Glossary entry (derived from question below)
French term or phrase:
par la culotte et par la chemise
English translation:
got into his shoes
Added to glossary by
Mari O'Keefe
Mar 5, 2007 15:20
17 yrs ago
French term
United Kingdom
Fast turnaround, professional results
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English, Italian to English
par la culotte et par la chemise
French to English
Art/Literary
Cinema, Film, TV, Drama
I'm translating the production notes on Laurent Tirard's latest film, "Molière".
When talking about the role, the actor who plays the part of Dorante in the film says that "Ce personnage, je l’ai approché par la culotte et par la chemise!"
Any ideas on how to translate this into English? Thanks!
When talking about the role, the actor who plays the part of Dorante in the film says that "Ce personnage, je l’ai approché par la culotte et par la chemise!"
Any ideas on how to translate this into English? Thanks!
Proposed translations
(English)
Proposed translations
15 hrs
Jennifer Forbes
Native in English
Specializes in field
Finance, law, property development, art
Native in: English
Works in: French to English, Spanish to English
Related KudoZ points
:
7
Selected
got into his shoes
... got into the character's shoes.
It is widely reported that when approaching a new part the actress Beryl Reid would get her shoes right first, and then into the person's character.
It is widely reported that when approaching a new part the actress Beryl Reid would get her shoes right first, and then into the person's character.
3 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
Comment: "Thanks"
+1
24 mins
BrigitteHilgner
Austria
Austria
Austria
b2b/economics/marketing/market research/
Native in: German 
Works in: German to English, French to German, English to German
I used his clothes to make the character my own.
This is how I understand the expression - shirt and trousers helped the actor to grasp his role.
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Jonathan MacKerron
: also very possible
17 mins
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Thank you, Jonathan. The ambiguity of language can be such a problem ...
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+3
14 mins
Jonathan MacKerron
Native in English
Retired as of Jan 2019!
Native in: English
Works in: German to English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
7
grabbed the character by the pants and shirt and drew him/her to me
my guess
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Note added at 41 mins (2007-03-05 16:02:40 GMT)
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on second though Brigette's take is more probable here, something like "I approached this character on the basis of the period pants and shirt I had to wear"
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Note added at 41 mins (2007-03-05 16:02:40 GMT)
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on second though Brigette's take is more probable here, something like "I approached this character on the basis of the period pants and shirt I had to wear"
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
Swatchka
23 mins
|
| agree |
Kari Foster
: This is my understanding. "Grabbed him by the seat of his pants and the scruff of his neck". A no-nonsense approach.
3 hrs
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| agree |
Raymonde Gagnier
: C'est ça! Kari's right, getting into character is a very hands-on process.
13 hrs
|
+3
1 hr
Sheila Wilson
Spain
Spain
Native in English
Spain
20 years producing 100% natural English
Native in: English (Variant: British)
Works in: English, French to English
Related KudoZ points
:
3
in his clothes
Don't we simply say in English "I put myself in his clothes" ?
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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-03-05 20:40:04 GMT)
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The shoes version of this expression is certainly very common as in "I'm glad I'm not in your shoes!" but I think the clothes version might be better for this particular context - I'm not sure the idiom really works here
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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-03-05 20:41:16 GMT)
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Perhaps it might be better to say "I imagined myself in his clothes" ?
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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-03-05 20:40:04 GMT)
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The shoes version of this expression is certainly very common as in "I'm glad I'm not in your shoes!" but I think the clothes version might be better for this particular context - I'm not sure the idiom really works here
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Note added at 5 hrs (2007-03-05 20:41:16 GMT)
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Perhaps it might be better to say "I imagined myself in his clothes" ?
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
jean-jacques alexandre
: or in his shoes
9 mins
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Thanks JJ, that's certainly a possibility too
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| agree |
Cervin
: in his shoes....
2 hrs
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Thanks Cervin
|
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| agree |
Clare Forder
: in his shoes sounds better i think :)
3 hrs
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Thanks Clare
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Discussion