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Hi everybody, I'm Francesca and I'm italian. I don't speak and write english very well, I try to make me understand. I've got a problem, I have to translate some english works and I found this: "musical testimonial of appreciation". Anybody knows what is it? And what's the mean of "impressed by brushes "? Thank you for your help! Bye and.... Ciao (in italian way)!

Nona the brit · Accepted Answer

Difficult to say without any context. These are not obvious phrases.

Can you put the whole sentences/paragraphs here to help us.

Waïti · Answer

Cara Francesca,

Let me give you my two cents bet on what these expressions might mean...
'musical testimonial of appreciation' : a gift to someone as a proof or sign of appreciation that would take a musical form, so maybe singing a song to someone to express gratitude and appreciation, for instance ?
'impressed by brushes' : it is likely that the verb impress here is to be understood as a synonym to 'imprint' meaning making a mark or an impression by pressure, and with a brush as the accessory or the tool to make the mark maybe ?

Ciao bella.

Francesca · Answer

Nona The Brit
Difficult to say without any context. These are not obvious phrases.

Can you put the whole sentences/paragraphs here to help us.

Hi, thank you, these are the sentences:

the height of his popularity came when he was honored by a musical testimonial of appreciation attended by an audience of 3000.

Even musicians who are used to playing at the White House can be impressed by brushes with presidents.

Francesca · Answer

Waïti
Cara Francesca,

Let me give you my two cents bet on what these expressions might mean...
'musical testimonial of appreciation' : a gift to someone as a proof or sign of appreciation that would take a musical form, so maybe singing a song to someone to express gratitude and appreciation, for instance ?
'impressed by brushes' : it is likely that the verb impress here is to be understood as a synonym to 'imprint' meaning making a mark or an impression by pressure, and with a brush as the accessory or the tool to make the mark maybe ?

Ciao bella.

Hi, then "testimonial" is a thing that you give to someone, in my dictionary it's not easy to understand its meaning. Your interpretation of "Impressed by brush" maybe is not right for the context. I posted the whole sentences above. Anyway, thank you!

Ciao

Waïti · Answer

Yes that's what 'testimonial' is. I think you could use the word 'testament' as well in this context. It is not necessarily material so that 'thing' you give back to someone in appreciation of some other thing they gave you or did for you can be playing music.
As for 'impress by brushes' I have no idea, and it's not what I said earlier for sure... Let's wait for Nona's feedback.

Savvysavz · Answer

Hi Francesca,

Thank you for writing down the entire passage or else I would have been lost too.

''the height of his popularity came when he was honored by a musical testimonial of appreciation attended by an audience of 3000.''

In lay man's terms, it means the musician became very famous when he performed in a concert which the audience(3000 people) enjoyed.

''Even musicians who are used to playing at the White House can be impressed by brushes with presidents.''

brushes with someoneis a casual meeting which doesn't last long, nor yields any potential result.

I assume this sentence means, presidents can impress people who frequent the White House regularly even if it's a small, casual meeting.

Savvy

Francesca · Answer

Hi Savvysavz, I think your interpretation is right, now I understand the entire context....you have saved my life and my work! Thank you and thanks everybody helped me, if you need help with italian words... Bye!

MrPedantic · Answer

Hello Francesca

I would interpret the first question slightly differently:

1. A "testimonial" is a concert (or in sport, a game) which is put on for the benefit of a particular person. In football, for instance, a "testimonial" match might take place to honour a footballer who was about to retire. He would be awarded all or some of the entrance money.

2. A "brush" with someone is as Savvy says: a brief encounter. So even though some musicians perform regularly at the White House, they may still be overawed by their brief encounters with the President.

MrP

Francesca · Answer

Hi, thank you for your interpretation, I think the first is good for that context maybe the second isn't because the context talks about a musician that saw 4 united states president dancing with their wives while she was playing at white house, and I think she was surprised, not overawed. Excuse me, I know it's difficult to understand that in an only single sentence! Anyway, your precious help is good for my english learning! Bye

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