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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
Crisp and straight and new houses
Hello,
In the book "Parrot and Olivier in America" by Peter Carey that I am translating there is the following piece of text:
"Five hours later I boarded the Phoenix in the dark. By then the wind had fallen and the dark houses along the Delaware were all crisp and straight and new in the fresh-washed sky. Who would guess their groans and cries?"
I have a little problem with the words "crisp and straight". In the dictionary there are many meanings and I am not sure which one to choose: "Crisp" - does it mean that the houses stood out in relief against the sky, or that they were neat? And as for the "straight", does it mean that they were "even", or rather decent?
Thanks for any help.
In the book "Parrot and Olivier in America" by Peter Carey that I am translating there is the following piece of text:
"Five hours later I boarded the Phoenix in the dark. By then the wind had fallen and the dark houses along the Delaware were all crisp and straight and new in the fresh-washed sky. Who would guess their groans and cries?"
I have a little problem with the words "crisp and straight". In the dictionary there are many meanings and I am not sure which one to choose: "Crisp" - does it mean that the houses stood out in relief against the sky, or that they were neat? And as for the "straight", does it mean that they were "even", or rather decent?
Thanks for any help.
Top answer
'Crisp and straight and new' all seem to me to create the single image of their appearing clearly and distinctly, and looking fresh. In translation, I suggest that you not try to translate each word separately, but think of a native phrase that would be used in this situation.
- 'Crisp and straight and new' all seem to me to create the single image of their appearing clearly and distinctly, and looking fresh.
- In translation, I suggest that you not try to translate each word separately, but think of a native phrase that would be used in this situation.
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1 Answers
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'Crisp and straight and new' all seem to me to create the single image of their appearing clearly and distinctly, and looking fresh. In translation, I suggest that you not try to translate each word separately, but think of a native phrase that would be used in this situation.
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