
4 hrs
|
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Thanks a lot, Alexander
|
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| agree |
Vlad Pogosyan
: with Alexander
4 hrs
|
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Thank you Vlad!
|
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| agree |
dropofrain
: with Alexander
7 hrs
|
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Thank you, Drpofrain!
|
2 hrs
Olga Sharpe
Canada
Canada
Native in Russian
Works in field
Canada
GMP-inspections in Russian and Ukrainian
Native in: Russian 
, Ukrainian
Works in: English to Russian, English to Ukrainian, Russian to English, and 1 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
whose luck was out
to consider as an option
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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-10-03 10:41:10 GMT)
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who had fallen on (tough) evil times
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Note added at 2 hrs (2006-10-03 10:41:10 GMT)
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who had fallen on (tough) evil times
2 hrs
Evgeny Terekhin
United States
United States
Native in Russian
Specializes in field
United States
ATA-certified: literary, medical, SEO
Native in: Russian
Works in: English to Russian, Russian to English, Ukrainian to English
Related KudoZ points
:
40
who was living under a black cloud
as opposed to a sunny day
+1
9 hrs
...going through bad times...
A violinist, going through bad times.
Obviously, by now you understand exactly what the expression means, but this is yet another version. (By now I've been overthinking this, and no longer know if "bad times" is good English. Could someone let me know?)
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Note added at 9 hrs (2006-10-03 17:51:49 GMT)
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Or is "a bad time" ?
Obviously, by now you understand exactly what the expression means, but this is yet another version. (By now I've been overthinking this, and no longer know if "bad times" is good English. Could someone let me know?)
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Note added at 9 hrs (2006-10-03 17:51:49 GMT)
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Or is "a bad time" ?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Tatiana Nero (X)
: who fell on bad times
20 hrs
|
|
Thanks for clarification, Tatiana!
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Discussion