Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
entre chien et loup
English translation:
the gloaming / or fig. between a rock and a hard place
Added to glossary by
:::::::::: (X)
Feb 2, 2010 17:02
14 yrs ago
7 viewers *
French term
entre chien et loup
French to English
Art/Literary
Idioms / Maxims / Sayings
Here is a bit of context:
Entre chien et loup » (literally translated as « between dog and wolf ») is a multi-layered expression.
It is used to describe a specific time of day, just before night, when the light is so dim you can't distinguish a dog from a wolf. However, it's not all about levels of light. It also expresses that limit between the familiar, the comfortable versus the unknown and the dangerous (or between the domestic and the wild). It is an uncertain threshold between hope and fear.
So are there any ideas for a good translation of this expression in the context of living your life, pursuing your passion 'entre chien et loup'...
??????
Entre chien et loup » (literally translated as « between dog and wolf ») is a multi-layered expression.
It is used to describe a specific time of day, just before night, when the light is so dim you can't distinguish a dog from a wolf. However, it's not all about levels of light. It also expresses that limit between the familiar, the comfortable versus the unknown and the dangerous (or between the domestic and the wild). It is an uncertain threshold between hope and fear.
So are there any ideas for a good translation of this expression in the context of living your life, pursuing your passion 'entre chien et loup'...
??????
Proposed translations
(English)
| 5 +5 | the gloaming / or fig. between a rock and a hard place |
:::::::::: (X)
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| 3 +3 | the twilight zone |
Carol Gullidge
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| 4 | at dusk |
marilors
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| 3 +1 | Twilight |
Mary Moritz
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| 4 | with a foot in both worlds |
Atelier de Mots
|
| 3 | on the edge |
Sandra Petch
|
Change log
Feb 2, 2010 20:13: Stéphanie Soudais changed "Field (specific)" from "Poetry & Literature" to "Idioms / Maxims / Sayings"
Feb 4, 2010 11:50: :::::::::: (X) Created KOG entry
Proposed translations
+5
12 mins
Selected
the gloaming / or fig. between a rock and a hard place
cf. Those Happy Chappies Radiohead ;
The gloaming! That's what it is! Fantastic! Now I understand Radiohead's song a lot better:
Genie let out the bottle
It is now the witching hour
Murderers you're murderers
We are not the same as you
Funny haha funny how
When the walls bend
With your breathing
They will suck you down
To the otherside
To the shadows blue & red
Your alarms bells
Should be ringing
This is the gloaming
The gloaming! That's what it is! Fantastic! Now I understand Radiohead's song a lot better:
Genie let out the bottle
It is now the witching hour
Murderers you're murderers
We are not the same as you
Funny haha funny how
When the walls bend
With your breathing
They will suck you down
To the otherside
To the shadows blue & red
Your alarms bells
Should be ringing
This is the gloaming
Note from asker:
| a beautiful word... thanks! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Cecile Vidic (X)
14 mins
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MERCI !
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| agree |
Stephanie Ezrol
: gloaming is good. Its older tone gives it an eeriness
19 mins
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MERCI !
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| agree |
Evans (X)
: It's the very word I mentioned in the discussion of the earlier Kudoz question today, inappropriate as an answer there for being too poetic, but I mentioned it because I like it. Glad it's found a home.
21 mins
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MERCI !
|
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| agree |
Chris Hall
8 hrs
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MERCI !
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| agree |
Yolanda Broad
23 hrs
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MERCI !
|
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "thank you for this beautiful word, Dr D Jones,...and to everyone else for their suggestions..."
7 mins
on the edge
In your context I think a common expression is "living life on the edge."
Note from asker:
| thank you! |
+3
17 mins
Carol Gullidge
United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Native in English
United Kingdom
poetically precise prose with... panache
Native in: English 
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, English
Related KudoZ points
:
47
the twilight zone
probably captures many of your specifications... groping in semi-darkness, not quite in the comfort zone, perception of danger...
Note from asker:
| thank you! |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
John Detre
: very clever, covers everything! // yes, exactly, in the twilight zone
7 hrs
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many thanks John! I wonder if it should in fact read "In the twilight zone"
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| agree |
Sandra Petch
15 hrs
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many thanks Sandra!
|
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| agree |
Sandra Mouton
23 hrs
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many thanks Sandra!
|
35 mins
at dusk
entre chien et loup = au crépuscule
Note from asker:
| thank you! |
+1
43 mins
Twilight
From Mirriam-Webster:
2 a : an intermediate state that is not clearly defined <lived in the twilight of neutrality — Newsweek>
2 a : an intermediate state that is not clearly defined <lived in the twilight of neutrality — Newsweek>
Note from asker:
| thank you! |
2 hrs
with a foot in both worlds
In the requested context, the translation needs to express some uncertainty in both daylight and nightfall. One could also say, "roaming in both words" to capture the nuance of animal instinct, passion, and the urge to explore, with or without light.
Note from asker:
| thank you, 'roaming in both worlds or between worlds' could be an option... |
Discussion
But what is your question exactly? Your text is already in English, explaining the meaning of the French expression.