French term
le trouble évident
ad was ruled unlawful by the French courts. It's a play on the word "trouble".
Is there a sexual connotation? Unfortunately they don't show a picture of the advert and I haven't been able to find it on Internet.
Marie Brizard : Est illicite le visuel comportant le slogan "Marie Brizard, on n'a rien fait d'aussi troublant depuis 1755" et la représentation du « baiser"
de Fragonard avec une astérisque renvoyant à la mention : "Servez la Marie Brizard sur glace, elle se troublera et prendra sa couleur opaline", l'une des
acceptions de cette légende concernant à la fois le trouble évident de la jeune femme surprise et consentante et de celui qui surprend ce moment d'émoi, le spectateur. A l'évidence, Marie Brizard a cherché par cette association ingénieuse, à évoquer deux sortes de troubles, aux sens propre et figuré (TGI Paris, réf. 24 septembre 1991 et CA Paris 17 mars 1992).
Thanks in advance.
Mary (très troublée....)
| 3 +4 | obvious embarrassment |
Tony M
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| 3 | obvious discomfiture |
Lorna Coing
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| 2 | evident agitation |
Emma Paulay
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Non-PRO (2): writeaway, Rob Grayson
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Proposed translations
obvious embarrassment
Do you know the work of art in question?
| agree |
Carolyn Brice
: Yes I agree that this is what it is referring to. As an alternative to embarrassment, feeling flustered might go better with the idea of the stolen kiss?
17 mins
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Thanks, Carolyn! Yes, indeed... or even 'hot and bothered'!
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| neutral |
Paul Hamelin
: Il y a aussi le fait que cette boisson, comme le pastis, devient trouble quand on y ajoute de l'eau! Ca serait bien de pouvoir rendre ce double sens, ce jeu de mots... voir dans Discussion.
1 hr
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Yes, Paul, though that's not actually what Mary asked; I don't think there is a way in EN to make an equivalent pun with 'cloudiness'...?!
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| agree |
Philippa Smith
2 hrs
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| agree |
Ana Resende
4 hrs
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| agree |
Verginia Ophof
7 hrs
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obvious discomfiture
I agree with the asker's intuition that there is a sexual element to 'trouble', but have never found the perfect answer to translating this into English. Unless you used two words: 'obvious discomfort and excitement'?
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Note added at 4 hrs (2010-01-20 11:26:55 GMT)
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I just noticed Carolyn mentioned the word 'fluster' above, and actually think that would work better than my own suggestion! At least now I know how I will translate 'trouble' myself the next time I come across it!!!
evident agitation
Reference comments
Greece
A linguist born and bred
Native in: English 
, French
Works in: French to English, German to English, Greek to English
Is this the work of art?
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Note added at 19 mins (2010-01-20 07:43:33 GMT)
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Shows a stolen kiss.
| Thanks very much for finding that picture, i think that is the one referred to. |
| agree |
Tony M
: That's what i thought too, though there are in fact several others with similar titles... and this one apears later than the date 1755 mentioned. There is also another, simply entitled 'le baiser', between 2 children...
25 mins
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Fr-En dictionaries
for example, Larousse:
trouble
nm
1. [sentiment - de gêne] confusion, embarrassment
[- de perplexité] confusion
[- de peine] distress, turmoil
il ne put cacher son trouble en la voyant he couldn't hide his embarrassment when he saw her
la nouvelle sema le trouble dans les esprits the news sowed confusion in people's minds OU threw people's minds into confusion
c'est un trouble si doux que l'amour litt love is such sweet turmoil
| Thanks for that writeaway, I have already looked at the various meanings but wanted some input from others before deciding exactly what is meant in this context. |
| agree |
polyglot45
: except that in the case of the drink - it becomes clouded
1 hr
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Discussion
"To arouse" is given as a definition of "troubler" in R&C.
Thanks to everyone for your contributions anyway.
I love the idea of the girl's being named 'Marie Brizard' — I shall always think of that now when I see this painting! Now I wonder if she's ever been out with Paul Ricard...?
Seriously, though, I think we should perhaps not lose sight of the fact that we are not in an advertising copywriting situation here — this text appears to be simply describing the advert, so I feel the translator doesn't really need to slavishly look for an equivalent pun, but instead, could be allowed the luxury of an explanatory note. After all, if the EN reader doesn't happen to know the painting in question, it could all be pretty mystifying anyway!
Il y a d'une part le sens de "embarrassment" et, d'autre part, le fait que la boisson, la Marie Brizard, se trouble, devient trouble (comme le pastis) quand on y ajoute de l'eau... if you see what I mean...
Like a bridge over troubled water...